The county commission Monday night, following a public hearing, again went on record pledging to reduce the property tax rate by a minimum of nineteen and a half cents, if the people of DeKalb County will vote to increase the local option sales tax from 1.5% to the maximum of 2.75% in a public referendum set for May 17th.
Last September, the commission raised the property tax rate by 39 cents to $1.90 per $100 of assessed value, after a public referendum to increase the sales tax rate failed at the polls in August. A reduction of nineteen and a half cents would roll the property tax rate back to a little over $1.70 cents per $100 of assessed value.
The commission, in February, authorized a second public referendum on the proposed sales tax hike and voted unanimously to go on record pledging to cut the property tax rate by nineteen and a half cents, if the referendum is approved. Monday night’s vote by the commission was a renewal of that committment.
All county commissioners present for the meeting voted to make that pledge including Elmer Ellis, Jr., Mason Carter, Jack Barton, Bobby Joines, Jerry Scott, Randy Caplinger, Wayne Cantrell, Jeff Barrett, John Green, Jeff Barnes, Marshall Ferrell, Larry Summers, and Willie Thomas. Chris Smithson was absent.
The DeKalb County Election Commission has set the date of the election for Thursday, May 17th.
This will be a county wide election. Early voting will begin Friday, April 27th and end Saturday, May 12th.
On election day, May 17th, the polling places will open at 8 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
The wording on the ballot will read:
“SHALL RESOLUTION 21-2-2007-1 PASSED BY THE DEKALB COUNTY COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 26, 2007 PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE LOCAL SALES TAX FROM 1.5% TO 2.75% WITH ONE-HALF (1/2) REQUIRED BY LAW AND THE REMAINDER AS PER AGREEMENT CONTRACTS, BE APPROVED?”
County Mayor Mike Foster says under the proposal, a greater number of people, particularly tourists, would shoulder the tax burden while giving property owners a tax break. “If tourists spend their money here, and we increase the sales tax, it would benefit us tremendously, and you let those people and those who work here but are not residents of DeKalb County pay their share. We would have to pay the sales tax too but if you look at the average homeowner and they get a $100 tax break, they would have to spend an extra $10,000 on something that pays sales tax to get back to being where they are now. We feel like the property owners are paying their share, and to give them a tax cut, we think is fair.”
Foster says overall the plan is actually more of a tax swap than a tax increase, with the proposed extra sales tax revenue to offset the proposed cut in the property tax rate, but it would provide sufficient funding to meet county needs for four to five years without any additional tax increases. “We’re estimating around $700,000 to $750,000 in new sales tax revenue under the proposal. We were estimating about $260,000 from Wal-Mart, but we are also realistic in that we know other businesses are going to lose some revenue, and that’s the unknown. I’ve talked to some business people, whose revenue is off considerably. So if we estimate that Wal-Mart will generate $260,000, there will probably be somewhere between $75,000 and $100,000 lost in other businesses, so we’ve taken that into consideration. But we still feel like that it will conservatively bring in about $700,000.”
Foster added that the proposed new revenue would not be enough to absorb the entire 39 cent property tax increase adopted last September
Only two people spoke during the public hearing.
George Davis said he favors the sales tax hike as a means of giving property owners some tax relief, but Joe Collins strongly voiced his opposition to both the proposed sales tax increase as well as the 39 cent property tax hike. Collins blamed Foster for supporting a 36 cent tax increase during his first term in 2003 and the 39 cent tax hike last year, after he was re-elected. Collins said the tax increase was not needed.
Foster says despite the tax increases, DeKalb County is still among the lowest taxed counties in the state. “There are no free lunches. It’s got to come from somewhere. Fentress, Macon, Overton, and Smith Counties which are of similar size to DeKalb County, are getting an average of over $1.2 million more in sales tax revenue than DeKalb County and their property tax rates are considerably higher than ours and several of them have wheel taxes. We have no wheel tax. I am proud of the job the county commission does in managing things. Is it a perfect world? No. Is there some waste? Absolutely. Where can you cut it (budget)? Cut positions. We’ve got the same number of positions we had eight years ago. We’ve added zero positions. In fact we’ve cut two positions this year. I don’t know how we stop inflation nor how we deal with anything except reality and that’s what these people(county commissioners) have tried to do.”

