Opponents of a proposed DeKalb Utility District water plant crowded into a small meeting room and hallway Thursday afternoon for a special DUD board meeting at the utility’s office building.
(CLICK PLAY BUTTON BELOW TO HEAR DUD BOARD MEETING THURSDAY)
Many of them spoke out against the board’s decision to build the plant, saying it is not needed and that it will cause rate increases for subscribers. The DUD currently purchases its water supply from the City of Smithville. Board chairman Roger Turney took comments and questions from the audience for about an hour and forty five minutes, before the board took action on a bond resolution for the project.
Four of the five board members voted in favor of the resolution, including Chairman Turney, Joe Foutch, Danny Bass, and Jimmy Womack. Board member Hugh Washer voted against the resolution.
The board also voted to amend its debt management policy.

Watch Part 2 of the Video
The legal notice for the meeting said that the bond resolution is for the authorization and issuance of not to exceed $9-million 250-thousand dollars in aggregate principal amount of waterworks revenue refunding and improvement bonds
During the meeting, Turney explained what that means. “In essence what it does is, it gives the bond council the right to go into negotiations to set up and to see just what qualifications we’ll have. What our bond rating will be and what the bonds will cost. No obligation will go forward. If something happens, we can back out of that and change it, but this gives them the permission to go on and find out exactly to the penny what our bonds will cost, what the interest rate will be, what the interest rate will be for those who buy them, and what the final cost will be,” said Turney.
After the board’s vote, several residents, already passoniate in their opposition, left the meeting even more upset.
The following are some of the comments made during the meeting by opponents of the water plant.
John Daniels, a City of Smithville water customer, first asked why the DUD board held its meeting at 3:00 p.m., an inconvenient time for most people, and in such a small room unsuitable for a large crowd. Turney later explained that the meetings are typically held at this time and location and he blamed a media campaign authorized by the City of Smithville for spreading misinformation about the DUD’s plans.” This is not a new idea. We have been discussing the possibility of a water treatment plant for ten years. I’ll be honest with you. Most of the group here today is because of a vast majority of misinformation that was handed out at the behest of the City of Smithville. A lot of the information has been drastically misunderstood and misrepresented. Obviously, there’s been a lot of money spent sending out calls, newspaper ads, and letters to all the customers, which is fine. But a lot of the information was not correct,” said Turney.
Daniels also questioned the need for a second water plant in DeKalb County. “How many times has the water ever been down in Smithville,” he asked? ” I’ve lived here for 34 years. I’ve never seen us without water, ever. Most other places don’t have redundancy (more than one water plant) either. It seems foolish to me to have two systems with one of them only running at 45% (capacity),” said Daniels.
Turney said “Our major concern is DUD customers. We buy our water from Smithville. Every year that water rate goes up because the rate from Smithville goes up every year. Our contract (with Smithville) runs out in eighteen months. We looked to the future. We had our auditors and several different other people look at the possibility of continuing to buy water from Smithville or produce our own water. In the long run all the projections come back that our water rates will go down or not go up as much because we will have the capacity to control our own expense and not have to depend on Smithville,” said Turney.
Dwayne Cantrell of New Hope Road, a DUD customer, challenged the board to fix water pressure problems in the existing system, before taking on a new project. Cantrell said he and many of his neighbors have had to install water pumps under their homes due to the lack of pressure in DUD lines which are too small. “I shouldn’t have to have a $400 water pump under my house in order to take a shower,” he said.
DUD Manager Jon Foutch said the utility is applying for a CDBG grant through the county commission to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, which if approved, would address water pressure problems in some areas. “If we were to get the grant, it would be for that area around Dismal to build a water tank. Being that much higher, we have customers like you in mind and also at Jenkins Hill where they have low pressure and that would take care of that problem,” said Foutch.
