The Trustee’s Office will be a busy place for the next week as taxpayers rush to beat the February 29 deadline to pay their 2015 county property taxes.
As of Monday, February 22 the DeKalb County Trustee’s Office had collected 72.17% of the $8.5 million in 2015 county property taxes to be collected by February 29, 2016. That includes property, residential, commercial, personal, and public utility taxes.

In a report to the county commission Monday night, Trustee Sean Driver said collections to date are up over last year’s collections of 68.91% by this date (February 22). The tax base this year is also larger because of the sixteen cent property tax increase adopted by the county commission last summer for this fiscal year. Trustee Driver said the county’s tax base this year has expanded to $8,578,328, an increase of $835,000 over last year’s tax base of $7.7 million.
Monday, February 29 is the last day to pay the 2015 property taxes before penalties start accruing March 1.
For 2015 you can:
1.Come in person to pay at the office.
2. Mail in your payment.
3. Pay online at tennesseetrustee.com then select DeKalb. The Vendor accepts Discover, MasterCard, Visa, or American Express. A Vendor convenience fee of 2.75% on the total tax bill may apply and fees are subject to change for using credit/debit cards. Also, a $2.75 fee will be assessed on an e-check payment of any amount.
4. A Dropbox is also located on the outside of the county complex building (where the Trustee’s Office is located) for your convenience after hours or on weekends.
Partial Payments are accepted and you the taxpayer may set the amount to pay.
You may also qualify for the State of Tennessee Property Tax Relief Program The last day to sign up for tax relief is April 5. If you would like more information come by the County Complex in the Trustee’s office at 732 S. Congress Blvd-Room 103, Smithville, TN 37166 or call at 615-597-5176.
The Trustee’s Office is open regular hours from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday- Friday.
Any 2014 unpaid property taxes may be paid with interest and penalty through March 31. However any 2014 unpaid taxes will be turned over to the Chancery Court on April 1 for collection. The Trustee’s Office will soon be sending out a notice to those still delinquent.

Another incumbent alderman has qualified for the August Smithville Municipal Election
Danny Washer will be in the race for re-election.
Three aldermen will be elected on August 4th. The terms are for four years.
Others who have obtained qualifying petitions to date are:
Wesley Nokes
Ronald D. Stanley
Shawn Jacobs (incumbent)
Josh Miller (incumbent). Miller’s petition has been returned and verified
Gary Durham
The qualifying deadline is Noon April 7

Fellow County Commissioners said their goodbyes to 1st district member Elmer Ellis, Jr. Monday night.
Ellis, who has served as a commissioner for more than nine years, is stepping down. He made the announcement during an all committees meeting of the county commission Thursday night. He met with the county commission for the final time Monday night.
Ellis and his wife are soon moving to Texas to be near their daughter due to his wife’s health.
County Mayor Tim Stribling presented a plaque to Ellis in appreciation for his years of service.
“We thank you Junior for your service to the county. He has been fair and has always voted what he thought represented his district. I served on the 911 board with him before I even became County Mayor when I was an Aldermen and represented the City of Smithville on the 911 Board,” said Stribling
“He is going to be a difficult one to replace. We wish him well. I have always respected him. I respect him even more in that he’s doing this (resigning) because of his family. I think you have to look after your family first and foremost. He has put his family above himself. Junior we thank you for your service to this county and this commission. I appreciate your service,” County Mayor Stribling concluded.
Ellis was first elected to the county commission in August 2006. He was re-elected in 2010 and in 2014. His term expires August 31, 2018.
The remainder of the term will be filled in the August 4 DeKalb County General Election.
In this situation there will be no primary election, but any nominees of political parties shall be selected by party convention. The office will be on the August 4th ballot, according to Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections.
Under state law, if there is still time for a normal qualifying deadline, the normal qualifying deadline will be used. The qualifying deadline for the August 4 elections is Noon April 7.
In this case, Ellis resigned prior to 10 days before the April 7 Noon qualifying deadline. Therefore, candidates can be certified by party convention prior to the deadline and appear on the August ballot as a party nominee.
And/Or—candidates can seek the office by petition process as an Independent candidate.
However, if a candidate seeks the nomination of a party by convention and fails in his/her attempt..that person cannot run as an independent under state law.
“I want to publicly thank Elmer Ellis for his service to DeKalb County during his time as a 1st District County Commissioner. I wish him and his family well on their future endeavors. Anyone interested in becoming the Democratic Party nominee to fill Mr. Ellis’ vacancy as a 1st District County Commissioner please let me know. The Democratic Party will hold a nominating convention to select a candidate. The office will be on the August General and State Primary ballot,” said DeKalb County Democratic Party Chairman Jordan Wilkins.