Smithville Police are continuing their fight against illegal drug sales in the city with numerous arrests having been made in recent days for Sale and Delivery of Narcotics.
The latest to be arrested include 22 year old Nicky Reese of 150 Kings Court Circle, Smithville; 26 year old Wayne Halton Hicks of 920 South Mountain Street, Smithville; 30 year old Robin Lawson and 24 year old Victoria Lawson, both of 284 Braswell Lane, Smithville. Bond for each is set at $40,000 except Hicks. His bond is $20,000.
Meanwhile, Chief Thomas J. Stufano says Smithville Police also responded to an Adams Street address where a concerned citizen called to report that an apparent drug deal had just occurred and remnants of that activity were in a front yard where small children were playing.
Chief Stufano says “Upon arrival police found a syringe that still had the needle and traces of fresh blood in it lying in the front yard. Also present were neighborhood children curious about the activity. The item was collected and disposed of as bio-hazard material. Biomedical waste can be a health and safety hazard due to the nature of the waste and may contain disease causing germs.”
According to Chief Stufano, “Smithville Police are finding these types of hazardous items throughout the city especially in vacant areas that are frequented by smaller children out playing. Parents and children are strongly encouraged not to handle these types of items and report suspicious activity immediately to safety officials. Police, Fire and Health professionals are trained to properly handle and dispose of bio-hazard material so that these items cannot hurt someone. ”
In another case, Chief Stufano says “On Sunday, March 25th 32 year old David Reyes of 274 Smith Road Smithville was arrested for driving a vehicle with no driver’s license resulting in a motor vehicle accident. Reyes was subsequently arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $1,000 bond. Reyes also admitted to being an illegal alien form Mexico.”
Chief Stufano says ” The Smithville Police Department, in cooperation with its state and local counterparts, are committed to the safety and security of our residents and guests. If you see suspicious activity in your neighborhoods, take a stand and call the police! Remember your call could prevent a crime against your family and neighbors. Dial 215-3000 for police response or 911 only if an emergency. “

The body of a man surfaced on Center Hill Lake Saturday afternoon, believed to be that of 43 year old Bobby Joe Cosgrove of Cook Street, Cookeville who has been missing since Tuesday.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says a fisherman on the lake spotted the body in the water in the Coconut Ridge area, downstream a long distance from where the search effort was being conducted around Hurricane Bridge. The fisherman then called 911 to report the discovery around 4:19 p.m.
An autopsy is being performed on the body to help determine the cause of death.
Sheriff Ray says Cosgrove’s vehicle was found parked by the side of the road at Hurricane Bridge on Highway 56 north early Tuesday morning and the car contained some of his personal belongings. Based on what was found in the car, Sheriff Ray says authorities believe Cosgrove may have jumped off the bridge and drowned.
In addition to the Sheriff’s Department, others who aided in the search this week for Cosgrove were members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the TWRA, the DeKalb County and Putnam County Rescue Squads, and the Putnam County K-9 Tracking Unit.

The DeKalb County Legislative Body has called a special election to let the voters decide whether to increase the local option sales tax rate in DeKalb County from 1.5% to 2.75%
The DeKalb County Election Commission has set the date of the election for Thursday, May 17th.
This will be a county wide election. Early voting will begin Friday, April 27th and end Saturday, May 12th.
On election day, May 17th, the polling places will open at 8 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
The DeKalb County Commission will have a public hearing on the proposed sales tax refendum Monday, March 26th at 5:00 p.m. in the basement courtroom of the courthouse. Everyone is invited to attend to ask questions or make comments. The public hearing will be followed by the regular monthly meeting of the county commission at 6:30 p.m.
The wording on the ballot will read:
“SHALL RESOLUTION 21-2-2007-1 PASSED BY THE DEKALB COUNTY COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 26, 2007 PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE LOCAL SALES TAX FROM 1.5% TO 2.75% WITH ONE-HALF (1/2) REQUIRED BY LAW AND THE REMAINDER AS PER AGREEMENT CONTRACTS, BE APPROVED?”

A search effort has been underway since Tuesday on Center Hill Lake for a man believed to have jumped off Hurricane Bridge and drowned.
43 year old Bobby Joe Cosgrove of Cook Street, Cookeville is missing.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Cosgrove’s vehicle was found parked by the side of the road at Hurricane Bridge on Highway 56 north early Tuesday morning and the car contained some of his personal belongings. Based on what was found in the car, Sheriff Ray says authorities believe Cosgrove may have jumped off the bridge.
Cosgrove is a white male with brown hair, brown eyes, and a brown beard. He was last seen wearing a jogging outfit. He is six feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds.
Sheriff Ray says members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the TWRA, the DeKalb County Rescue Squad, and the Putnam County K-9 Tracking Unit have all been involved in the search for Cosgrove by land and water, but the depth of the lake as well as the huge rocks, metal, and parts of the old bridge at the bottom of the lake make dragging operations difficult.
He says if Cosgrove isn’t found by the weekend, rescue squads from other counties will be called upon to aid in the search, and underwater cameras may be used.