Robert Kirkham, a resident of Anderson Ridge Road at Silver Point, said the DUD should try to get a water line run via Hurricane Bridge so customers in his community could get water cheaper. “Cookeville sells to Baxter, Baxter sells to DUD, and DUD sells to us. By that time, its pretty expensive, he said. “Why not take this opportunity to put water across the bridge as they (TDOT) are refurbishing Hurricane bridge and relieve us of triple taxation for water we get. We also have almost no fire hydrants anywhere in our area,” he added.
In response, Turney said “We are concerned about the water bills of customers at Silver Point. We have looked at every possible way to handle that. The problem is it was over $500,000 to put that pipe (casing) on that bridge (Hurricane bridge). No water line, just the pipe. We have no water line to it (bridge) and no water line on the other side of it. If we had gone through the whole process of hooking that up, putting the pipe across the bridge and putting in the water line, the whole bit, probably everybody’s bill, the whole district would have had to have been doubled just so that you all (at Silver Point) could have a cheaper rate. That’s unfortunate that your rate is higher but we can’t get grants for this because it doesn’t serve new customers, its existing customers. You can’t get grants for existing customers. You get grants for new customers. My hope is that eventually, if we can get to the point where we can control more of our own money, we may be able to do something like that (connect DUD lines directly to Silver Point) but right now we can’t. If Baxter had not been willing to let you (Silver Point customers) have water, you probably wouldn’t have any water at all today. Is it better to have a high water bill with water, or no water bill and no water,” asked Turney?
Tommy Curtis of Hurricane Ridge Road, called for a referendum of DUD customers to gauge support for a new water plant. “Why can’t we have a referendum to let the voters on the water system now cast a vote as to whether we want this done and let some independent group count the ballots. You’re not giving us any choice and we’re the ones who are going to have to pay the bill,” he said.
Fifth District County Commissioner Jerry Adcock, a DUD customer, said he would like to see a change in the law to require DUD board members to be elected by those they serve. Currently, board members are appointed by their county commissions, according to Adcock. Names of likely appointees are apparently submitted by the DUD itself to the county commissions for consideration.
Charlie Rush of LaFevre Ridge Road suggested that DUD keep buying its water supply from Smithville.” You have a perfectly good water plant on the other side of town, operating at 50% capacity. What in God’s name do we need to be wasting money to build another one and bankrupting the first one,” he said.
Randy Rhody of Cookeville Highway, said DUD customers should have been made aware of this project from the start and given the opportunity for input early on. “A lot of the problem is poor communication,” he said. We’ve had no public forum. We’ve not been involved in any of the decision making on it. A lot of this is causing a lot of bad will between the city and the county. That’s unfortunate. We need to all get along and work together. We’ve had no problem in getting water. To me, if you vote yes, then you’re thrusting higher costs on all the residents of the DUD and you’ll be remembered for this mismanagement. I think it’s a mistake and I think most people think it’s a mistake. We’ve not been involved in the process. Had we all been sold on this, we would be behind you. That hasn’t happened. It seems the decision has been made in a closet and people haven’t been informed and don’t know. All the things I’ve heard so far sounds like this is not needed,” said Rhody.
Robbie Taylor of New Home Road said the DUD should consider people on fixed incomes who can’t afford higher water bills. ” DeKalb County doesn’t have a lot of rich people,” she said. ” A lot of people are on fixed incomes. We’ve got a lot of elderly people and our income don’t go up much. I’ve always heard if anything is not broke, don’t fix it. I don’t see anything is broke. I think we should leave it like it is,” she added.
Some suggested that the DUD’s desire in building this water plant is to expand its service area into Rutherford County. Turney denied that notion saying that the DUD simply wants control of its own destiny. “There’s been talk of selling water to Rutherford County. That’s my fault. I mentioned at our last meeting of possibilities of places that could use water. I mentioned Rutherford County. We haven’t talked to Rutherford County and they haven’t talked to us. Again, that’s being blown out of proportion to try to get people stirred up. We have no intent of selling to Rutherford County. Now, if someday they would like to tie into us, that would be a cash cow. That would give us income that would lower everybody’s bill. But we’re not even looking to do that. What we’re trying to do is make the rates for DUD customers as reasonable as possible, to provide water and keep it down as best we can,” said Turney.
