Hoyte Barrett and Taft Hendrixson will join Jerry Taylor as a part time judicial or warrant commissioner for the county.
The county commissioners Monday night during their regular meeting voted to fill a vacant judicial commissioner post and to create another one.
The county has been operating for several years with just two judicial commissioners. Taylor holds one of the positions. Tammy Ashburn held the other but she recently resigned. Rod Higham fills in as an assistant judicial commissioner on a part time basis as needed and he will continue to do so.
Currently, each of the two judicial commissioners is expected to work for two weeks as needed and then officially be off for two weeks, However, even when they are off, the judicial commissioners are subject to being called in. The positions pay $884 per month.
Judicial Commissioners are responsible for the issuance of criminal arrest warrants upon finding probable cause. They are subject to call at all hours of the day and night.
During Thursday night’s “All-Committees” meeting, County Mayor Mike Foster said he wanted to create a third judicial commissioner position. “What I’m thinking is, we could have three on call. Rotate weekly. Each judicial commissioner could work a week and be off two weeks but still be on call in case one of the others got sick,” he said.
Since funds are not already budgeted for a third judicial commissioner, Foster said the county commission would have to adopt a budget amendment to pay for it. That action is expected to come during the September meeting.
Barrett and Hendrixson were among six applicants for the two new positions. The others were Mark Adams, Oscar Boyd, McClure Cantrell, and Richard Jennings. All were interviewed by members of the county commission Thursday night.
It took three roll call votes Monday night to fill the first available judicial commissioner position. Seven votes were needed to get the appointment.
On the first ballot, Barrett received five votes to four votes for Hendrixson. Mark Adams received two votes and Oscar Boyd got one vote.
Those voting for Barrett were Mason Carter, Jerry Scott, Jeff Barnes, Marshall Ferrell, and Jimmy Poss.
Bobby Joines, Jack Barton, Wayne Cantrell, and Larry Summers voted for Hendrixson.
Elmer Ellis, Jr. and Jerry Adcock voted for Adams and Bradley Hendrix cast his vote for Boyd.
The names of Richard Jennings, McClure Cantrell, and Oscar Boyd were dropped from consideration on the second ballot since they received little or no support on the first ballot.
During the second vote, Barrett received six votes, Hendrixson had four, and Adams got two votes.
This time Barrett got votes from Mason Carter, Jerry Scott, Jeff Barnes, Marshall Ferrell, Jimmy Poss, and Bradley Hendrix.
Bobby Joines, Jack Barton, Wayne Cantrell, and Larry Summers stuck with Hendrixson while Elmer Ellis, Jr. and Jerry Adcock stayed with Adams.
On the third ballot, Adams’ name was dropped leaving only the names of Barrett and Hendrixson.
During the third vote, Barrett got the seven votes he needed to secure the appointment.
Barrett received the support of Mason Carter, Elmer Ellis, Jr., Jerry Scott, Bradley Hendrix, Jerry Adcock, Jeff Barnes, and Marshall Ferrell.
Hendrixson received the support of Bobby Joines, Jack Barton, and Wayne Cantrell. Jimmy Poss and Larry Summers did not cast a vote on the third ballot. Voting ceased when Barrett reached the magic number of seven votes
Only one roll call vote was needed to fill the second available judicial commissioner position as Taft Hendrixson received the seven votes required for the appointment.
McClure Cantrell got four votes and Oscar Boyd had one vote for the second available judicial commissioner position.
Those voting for Hendrixson were Marshall Ferrell, Jerry Adcock, Wayne Cantrell, Jerry Scott, Bobby Joines, Elmer Ellis, Jr., and Mason Carter.
Cantrell received the support of Jimmy Poss, Larry Summers, Jeff Barnes, and Jack Barton.
Bradley Hendrix voted for Boyd.
County Mayor Foster said both Barrett and Hendrixson will be sworn in around the first of the month and will need to get some training.
Judicial commissioners serve for a year at a time at the pleasure of the county commission and will be up for reappointment next September.