Although the county’s existing Class I landfill still has a remaining life of a year and seven months, the new solid waste transfer station could begin operation by late summer.
The transfer station is located in the Smithville Industrial Park on Highway 70 east behind Tenneco Automotive.
County Mayor Tim Stribling told WJLE Friday that the conversion from the landfill to the transfer station could begin in August or September. Some work yet remains to be done before the facility is completed. Under an agreement with the county, the City of Smithville has installed a waterline to the site and the county will have to pave the road leading to the transfer station.
“The water line is almost fully connected. They may lack just a little bit but basically it’s in. We’re just waiting for warmer weather to have the water turned on. We’ll be advertising bids within the next few weeks for paving of the road. We’ve got to get the road paved from Moog Boulevard over to the transfer station. We’ll also have to buy some minor office equipment and a loader to be able to load the garbage into the trucks at the transfer station. We’ll also have to advertise bids for the hauling of the waste to Smith County,” said County Mayor Stribling.
In a report to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Division of Solid Waste Management dated January 27, 2016, Ronnie Reece of Professional Engineering Services of Sparta wrote that the remaining life of the Class I Landfill for the DeKalb County Felts Cell “D”/Vickers Tract (off Highway 70 and Billings Road in eastern DeKalb County) is one year and seven months. The landfill is estimated to be filled to capacity during the month of July 2017.
“The landfill life calculations are based on projected amounts of waste received and an estimated compaction rate. If any of these projected quantities change during the continued operation of the Class I Landfill facility, so will the life of the landfill,” according to Reece’s report.
“A lot of the life of the landfill depends on the compaction rate. From January 2010 to December 2015 the numbers have been really good. From January 2016 to December 2016 the estimated waste remaining (that can be dumped in the landfill) is 20,180 tons and from January 2017 to July 2017 the estimated waste remaining would be 7,763 tons. That gives us a remaining life of one year and seven months,” said Stribling.
According to County Mayor Stribling, once the transfer station is open for the disposal of household waste, the existing landfill can still be used for dumping construction materials and other non-household garbage until a Class III/IV site is developed in a new cell there.
“We’ll still have to use the landfill somewhat because this Class I landfill we have takes construction debris. But all household garbage will be going to the transfer station (once its open). After we open up another cell, a Class III landfill for construction debris and things like that we’ll close this Class I site,” Stribling continued.
In August, 2014 the county commission voted to enter into a five year contract with Smith County to dispose of DeKalb County’s household solid waste at the rate of $29.00 a ton after the transfer station becomes operational.
In some cases garbage from DeKalb County pickup locations (convenience sites) closer to the Smith County line than Smithville may be hauled by DeKalb County garbage trucks directly to Smith County. “For instance the one in Alexandria, if we pick it up (garbage) and bring it back on our truck and dump it at the transfer station and then we pay somebody to haul it back to Smith County, we could instead pick it up directly at the site in Alexandria and take it on to Smith County ourselves. There’s also one in the Austin Bottom area, Silver Point, and Temperance Hall. We could also possibly do that with the one in Liberty. That’s something we’re going to look at to see which is the most cost effective.Instead of bringing it (garbage) all the way back to Smithville to dump it at the transfer station, we could probably get to Smith County by that time, especially at Austin Bottom because we’ll already be on the Interstate. We can just go on down to the Smith County exit,” said County Mayor Stribling.

Over 700 voters have now cast ballots in the Presidential Preference and DeKalb County Democratic Primaries.
Early voting continues through February 23.
Early voting numbers through Monday, February 22:
Total Voters–757
In Person—710
Absentee—47
Republican Primary—480
Democratic Primaries–277
Local voters are reminded that February 23 is the last day the election commission office can receive a written request for an absentee ballot. The request may be received by mail, by fax or by e-mail with an attached document that includes a scanned signature. A request which contains the required information serves as an application for ballot.
Tuesday February, 23 is the last day for early voting. The primary election day is Tuesday, March 1. Polls in DeKalb County will be open that day from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
All Early Voting in DeKalb County will be at the Election Commission Office on the first floor of the courthouse (basement).
Early Voting Hours:
Tuesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Voters are urged to take advantage of early voting.