Turney also argued that DUD water rates, while increasing seven percent each year over the next three years, will actually stabilize, if not decrease in time with this new plant. “We had to project to the state what our rate increases would be in order to pay for this grant, loan, and this water treatment plant. Our board passed a seven percent rate increase for this year, seven percent next year, and seven percent the third year with the stipulation that the third year that seven percent increase may not be that much. Let’s talk about what that really means. Our minimum bill right now is $17.50. At the end of that three years, the minium bill will go up four dollars and twenty cents. That’s the price of 1.2 gallons of gas today. That’s not going to break anybody. I don’t want anybody’s water rate to go up but that’s a small price to pay. We figure that our average customer uses about 6,000 gallons. Their water bill now is around $44.00. At the end of the three year period, their water bill will go up $10.50,” he said.
Turney also believes that having two water plants in the county would be better than one, especially in the event of some catastrophic episode. “What if something happens, and it did happen sometime ago. A flood came and Smithville was short of water for a while. Thank goodness it wasn’t a disaster. It could have been. What happens if that plant goes down. Where do you get your water? There’s no other place. With two treatment plants, we can benefit Smithville and they can benefit us and I firmly believe that in the long run not only will DUD customers be happy that we did this, but the City of Smithville will be happy we did it. We can help each other,” said Turney.
The DeKalb Utility District serves parts of a four county area, DeKalb, Cannon, Smith, and Wilson.
USDA Rural Development funds will be used to construct a new Raw Water Intake, Raw Water Transmission Line, Water Treatment Plant and distribution system improvements. The proposed plant will be constructed near Holmes Creek Road and will have a capacity of three million gallons per day. The intake will be on Center Hill Lake, the Transmission Line along Holmes Creek Road and distribution lines will be along Allen’s Chapel, Game Ridge, Turner, South Tittsworth, and Big Rock Roads, and Wheeler Lane.
The DUD will receive a $5,000,000 loan and a grant of $1,250,000 to fund construction of the water plant. The terms of the loan are forty years at 2.75% interest. The remaining $4,250,000 needed to build the $10.5 million facility will be funded through a bond issue. Turney said that the DUD is also refinancing other loans to save money. “In this loan and grant we have applied for, we’re refinancing some of the loans we already have at a savings of over $400,000 on the money that we have right now because of the historically low interest rates. The time is right. Everything that we’ve looked at says this is the time to do it,” he said.
As Turney mentioned, this is not the first time the DUD has seriously considered building its own water treatment plant. In January, 1999 the DUD was awarded a $1 million Rural Development Grant and a $2,380,000 loan. In addition to the money for the water plant, another $500,000 was made available to the project from a Community Development Block Grant for an elevated water storage tank which now stands at the top of Snow Hill. The tank was built to solve the problem of water pressure in some areas.
However when it came time to build the water plant, the DUD apparently discovered that the costs were much more than the available grant/loan funds. While DUD had sufficient local reserves to make up the difference and assurances from Rural Development for extra financial help if needed, the DUD decided instead to enter into negotiations with the City of Smithville for a new water rate. Some of the loan/grant funds were later used to make other improvements to the existing infrastructure.

For thirty years, Rebecca Baugh has been carrying on a family tradition as a teacher.
“Teaching is in my family,” she said. “My father taught forty five years. My mother taught nineteen or twenty years. I have aunts, uncles, sisters, and nieces who are teachers. I think I was born to be a teacher,” said Baugh.