The county commissioners Monday night during their regular monthly meeting selected Rick Cantrell to fill the unexpired term of John Green as a member in the fifth district.
Seven votes were needed to get the appointment. Cantrell received eight votes.
County Commissioners voting for Cantrell were Jimmy Poss, Larry Summers, Marshall Ferrell, Wayne Cantrell, Bradley Hendrix, Bobby Joines, Elmer Ellis, Jr., and Mason Carter.
Cantrell was among four applicants for the position. The others were Steven Cantrell, Eugene LaFever, and James Young. All were interviewed by the county commission during an All-Committees meeting Thursday night at the courthouse.
Two members of the commission, Jeff Barnes and Jerry Adcock voted for James Young Monday night.
Commissioners Jerry Scott and Jack Barton voted for Eugene LaFever.
Cantrell, born and raised in the fifth district, has served on the DeKalb County Regional Planning Commission since 1995. “I have lived in DeKalb County all my life. I went to school here. I have worked for BFN Operations for thirty eight years, formerly Knowles & Sons Nursery. It’s in the fifth district. I am one of the managers there,” said Cantrell during his interview Thursday night.
“One thing I’d like to throw out there is that I have no vendetta. I am just here to work with you all for the whole county,” continued Cantrell during the interview. “I have no personal gains or reasons whatsoever involved here. If I feel like I am correct (on an issue) and it’s the right thing to do, that’s the way I’ll vote,” he said
When asked if he would run for the office in the next election during the interview, Cantrell replied “That’s a possibility. If the people of the 5th district ask me to, I would. I will address that when the time comes,” he said.
County Mayor Mike Foster announced Monday night that Cantrell will be sworn into office September 1. Green’s term expires August 31, 2014.
Green resigned from the county commission in April announcing that he had moved his residence to White County. He had served on the county commission for eleven years, having first been elected in 2002. He was then re-elected in 2006 and 2010.
At the beginning of Monday night’s meeting, County Mayor Foster recognized Green and on behalf of the county commission, presented him a plaque for his years of service to his district and the county.

While the first election in 2014 is months away, DeKalb County Administrator of Elections Dennis Stanley said potential candidates have already begun to ask questions about various offices.
“We have had people already ask what they need to do to become a candidate,” Stanley said. “Even though it is a little bit early, certain issues could come into play now, depending on the circumstances.”
It is likely a primary election will be called by one of the local political parties for May 6, 2014. As a result, the qualifying deadline for all candidates will be Noon February 20th. Petitions will be available November 22, 2013.
“Since petitions are not available until November 22, 2013, potential candidates may wonder how they can declare or announce they are running before November,” Stanley said. “Individuals may be announced candidates and may begin soliciting campaign funds at any time before the election. That is a political strategy issue and each candidate must make that decision.”
“However, before a candidate raises or spends money, the candidate needs to file an “Appointment of Political Treasurer” with the Election Commission. This form is available at http://www.tennessee.gov/tref/forms/ss-1120.pdf or can be obtained at our office. You can print it out online and bring it to us. We must have the original, so a fax or email will not work.”
”You may file the Appointment of Political Treasurer at any time, but it must be filed before you raise or spend money,” Stanley continued. “The Registry of Election Finance has said that “incidental” expenses while you are thinking about running do not count. There are different regulations for judicial candidates, so please ask us before soliciting campaign funds.”
Once a candidate files an Appointment of Treasurer form, the candidate is required to file periodic disclosure reports. The reports are to be filed quarterly during the election year and semi-annually in either the year(s) before or after. Additionally, a report is due 10 days before any election. The report dates can be found at http://www.tennessee.gov/tref/cand/cand_filing.htm or you can obtain a copy at the local election office.
“The State Registry of Election Financial (615-741-7959) or http://www.tennessee.gov/tref/contact.htm has jurisdiction over election financial issues,” Stanley said. “The DeKalb County Election Commission merely files the reports and makes them available to the public. The state office can answer any question you have about financial reports or requirements.”
