As city officials ponder whether to appeal the Utility Management Review Board’s recent dismissal of a DUD ratepayers petition over a proposed water treatment plant, two concerned city residents addressed the mayor and aldermen Monday night inquiring why the city desires to continue selling water to the DUD at below cost.
The DUD has a water purchase agreement with the city that went into effect almost ten years ago and is set to expire in January 2014. Under the contract, the city agrees to sell water to the DUD at a rate to increase by five cents per thousand gallons each year. The rate is currently at $2.05 per thousand gallons.
A recent study by Warren and Associates, paid for by the city, revealed that the actual cost for Smithville to produce water is $2.67 per thousand gallons. During the last meeting of the mayor and aldermen two weeks ago, city officials discussed offering DUD a new ten year deal which would include selling them water at $2.20 per thousand gallons for the first five years of the contract and raising it to $2.40 per thousand gallons for the last five years.
Waniford Cantrell, concerned citizen and former Smithville Mayor, asked why the city would not want to charge the DUD new water rates based on the water cost study. “I am thoroughly confused over our water operation. At a public hearing in 2010 over the city budget, water rates went up 43% for Smithville and they went up nine percent for the utility district. I made a comment at the time that we were possibly selling water cheaper than what it was costing to produce. At the time I recommended that we hire a cost accountant to determine the cost to produce a gallon of water. At the time (former) Mayor (Taft) Hendrixson relayed a comment to me from our financial consultant that I flat didn’t know what I was talking about. Now, some three years later we find that we were in fact selling water cheaper than what it was costing us to produce it. In fact, according to the Warren study we were selling water 67 cents cheaper than what it costs to produce. That’s 62% since January. Since we raised them a nickel. But using the Warren study figures, we were roughly losing $200,000 a year. How can we sell water to the utility district at below cost and profit from them? I don’t understand the big problem in losing them (DUD) as a customer. I think somebody (with the city) doesn’t know the difference probably between a profit/loss and cash flow,” said Cantrell
Faye Sandosky appealed to the mayor and aldermen to adjust the current contract with DUD to bring the rate in line with the actual water cost to the city. “As a citizen in the city, now that we know what the cost of producing our water is and that we citizens are subsidizing DUD’s rate, which is below what we are paying to produce the water and its my understanding that the contract we have with DUD is that they will continue to pay this underproduction cost until the new contract is renegotiated or in place in January. So that leaves us from April to January that this current underpayment contract is in place. Again, we the citizens are the ones that are absorbing that cost. I suggest that this board (city council) consider amending DUD’s contract so that they at least paying as much as it costs us, the city to produce the water. I believe the citizens should not be subsidizing DUD’s water costs. I would like to see that addressed and I would like to know your decision on it. Either yes you can. No you can’t. Yes we will. No we won’t. And if you won’t then I think we citizens deserve to know why,” said Sandosky.
Alderman Gayla Hendrix assured Cantrell and Sandosky that the city would give a proper response to their concerns at the appropriate time. “I don’t think I have enough information to answer you tonight but I would like for us to get together and come up with an answer and be able to present something to you at the next meeting. I don’t know enough about water costs to know the answers to that but I know there is a lot more factored into it. That’s why we probably need to discuss it and come back with a collaborative response. Just so that you’re aware that we’re not just sticking our heads in the sand, we (mayor and aldermen) have had an attorney/client meeting regarding the (recent UMRB) hearing. Obviously we can’t discuss those issues at this time but we will try to come up with some resolutions for you” said Alderman Hendrix.