For the last five years, Baugh has served an a fifth grade Special Education Inclusion Teacher st Northside Elementary School. However due to her husband’s recent stroke and concern for her own health, Baugh has chosen to retire from teaching. “My husband had a stroke in October. I have had some health issues. I think I need to slow down and be more available for him and make sure my health stays good. Teaching days are long and stressful. I am hoping to de-stress a little bit,” she said.
Baugh’s teaching career began shortly after she graduated from Tennessee Tech in 1970. Altogether, she has taught for a total of thirty years, taking a few years off along the way. “There were some years when my children were small that I didn’t teach. I haven’t taught straight through,” she said.
Over the years, Baugh has taught in several different school systems and grade levels. “I started in Putnam County. Then my husband and I moved to Roane County. I taught in Roane County. Then we moved back to Putnam County. I’ve taught in White County, Overton County, Smith County, and DeKalb County. I have taught every grade except sixth grade. I’ve taught pre-school. I had a day care center for eight years. I’ve taught all the way up through college English,” she said.
Still a resident of Cookeville, Baugh has made the commute back and forth from Putnam County to Smithville each day of school for the last five years to go to work, but she didn’t mind because of her love for the school and the students. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Northside. It is one of the friendliest groups of teachers that I have ever taught with. They made me feel welcome, even though I am not from DeKalb County. They know I love the students and they know I love teaching. It has been a real good experience,” she said.
So what is a Special Education Inclusion Teacher?
“An Inclusion Teacher helps the classroom teacher in the academic classes, math and reading,” said Baugh. ” And if my schedule allows, sometimes I go to writing and English class. But mostly its reading and math. I am the extra teacher that’s in there if somebody (student) is struggling with a math problem or struggling with a paragraph in reading. I am available to go around and help students while the teacher goes on with the class. It allows the classroom teacher a little more freedom to not have to stop the class for specific students. We can just go on. I help them catch up. I work with special education students but I’m allowed to help any student that needs help in the class. It has worked real well,” she said.
Baugh said while she likes some changes that have come along in education, teachers today are under more pressure, making their job much more stressful ” When I was in Smith County we did pull out for Special Education students and then I came up here and its inclusion in the classroom. When I was in school myself in elementary school, special ed students were not even identified. So things have changed quite a bit. I like the fact that students are identified that need extra help or maybe sometimes, just extra time to finish an assignment. If they are given extra time, a lot of times they can do grade level work and stay caught.up. I like a lot of the things that are taking place now in education. But with the evaluations and all the new things they have thrown in all at once, that’s where the extra pressure comes. Everything is so fast, you have to learn new things they give you at the beginning of the year and they almost don’t give you any time to absorb the new things they are putting into effect. Its really hard to stay up with the new things,” she said.
As she leaves the school system and goes into retirement, Baugh said she is pleased with the opportunity to have been a teacher here and for the support she has received from the administration. “I would like to thank Mr. (Mark) Willoughby and Dr. (Gayle) Redmon for the support. If I hadn’t been welcomed the way I was, I might not have taught these last five years. But it was very enjoyable. If my husband hadn’t had a stroke, I might want to teach a couple more years. But it’s time in my life, with my family situation to let somebody else a little younger pick up and run with it,” said Baugh.

Everyone’s reason to Relay is as unique as their own personal story. At Relay for Life, you can find healing, comfort, and support from others who have faced cancer or who have lost a loved one to the disease. You have a chance to meet people in the community who are equally as passionate about finding an end to cancer in our lifetime.
No matter why you take part in Relay, however, one thing is clear: with every step you take, you are helping the American Cancer Society save lives.
Come share the Relay experience at Green Brook Park on Friday, June 8 and take pride in knowing that you are working to create a world where this disease will no longer threaten the lives of our loved ones or claim another year of anyone’s life.
The 15th annual Relay for Life, sporting the theme “Dancing Under the Stars”, begins with musical entertainment at 5:00 p.m. followed by the opening ceremony at 6:00 p.m. featuring personal testimonies from cancer survivors and then a Survivors’ Lap, during which those who have survived the struggle circle the track together to help everyone celebrate what has been achieved against cancer.