A woman who ran out of gas in her vehicle on Ferrell Road Wednesday was arrested by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department after an officer found pills and drug paraphernalia in her vehicle.
Roxanne Hendrixson of McMinnville Highway is charged with possession of a schedule II controlled substance (methodone) for sale and delivery and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says a concerned citizen called the department on Wednesday stating that a vehicle was parked on Ferrell Road. After the officer arrived at the scene to check on the vehicle, he noticed that Hendrixson had a white powdery substance on her nose. He requested and received consent to search the vehicle and found a bottle containing 77 methodone pills. Sheriff Ray says the label on the prescription bottle was partially torn off so the officer couldn’t determine to whom the pills were prescribed, but the remaining portion of the label on the bottle revealed that the prescription was filled Tuesday for 160 pills. In addition to the pills, the officer found a pill crusher and a straw containing a white powdery residue .
Hendrixson will be in General Sessions Court on the charges March 29th.

A fire Wednesday morning destroyed the home of Jimmy Sprague at 310 Jackson Hollow Road in the Temperance Hall community.
County Fire Chief Donny Green says a neighbor coming home from work first saw the smoke and then discovered the fire at around 8:20 a.m. He says by that time, the roof had already collapsed.
Members of the Temperance Hall, Liberty, and Short Mountain Highway Stations responded along with a tanker truck but firefighters were unable to save the home and contents.
Sprague, who works for the county road department, was not at home at the time but saw the smoke and returned home. Sprague told firefighters he left home around 6:20 a.m. to take his children to school.
Sprague’s 1996 Chevy Tahoe, parked in the driveway only a few feet away from the garage, was damaged but not destroyed. Sprague arrived in time to move the vehicle further away from the fire.
No one was injured.
Firefighters and members of the Tennessee Division of Forestry were later recalled to the scene after the fire rekindled and spread to the woods.

Smithville Police Officers were busy over the weekend with DUI and speed enforcement throughout the city. Officers made (4) arrests for DUI, wrote (12) citations for excessive speed and made (2) Public Intoxication arrests.
On Friday, March 16th Smithville Officers arrested 31 year old Alex Shaw Hudgens of 110 Sutton Lane, Ashland City. Chief Thomas Stufano says “At approximately 2:00 a.m. Hudgens was noticed traveling at a high rate of speed on Highway 70. When Officers approached the driver they could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from him.. Standard sobriety tests were administered with Hudgens performing poorly. He was subsequently arrested for DUI and transported to the DeKalb County Jail and placed under a $1,000 bond.”
On Saturday, March 17th Smithville Officers saw 26 year old Derek Charles Riggs of 245 Allen Street, Smithville, drive his vehicle at a high rate of speed down Allens Chapel Road. Chief Stufano says “Upon stopping the vehicle it was readily apparent that Riggs was under the influence of alcohol. Also present in his vehicle was his 6 year old son. Riggs was arrested for DUI, Reckless Endangerment, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was booked into the DeKalb County Jail under a $6,000 bond.”
DUI Enforcement continued on Sunday March 18th with the arrest of 23 year old Esteban Morales Palomo of 13015 West Greenhill Road, McMinnville. He was charged with DUI. Chief Stufano says “Smithville Police spotted Palomo pulling up to a local fast food restaurant at 3:00 a.m. to place an order even though the business had been closed for hours. Upon contact it was apparent that Palomo was intoxicated when Officers smelled a strong odor of alcohol on Palomo’s breath as he spoke. Standard sobriety tests were administered and substantiated that the driver was alcohol impaired. Further inspection of the vehicle noted that there were two six packs of empty Corona Beer containers on the back seat. In addition to the DUI charge, Palomo was also charged with No Driver’s License and Violation of the Open Container Law. He was transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $1,000 bond. Palomo also admitted to being an illegal alien from Mexico.”
A second arrest for DUI was made at 8:30 a.m. Sunday when Smithville Police were working speed enforcement in the area of Foster Road. Chief Stufano says ” Officer’s stopped 26 year old Ramiro Rojas of City Walk Apartments on Bryant Street, Smithville for speeding. Upon contact with Rojas police detected a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Also observed was an open container of beer sitting in the console of the vehicle. Rojas preformed the field sobriety tests and was found to be very unsteady on his feet. He was placed under arrest for DUI, Driving without a Driver’s License, No Insurance and Violation of the Open Container law. He was transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $1,000 bond.”
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Also arrested at the same traffic stop was Rojas passenger 26 year old Ernesto Zolang of 225 Bryant Street, Smithville. Chief Stufano says “At the time of the driver’s arrest, Zolang exited the passenger side of the vehicle falling against the truck due to his intoxication. He was arrested for Public Intoxication and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $1,000 bond. Both subjects advised that they were illegal aliens from Mexico.”
Continued traffic enforcement efforts on March 18th detected a driver known not to have a valid driver’s license due to a previous DUI arrest. Smithville Officer’s saw 51 year old Charles Earl West of 679 Pine Grove Road, Smithville driving his vehicle on Highway 56 South. Chief Stufano says “A computer check showed that West’s drivers license is currently revoked. He was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $1,000 bond. West’s vehicle, a 2006 Suzuki SUV was seized under the state’s drug and alcohol forfeiture act.”
Chief Stufano says “Smithville Police are staying constantly vigilant for DUI, Speeder’s and suspicious activity within our city limits. Citizen’s participation in reporting these safety issues has been extremely beneficial in helping preserve our community’s safety. Resident’s are encouraged to immediately report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods and on our roadways! “