In his latest report on crime news, Sheriff Patrick Ray said 49 year old Trina Rose Mathews of Sparta Highway, Smithville is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence and a second offense of driving on a suspended license. She was also issued a citation for driving with no headlights on, failure to maintain lane of travel, violation of the implied consent law, and possession of drug paraphernalia (a marijuana pipe). Her bond is $6,500 and she will be in court on May 23. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, April 13 a deputy was on routine patrol on Highway 70 east when he met a truck at Sligo bridge with no headlights on. The truck was traveling eastbound in the middle of the roadway, crossing double yellow lines. The officer pulled over the vehicle at Hillcrest Market. While speaking with the driver, Mathews, the deputy noticed that her speech was slurred and very slow. He asked to see her license but she laughingly replied that she had no license. Instead, she produced an ID from another state. Mathews had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on her person. She told the officer that she had consumed some beer. Mathews submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. She did not consent to a voluntary blood withdrawal so a forced blood draw was taken as per state law. A marijuana pipe was also found in her possession. A computer check of her license revealed that they were suspended on February 18, 2007.
28 year old Carly Chaundra Jones of Coconut Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. She was also issued a citation for failure to maintain her lane of travel and violation of the financial responsibility law. Jones will be in court on April 25. Her bond is $1,500. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, April 6 a deputy responded to a one vehicle accident on Highway 56 north in the area of Jewel’s Market. The deputy talked with the driver, Jones who had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on her person. Jones was very unsteady on her feet and her speech was slurred. Jones told the officer that she had taken xanax and consumed some beer. Jones submitted to but performed poorly on several field sobriety tasks. She also submitted to a blood alcohol/drug test.
29 year old Carl Edward Schwartz of East Main Street, Dowelltown is cited for driving on a revoked license. He will be in court April 25. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, April 4 a drug detective of the sheriff’s department saw Schwartz pull out of the DeKalb Market parking lot. The officer had prior knowledge that Schwartz’s license were revoked for a DUI from a previous arrest about a month ago. A computer check confirmed it.
24 year old Juliann Marie Clark of Foster Road, Smithville is cited for simple possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. She will be in court on April 25. Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, April 8 a sheriff’s department drug detective conducted a search of Clark’s residence and found a small baggie of marijuana on a television stand. Clark allegedly admitted to smoking marijuana when the detective pulled up. The officer found a marijuana pipe in Clark’s purse, a used hypodermic needle in a bedroom, and a pill crusher in a small bag.

Smithville Police investigated a traffic accident Monday afternoon near Star Manufacturing on Hobson Street between a Jeep and a motorcycle.
The operator of the motorcycle, Randy Pedigo was injured and taken by DeKalb EMS to the airport where he was picked up by a helicopter ambulance. The driver of the Jeep, Karen Stanfield, was apparently not injured.
The two were apparently leaving the parking lot of the industry at the same time when they crossed paths.
The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department was also on the scene to render assistance.
Meanwhile, a 28 year old McMinnville man was seriously injured when his motorcycle rear ended a pickup truck Monday night on Highway 56 near the DeKalb/Warren county line.
Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that Daniel Byars was traveling south at a high rate of speed on a 2005 Suzuki GSXR motorcycle when he struck the rear of a 1992 Ford Ranger, driven by 22 year old Christopher McCoy, Jr. of Smithville.
According to Trooper Johnson, McCoy had just pulled onto Highway 56 from Meridian Drive heading south. Byars, unable to avoid the collision, was thrown from the bike upon impact. He was airlifted by a helicopter ambulance from a field on Ferrell Road and flown to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. Byars reportedly suffered broken bones and internal injuries. McCoy was not injured.

A 32 year old Rock Island man lost his life when his mini-van collided with a tractor trailer rig hauling nursery trees Sunday morning on Highway 70 south in Warren County near the Van Buren County line.
Dead is Daniel Luke Caldwell.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Caldwell was driving a 2005 Chrysler mini-van north on Highway 136 when he allegedly failed to yield to a stop sign at the intersection and struck a 2013 Kenworth tractor trailer going east on Highway 70, driven by 29 year old Jorge Moreira of McMinnville. The collision occurred in the eastbound outside lane on highway 70. After impact, both vehicles overturned and then came to a final rest in the eastbound ditch on Highway 70. Moreira was not injured in the crash.
The accident, which occurred around 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning was investigated by Sergeant Jimmy Jones and Troopers Gary Myers and Bruce Pryor of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
32 year old Daniel Luke Caldwell of Rock Island died early Sunday morning from injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Warren County. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. at Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Banks Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. He was a born again Christian and was formerly employed at Federal Mogul. Caldwell was preceded in death by a brother, Jacob Lee Caldwell; his maternal grandfather, Austin Scurlock; his paternal grandparents, Wade and Pearline Caldwell; and an uncle, Larry Scurlock. Survivors include his parents, Terry and wife Donna Scurlock Caldwell of Rock Island. Maternal grandmother, Ruth Vanatta Scurlock of Smithville. Five aunts, Diana Thomas and Jannie Gordon both of Michigan, Janice Johnson and Pam Miller both of Smithville and Peggy Scurlock of Kentucky. Three uncles, Gordon Caldwell of Michigan, Danny and wife Teresa Scurlock and Jeff and wife Debbie Scurlock all of Smithville. One nephew, Andrew Caldwell of Smithville and several cousins and friends. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.