More information about the petition process, including additional deadlines for Road Superintendent and Sheriff candidates, can be obtained at the election commission office on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse or by logging on to www.dekalbelections.com.

The DeKalb County unemployment rate for July was 8.2%, down from 8.7% in June but up slightly from 8.1% in July, 2012.
The local labor force for July, 2013 was 9,850. A total of 9,040 were employed and 810 were unemployed.
DeKalb County’s jobless rate for July was second lowest in the Upper Cumberland Region. Here’s how the fourteen counties ranked from highest to lowest:
Pickett County: 12%
Van Buren County: 12%
White County: 11.3%
Clay County: 10.5%
Warren County: 10.4%
Overton County: 10.3%
Jackson County: 10%
Fentress County:9.8%
Cumberland County: 9.2%
Macon County: 9.1%
Cannon County: 8.4%
Putnam County: 8.4%
DeKalb County: 8.2%
Smith County: 7.3%
County unemployment rates for July 2013 show the rate decreased in 79 counties, increased in 12, and remained the same in four counties. Specific county information is available on the Internet; enter http://www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/labor_figures/LaborJULY2013.pdf.
Davidson County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate of 6.7 percent, down from 7.0 percent in June. Knox County’s July rate decreased to 7.0 from 7.3 percent. Hamilton County decreased to 8.6 percent from 8.8 the previous month. Shelby County was 9.8 percent, down from 10.3 percent in June.
Tennessee’s preliminary unemployment rate for July is 8.5 percent, which is unchanged from the June revised rate. The national unemployment rate for July 2013 was 7.4 percent, down two tenths of one percentage point from the previous month.
The state unemployment rate is seasonally adjusted while the county unemployment rates are not. Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique that eliminates the influences of weather, holidays, the opening and closing of schools, and other recurring seasonal events from economic time series.

The DeKalb County Commission is looking to fill a vacant judicial commissioner position and to add another one during Monday night’s regular meeting.
The county currently has two judicial or warrant commissioners. Jerry Taylor holds one of the positions. Tammy Ashburn held the other but she recently resigned. Until that vacancy is filled, Taylor has the responsibilities all to himself except for the services of Rod Higham, who fills in on a part time basis as needed.
Currently, each of the two judicial commissioners is on call for two weeks and is off for two weeks. The positions pay $890 per month.
During Thursday night’s “All-Committees” meeting, County Mayor Mike Foster said he would like to create a third judicial commissioner position. “What I’m thinking is, we could have three on call. Rotate weekly. It’s going to add $10,000 a year to the operation of the office but they (each judicial commissioner) could work a week and be off two weeks but still be on call in case one of the others got sick,” he said.
Since funds are not already budgeted for a third judicial commissioner, Foster said the county commission would have to adopt a budget amendment to pay for it.
Meanwhile members of the county commission Thursday night interviewed six applicants for the positions, Mark Adams, Hoyte Barrett, Oscar Boyd, McClure Cantrell, Taft Hendrixson, and Richard Jennings.
Two of those applicants will likely be appointed by the county commission Monday night, one to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Ashburn, and the other to fill the newly created position.
Other issues on the county commission agenda Monday night are as follows:
Budget amendments/Quarterly Reports
Discuss an emergency purchase for addition and improvement to high school football bleachers for the DeKalb County Board of Education per Phone Poll
Discuss a resolution to authorize the issuance of general obligation school improvement bond of DeKalb County resolution for detailed repayment.
Discuss authorization of agreement with DeKalb County Road Supervisor Kenny Edge for the county to purchase oil, etc. for improvement of convenience sites by the Road Department.
Discuss TDOT project status report
Discuss recycling transfer station plans and future plans. Discuss possible agreement with Smithville.
Discuss invitation to bid-Omega roof, gym, completion of surveillance cameras for the county complex
Discuss commission and committee vacancies
Any other business properly presented
Notaries.
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in the downstairs courtroom of the courthouse. WJLE plans LIVE coverage.