A 19 year old Home Health Care employee has been charged with fraudulent use of a credit card belonging to an 81 year old woman with whom she was sitting.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Cynthia Kirby of Bell Street Apartments has posted a $1,000 bond and she will be in General Sessions Court on the charge March 29th.
According to Sheriff Ray, the elderly woman gave Kirby her debit card to withdraw some money to buy some supplies. While Kirby was at Region’s Bank in Smithville on Thursday, March 8th, she made an unauthorized debit for $200.
Sheriff Ray says Kirby implicated herself in a statement she gave to authorities. In addition to the criminal charge against her, Kirby has been terminated from her employment.
In a separate case, 18 year old Terry Barnes of West Maple Street, Morrison is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His bond is $1,000 and he will be in court on the charge March 22nd.
Barnes is accused of being with a 17 year old female who was reported missing by her mother. The girl’s mother took out a runaway petition on the juvenile after discovering that her daughter was gone.
Sheriff Ray says officers confronted Barnes about the girl but he denied knowing her whereabouts. She was found with Barnes at the home of Barnes’ sister on Corinth Church Road on Friday, March 16th.
In other cases, Sheriff Ray says 24 year old Jamie Reyes of Short Mountain Highway, Smithville was arrested on Saturday, March 17th and charged with a second offense of driving under the influence and violation of probation. His bond is set at $6,000 and he will be in court on the charges March 29th.
Sheriff Ray says an officer, while on patrol, found Reyes sitting in a vehicle on Whorton Springs Road. The car was running but Reyes was passed out. Reyes was awakened and asked to perform a field sobriety task, which he failed. He was then taken into custody.
48 year old Ricky Devault of Talphia Road, Dowelltown was also arrested Saturday and charged with driving on a revoked license. Sheriff Ray says a deputy, while on patrol spotted Devault driving on the Old Snow Hill Road. The officer knew Devault didn’t have a driver’s license so he pulled him over. DeVault already has two cases of the same offense pending against him in General Sessions Court. He is under a $3,000 bond and he will be in court on this charge April 19th.
On Sunday, March 18th, 35 year old Alfonso Hernandez of Bluff Springs Road, McMinnville, was arrested and charged with a third offense of driving under the influence and driving on a revoked license. A deputy, while on patrol, stopped Hernandez for weaving on Highway 56. He failed a field sobriety task and was charged. He is under a $6,000 bond and will appear in General Sessions Court April 19th.
39 year old Carlos Reyes of Skyline Drive, McMinnville was also arrested for driving under the influence over the weekend after a deputy stopped him for weaving on Highway 56. He failed a field sobriety task and was charged. His bond is $1,000 and his court date is May 10th.

A fire Sunday afternoon destroyed the weekend log cabin home of Thomas Trusty at 525 Sweetwater Road.
County Fire Chief Donny Green says Trusty was in the cabin when it caught fire but he escaped unharmed. He was also able to salvage the few personal belonging he kept in the cabin.
Green says the fire was well underway by the time Trusty could get to the nearest phone to report it so firefighters were unable to save the structure. The cabin was also located in a secluded wooded area, several miles of the main road, making it difficult for fire trucks to reach . County firefighters and members of the Tennessee Division of Forestry were able to keep the blaze from spreading.
Green says the fire apparently started from a chimney in the cabin. He says Trusty had a fire going in a wood stove, when the chimney caught fire and spread to the wall.
Members of the Liberty, Temperance Hall, and Short Mountain Highway stations responded along with the Tennessee Division of Forestry.