As the sun sets, Luminaria bags lining the track illuminate the night and then a hush falls over the event as Relay participants, survivors and caregivers gather together for a Luminaria Ceremony at 9:00 p.m. to remember loved ones lost to cancer and to honor those who have battled the disease.
As participants walk the track lined with Luminaria bags in reflection, a caregiver who has lost a loved one may find comfort from a fellow caregiver who has faced a similar loss. Meanwhile, a survivor gains hope and strength from others who have followed the same journey and survived. All resolve to keep fighting to save more lives so no more Luminaria bear the names of those lost to the disease.
Teams take turns doing laps, but there must be one member from each team on the track at any given time during the 12-hour relay event. While team members off the field can sleep in the tents, most don’t. There is a lot of fundraising at the event as well, through concessions, games, and other activities.
As volunteers and donors, your efforts support research, education, advocacy, and services that allow the American Cancer Society to offer help and hope to people across the country when they need it most. By joining together at Relay, we celebrate life, friendship, and an opportunity to work to defeat cancer for future generations
The lineup of musical entertainment and events for this year’s Relay is as follows:
5:00 p.m.: Jimmy and Alisha Stephens
5:15 p.m.: Kathy Goodwin
5:30 p.m.: Dessa Ray
5:45 p.m.: Suzanne Slager
5:55 p.m:
Presentation of Colors by Boy Scout Troop #347
The National Anthem by Suzanne Slager
Invocation by Dwayne Cornelius, Pastor of the New Life Pentecostal Church
6:00 p.m.:
Opening ceremony
Welcome by Ivadell Randolph
Introduction of Cancer Survivors
Song honoring Cancer Survivors by Bonnie Rigsby and Shelley Cross
Prayer for Cancer Survivors by Don Davidson, Pastor of the Real Life Community Church
6:45 p.m.: David Turner & Friends
7:00 p.m.: Page Family
7:15 p.m.: Gather Round Boys
7:30 p.m.: Terry Hodges
7:45 p.m.: Tina Boston
8:00 p.m.: Fluty and the Flutones
8:15 p.m.: First Assembly of God
8:30 p.m.: Kevin Roberts
8:45 p.m.: Wendell Judkins
9:00 p.m.
Luminaria Ceremony
Prayer by Jeff Armstrong, Pastor of the Smithville Church of God
9:15 p.m.: Smithville Church of God Youth Group
9:30 p.m. New Life Pentecostal Praise Group
9:45 p.m.: Elizabeth Chapel Youth Group
10:00-11:00 p.m.
11:00 p.m.: 61 Seconds
Midnight: Team Activities Begin

The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s popular Images of America series is DeKalb County from local authors Judy Fuson and Ria Baker. The book, now available in book stores, boasts more than 200 vintage images and memories of days gone by.
Both Fuson and Baker will be available for a book signing at F.Z. Webb and Sons Pharmacy in downtown Alexandria on Friday, May 25 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
The book includes several photographs that have never before been published. The authors tried to include every community in the county in the book, and highlight families from all over. Many old houses are pictured, some that no longer stand and some that are more than 100 years old and still in use.
DeKalb County has a vast and interesting history spanning from Confederate general John Hunt Morgan’s raids on the North during the Civil War to the building of Center Hill Dam, which formed a beautiful lake that brings thousands of tourists to the county each year. The lake, encompassing 18,220 acres, displaced thousands of the earliest settlers’ descendants along the Caney Fork River.
The state legislature established DeKalb County from parts of surrounding counties in 1837. The county was named after Revolutionary War general Johann DeKalb, while the county seat of Smithville was named after state senator Samuel Granville Smith; neither man was from the county.