Smithville Police arrested a convicted felon Thursday for illegal possession of a firearm.
32 year old Daniel R Wilson is charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. After receiving an anonymous tip and knowing him to be a convicted felon police went to Wilson’s residence on Thursday, February 18 where they requested and received consent to search. As officers were searching a futon couch they unfolded the bed and found a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver wrapped up in bandannas. Wilson denied owning the gun but police determined that he knew the firearm was there and the bandannas it was wrapped in belonged to him. Bond for Wilson is $20,000 and he will make a court appearance on March 3.
29 year old Jillian Bridget Atnip was arrested for aggravated assault on Sunday, February 7. Police were called to a residence on Saturday, February 6 in reference to a fight that had just occurred between two females. Upon questioning the victim it was determined that Atnip had walked into the victim’s yard and struck her after which a fight ensued. Police discovered upon investigation that a brick was used as a weapon. Both women were transported to the hospital for medical attention. Atnip was determined to have been the primary aggressor and she was arrested the following morning at her residence. Atnip’s bond is $3,500 and she will make a court appearance on March 17.
28 year old Jose Benjamin Soto was arrested for aggravated assault on Tuesday, February 9. Police were called to a residence in reference to a domestic assault. According to the victim, an argument turned physical when Soto allegedly pushed the victim on a bed, grabbed her around the neck, and began choking her. The victim had red marks around her neck commonly associated with being choked. Soto’s bond is $5,000 and he will make a court appearance on February 25.
52 year old Johnny Martin Parrish was arrested on Sunday, February 14 for public intoxication. Police were called to a business in reference to a male causing a disturbance. Officers noticed that Parrish was unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol on his person. For his and the public’s safety, Parrish was taken into custody without incident. His bond is $1,000 and he will be in court February 25.

Over 500 voters have now cast ballots in the Presidential Preference and DeKalb County Democratic Primaries.
Early voting continues through February 23.
Early voting numbers through Saturday, February 20:
Total Voters–575
In Person—533
Absentee—42
Republican Primary—370
Democratic Primaries–205
Local voters are reminded that February 23 is the last day the election commission office can receive a written request for an absentee ballot. The request may be received by mail, by fax or by e-mail with an attached document that includes a scanned signature. A request which contains the required information serves as an application for ballot.
Early voting runs Monday and Tuesday February 22 & 23. The primary election day is Tuesday, March 1. Polls in DeKalb County will be open that day from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
All Early Voting in DeKalb County will be at the Election Commission Office on the first floor of the courthouse (basement).
Early Voting Hours:
Monday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Voters are urged to take advantage of early voting.

Another incumbent school board member has qualified for the August Board of Education Election
Doug Stephens of the 6th district will be in the race for re-election.
Three school board members will be elected on August 4 including one from the 4th, 5th, & 6th districts. The terms are for four years except in the 4th district. The 4th district winner will fill an unexpired two year term.
Others who have obtained qualifying petitions to date are:
Kate Miller in the 4th district
Barry Mabe in the 5th district
W.J. (Dub) Evins, III in the 5th district (Evins’ petition has been returned and verified)
The qualifying deadline is Noon April 7
Meanwhile, Ronald D. Stanley of Anthony Avenue has picked up a petition to run for Smithville Alderman.
Three aldermen will be elected on August 4. Each term is for four years.
In addition to Stanley, those who have obtained qualifying petitions to date are Shawn Jacobs, Josh Miller, Danny Washer and Gary Durham (Miller’s petition has been returned and verified)
The qualifying deadline is Noon April 7