Authors Judy Fuson and Ria Baker are lifelong residents of DeKalb County, and many of their ancestors were early settlers of the county. Baker has been compiling historical photographs and information about her hometown of Alexandria for years, and she currently serves as the town’s mayor. Fuson taught in the county school system for 30 years, was yearbook advisor for 14 years, and is now retired.
The book is available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com.
Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. The mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places. Have we done a book on your town? Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.
F.Z. Webb and Sons Pharmacy of Alexandria will have copies of the book for sale along with a wide selection of Willow Tree figurines, New Case knives and other Case brand items, Fenton Glassware, and more.

The Dowelltown-Liberty Water System will start painting its water storage tank Thursday. The project will take about thirty days. While the tank is out of service, the utility will be using emergency water hook up, resulting in reduced water pressure and flow. Customers are urged to conserve water and be extremely careful with fire during this time.

A 41 year old Smithville woman is in trouble with the law in Putnam County for allegedly passing fake money at Rodeo Bob’s Bar in Cookeville Saturday night.
Tisha Elaine Burns of Evins Mill Road has been charged with criminal simulation.
The Herald-Citizen reports that Cookeville Police learned of the counterfeit money transaction at the bar while responding to a separate case involving a disturbance there.
The bar’s security officer told police that the woman, Burns, had allegedly bought $140 worth of alcoholic beverages, paying with seven $20 bills. The clerk later realized the bills were counterfeit.
According to the Herald-Citizen, Burns told the officer that she was unaware that the bills were counterfeit and said she had cashed her check at a Smithville bank and had later spent money at the Walmart store in Cookeville, receiving money back from transactions there and at another Cookeville store.
Burns had been in the bar with her boyfriend, but as police began to investigate the counterfeit money, her boyfriend left the scene.
After further investigation, which included making contact with the accused woman’s son who paid the business his mother’s bill, police decided to arrest Burns.
Burns was taken to the Putnam County jail, where her bond was set at $5,000. She later posted bond and was released. She will be in court there on June 11.

Early voting for the Smithville Municipal Election begins Wednesday, May 30 through Thursday, June 14 at the DeKalb County Election Commission Office on the first floor of the courthouse.
Hours for early voting are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m,
Thursday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. until Noon.
A mayor and two aldermen will be elected on Tuesday, June 19, each to serve a two year term, beginning July 1. The candidates for mayor are Taft Hendrixson and Jimmy Poss. Candidates for alderman are Scott Davis, Jason Judd Murphy, Tim Stribling, and Steve White.
The ballot will also include a referendum on liquor by the drink in city restaurants. Voters will have the opportunity to vote either “yes” or “no” on whether to “authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises in the City of Smithville.”
Registered voters who will be unable to go to their polling place (courthouse) on election day may vote by one of the following methods;
1. Voting by personal appearance
Beginning May 30, 2012 and through June 14, 2012, a voter desiring to vote by personal appearance shall go to the DeKalb County Courthouse, sign an application to vote and cast their vote on a voting machine. The last day to vote early by personal appearance is June 14, 2012.
2. Voting by mail
A voter must meet certain legal qualifications in order to vote absentee by mail. A voter desiring to vote absentee by mail shall, in writing over his/her signature either in person at the Election Commission Office or by mail, request an application for an absentee ballot. The voter must make
the request in writing and include their name (as registered), social security number, residence address (911 address), mailing address (if different from residence address), the election(s) they wish to vote in, the reason they are requesting to vote an absentee ballot and their signature. The written request must be received no later than June 12, 2012.
Disabled & Elderly Voters
Disabled or elderly voters (persons 65 or older) assigned to vote in precincts where the polling place is inaccessible may vote at the DeKalb County Election Commission office on election day OR vote early by personal appearance during the dates specified for early voting at the DeKalb County Courthouse OR vote by absentee ballot. Any disabled or elderly voter desiring to vote at the election commission office must notify the office in writing and complete an affidavit that states their voting location is inaccessible. Deadline for notification is June 9, 2012. Affidavits are available at the election office.
Please call 597-4146 if you have any questions. STATE LAW REQUIRES A PHOTO I.D. TO VOTE IN 2012 ELECTIONS.
For additional information, contact the Election Commission Office at 615-597-4146. The DeKalb County Election Commission is located at 1 Public Square, Room 104, (DeKalb County Courthouse), Smithville, TN. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Should the county commission take a stand, either for or against, a proposal by the DeKalb Utility District to build its own water plant?
Fifth district county commissioner Jerry Adcock raised the issue during Monday night’s county commission meeting. But County Mayor Mike Foster was less than enthusiastic with the idea, telling Adcock that the county commission really has no control over the DUD board of directors.
The following is the exchange between Adcock and Foster.
Adcock: “I know that they (DUD board) have already made up their mind but I think the commission should either say we’re for it or against it. The people should at least know where we stand”
Foster: “We have absolutely no control over them”
Adcock: “I don’t like the idea that five people (DUD board) can make up their mind and apply for federal grants through us (county) and then don’t do what we want”
Foster: “We have absolutely no control over them other than appointing them by the statute”
Adcock: “Can we appoint them who they want us to appoint?”
Foster:”There are some options under that. I don’t particularly like the system. A few years ago, we only had one representative (from DeKalb County on DUD board) and had five thousand meters, and we got it (county’s membership on DUD board) increased to three (by state legislation)”
Adcock: “This to me sounds like when DeKalb Telephone Cooperative, a few years ago wanted to go public. They (DUD) are cramming something down people’s throats that they don’t want. I feel like if these people (DUD board members) were elected by the people who have the (water) taps, they would answer more to the people”
Foster: “I agree with you in theory, but its moot”
Adcock: “Could we ask the state to approve that?”
Foster:”No, we can’t because they are not going to do it. I think (County Attorney) Hilton (Conger) can tell you that the utility districts are very, very strong and they control what goes on in their districts. We have no say so over it”
Adcock: “Kind of like a dictatorship”?
Conger: “They just have a strong lobby in the state legislature”
Foster: “I somewhat agree with you, but its not going to happen”
Adcock: “I just don’t like the idea of this plant getting shoved down everybody’s throat. They’ve already got everything set up. They know where the land is (to build the plant)”
Foster: “This has been going on (in planning stages) for ten years. I know it started in 2002 when I first got here, it was going on. They (DUD) have had public meetings and they have done everything they are supposed to do.”
Adcock: “They don’t listen to the people. Alright, I just got my say in”
Foster: “Okay”
The county commission took no action on the matter.
The DeKalb Utility District serves parts of a four county area, DeKalb, Cannon, Smith, and Wilson.
Members of the DUD board are Roger Turney, Chairman, from Auburntown; Joe Foutch, Jimmy Womack, and Hugh Washer all from DeKalb County, and Danny Bass from Smith County.
Rural Development funds will be used to construct a new Raw Water Intake, Raw Water Transmission Line, Water Treatment Plant and distribution system improvements. The proposed plant will be constructed near Holmes Creek Road and will have a capacity of three million gallons per day. The intake will be on Center Hill Lake, the Transmission Line along Holmes Creek Road and distribution lines will be along Allen’s Chapel, Game Ridge, Turner, South Tittsworth, and Big Rock Roads, and Wheeler Lane.
The DUD will receive a $5,000,000 loan and a grant of $1,250,000 to fund construction of the water plant. The terms of the loan are forty years at 2.75% interest. The remaining $4,250,000 needed to build the $10.5 million facility will be funded through a bond issue.
The DUD board will meet in special session on Thursday, May 24 at 3:00 p.m. at the district offices located at 191 Tiger Drive, Smithville. The board expects to consider a resolution for the authorization and issuance of not to exceed $9-million 250-thousand dollars in aggregate principal amount of waterworks revenue refunding and improvement bonds, and will consider any other matters that may properly come before the board.