A well known local bluegrass musician has been honored by the Governor and Tennessee General Assembly for his outstanding career.
A resolution paying tribute to Clyde Nokes was recently adopted by state lawmakers. Members of the Nokes family joined Clyde for the presentation by Governor Bill Haslam and State Representative Mark Pody on Thursday.
House Joint Resolution 587, sponsored by State Representative Pody states:
“WHEREAS, it is fitting that the members of this General Assembly pay tribute to those icons of Tennessee bluegrass music who have earned the admiration and respect of both their audiences and their fellow musical artists; and
WHEREAS, Clyde Bradley Nokes is most assuredly one such bluegrass icon, who is loved and respected in his community, not only for his musical talent, but also for his random acts of kindness to help those in need; and
WHEREAS, born at his parents’ home on December 13, 1928, Clyde Nokes is the second of four children born to Shelah and Gertrude Nokes, who were sharecroppers in the Gassaway community; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Nokes grew up farming and selling produce on the side of the road, before he and his father opened a general store in the Sycamore community; and
WHEREAS, his father bought Clyde his first guitar, a Stella from Sears and Roebuck that arrived by mail in a cardboard box, when he was six, and the Roberson sisters taught him his first guitar chords; and
WHEREAS, before long Mr. Nokes started playing at the general store and pie suppers, and when his brother, Rayburn, began playing banjo, they formed the Nokes Brothers’ Band along with David Watts; and
WHEREAS, Clyde Nokes then married a Short Mountain girl, Maxine Hale, and they had four sons, Gerry, Nick, Bill, and Jeff, each of whom learned to play an instrument by the time he reached his teens; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Nokes’s singular career spans over seventy years of performing bluegrass music in his community, and he has also played with gifted musicians such as Benny Martin, Billy Womack, Benny Williams, Carl Tipton, Dorris Macon, Graham Williams, Curly Ray Fox, Jim Ed Brown, John Hagger, Johnny Campbell, and Ernie Ashford; and
WHEREAS, he has also jammed with Josh Graves and Lester Flatt’s wife, Gladys, and performed on the television series Nashville 99 in the 1970s with fiddle player Mitchell Fuston; and
WHEREAS, generous to a fault, Mr. Nokes helped purchase a mandolin for a legally blind friend as a gift, so that he might be able to fulfill his dream of learning to play; and
WHEREAS, he has been known to deliver food to people in poor health or financial distress, and along with his family and friends, Mr. Nokes has donated his time and musical talents to fundraising concerts to help others with medical and other bills; and
WHEREAS, Clyde Nokes has distinguished himself as an asset to his community, as both a musician and a humanitarian, and he should be specially recognized; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE CONCURRING, that we honor and commend Clyde Bradley Nokes upon his outstanding career as a bluegrass musician, thank him for his many good works to benefit his community, and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Residents in the Austin Bottom Community can expect to see law enforcement patrols a little more often this summer.
The Putnam County Access is among the lakesite areas covered in a new agreement between the county and the U.S Army Corps of Engineers for extra patrols this year.
Sheriff Patrick Ray presented the proposed new contract to members of the county commission during an all committees meeting Thursday night. The commissioners may approve the deal during the regular monthly meeting Monday night.
Under the new contract, the Sheriff’s Department will provide lakesite patrols at Johnson’s Chapel, Ragland Bottom, Floating Mill, Center Hill Dam Area, Hurricane Bridge, and the Putnam County Access (Austin Bottom Community) on Center Hill Lake. The contract runs from May 6 through September 5, 2016.
The total amount of the agreement under which the Corps pays the county is $23,571, which is more than last year. The deal calls for 97 patrol periods with six area patrols per period along with an orientation meeting. The Corps has also included options that would allow the county to make this a two or three year contract with the county to receive $24,057 in 2017 and $23,814 in 2018.
Sheriff Ray plans to hire a part time officer funded by the Corps under this contract to patrol all the sites and he wants the part time officer to have POST certification. According to Sheriff Ray, when the officer patrols the Putnam County Access, he will also check out the Denny Bottom Recreation area to further heighten a law enforcement presence in the community.
In response to a public outcry, the sheriff’s department stepped up patrols through the end of the summer boating season last year at Austin Bottom.
In August many residents in the Austin Bottom community of DeKalb County met with several local officials and the Corps of Engineers at the fire station there to vent their frustrations about public nuisance issues at a boat ramp in the area.
Corps Resource Manager Kevin Salvilla took questions and comments from the group. County Mayor Tim Stribling, Sheriff Patrick Ray, County Fire Chief Donny Green, and Fourth District County Commissioners Wayne Cantrell and Jonathon Norris were also there.
While most of the residents at the meeting said they didn’t want the Putco Boat Ramp (Austin Bottom Lake Boat Access Area) closed, they did want to see more law enforcement to keep undesirables out.
Complaints ranged from issues of illegal drug activity, public intoxication, excessive noise during the night, using the area as a camp ground, non-boaters parking on the ramp preventing access, littering the area with beer bottles, cans, etc. One person was wounded in a shooting there last year
A contributing factor to the public nuisance issues is that the lake level is lower than normal due to work on the dam which exposes more beach area for patrons to congregate.
Sheriff Ray said his officers patrol the area but residents are concerned about the time it takes DeKalb County law enforcement to respond if called. Because the community is cut off from the rest of the county due to the lake, residents say it could be as much as forty five minutes to an hour before help arrives.
DeKalb County has mutual aid agreements with surrounding counties including Putnam to assist in case of emergencies.