A fire Thursday morning destroyed a single wide mobile home at 157 Cecil Hale Road.
The fire was reported to central dispatch at 8:52 a.m.
The home belonged to Comer Bratcher but Geronimo Soto lived there. Soto was at work when the fire started but was notified at the local nursery where he is employed.
A neighbor and a passing motorist spotted the fire. It was then reported to 911.
Members of the Short Mountain Highway, Blue Springs, and Main Station responded along with the tanker truck of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department.
County Fire Chief Donny Green said the fire started in a bedroom but the cause is undetermined. Soto lost most of his belongings in the fire.

The Smithville Municipal Election will have six candidates in the race for three aldermen seats on June 18.
The three incumbent aldermen up for re-election, Gayla Hendrix, Shawn Jacobs, and Danny Washer will be seeking another term. Three others, Josh Miller, Anthony Scott, and Aaron Meeks are also running.
Noon today (Thursday, March 21) was the qualifying deadline.
The election will be held on Tuesday, June 18.
The deadline for voter registration in time for the election is May 20.
Early voting will be May 29 through June 13 at the courthouse. Times have not yet been set.
The terms of the three elected will begin July 1 and run through August 2016. The aldermen-elect will serve a one time- three year term. Thereafter, the terms of office for these three positions will be for four years beginning with the city election in August 2016, subject to final approval of proposed changes in the city charter.
The Smithville Mayor and Aldermen adopted a resolution Monday night, February 18 to make changes to the city charter including having the terms of office go from two to four years, extending voting rights to county residents that own commercial property in the city (two persons per deed), allowing property rights voting to county residents who own at least 3,500 square feet of property in the city, and allowing by ordinance regular city council meetings to be held only once per month.
The resolution, passed unanimously by the aldermen, has been sent to State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and Mark Pody and State Senator Mae Beavers asking that they introduce an act in the legislature to amend in its entirety the city charter, which is Chapter 486 of the Private Acts of Tennessee for 1941 and to replace it with the new charter.
After the resolution is adopted by the General Assembly, it must return to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for a second reading where it must receive a vote of not less than two thirds of the entire membership of the board before it can take effect.
Under the proposed new charter, city elections will be held every two years, on the first Thursday in August to coincide with the county general election and state primaries. Terms of office for the mayor and aldermen will go from two to four years. City elections are currently held on the third Tuesday in June and the mayor and aldermen races are the only offices on the ballot.
The terms of office for the mayor and aldermen are staggered. For example, three aldermen are to be elected this year (2013) and a mayor and two aldermen are to be elected next year (2014). Currently the terms of office are for two years. The office holders are elected on the third Tuesday in June and their terms of office begin on July 1.
There will be no change in the date of the city election this year. The election will be held on Tuesday, June 18. The three aldermen elected this year will serve for a three year term until the August election in 2016. From then on three aldermen will be elected to serve four year terms. .
Next year under the proposed new charter, a mayor and two aldermen will be elected on the first Thursday in August. Those elected will serve for four years.
The proposed new charter states that ” The Election Commission of DeKalb County shall hold a municipal election on the third Tuesday in June of 2013 for the purpose of electing three aldermen to serve until the first Thursday in August of 2016 or until their successors are elected and qualified. At the municipal election of the first Thursday in August of 2014 a Mayor and two aldermen shall be elected to serve until the first Thursday in August 2018 or until their successors are elected and qualified. Thereafter the terms of the Mayor and aldermen shall be four year terms. The Mayor and aldermen shall be elected at large. Any elector who has been a resident of the city for at least one year may be qualified as a candidate for Mayor or Alderman by a nominating petition submitted to the DeKalb County Election Commission in the time and manner determined by the general laws of the State of Tennessee”.
Currently, persons who live in the county may qualify as a city property rights voter in municipal elections if they own property in the city of at least 7,500 square feet. The proposed new charter changes that to 3,500 square feet and it allows property owners to count multiple floors toward the total square footage requirement. Anyone who lives in the county but owns commercial property of any size in the city may also register as a property rights voter with a limit of two persons per deed. The proposed new charter states that ” any person owning property within the corporate limits of the municipality and residing outside such limits but within DeKalb County may register and vote in municipal elections, if such property ownership is of a residential lot size of not less than thirty-five hundred (3500) square feet or any person owning a commercial property of any size as long as there are not more than two (2) persons per deed in either property classification. Multiple floors shall count towards the total square footage residential requirement Such nonresident shall furnish to the Registrar’s office proof of ownership and lot size and location by submitting a copy of the municipality’s tax notice or such other document deemed acceptable by the Registrar. Such nonresident shall not be eligible to hold any municipal office or serve on any municipal board or commission.”
For more information about the Smithville Municipal Election contact the DeKalb County Election Commission Office at 597-4146.

A Wednesday afternoon fire destroyed a barn belonging to Tony Davis at 3750 Seven Springs Road.
Central dispatch was notified at 1:50 p.m.
Members of the Blue Springs and Main Station of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded but could not save the barn. A bottle fed calf also perished in the fire.

County Fire Chief Donny Green said the cause of the fire is undetermined but may have been electrical.
Meanwhile, county firefighters saved a mobile home in a Tuesday afternoon blaze at 1100 Allen Bend Road in the Belk Community.

Central dispatch was called at 5:32 p.m.
The mobile home belongs to Crystal Moore but she didn’t live there. The persons who did occupy the home had recently moved out although some home furnishings remained.
According to Chief Green, the fire started from a bedroom and spread from the trailer to the yard and field in front of the structure. The cause of the blaze is undetermined. Chief Green said firefighters were able to contain the trailer fire to the bedroom but the rest of the home received heat, smoke, and water damage. A large area of the front yard was scorched by the flames.
Members of the Belk, Blue Springs, Keltonburg, Main Station, Short Mountain Highway, and tanker truck all responded along with DeKalb EMS and officers of the sheriff’s department.

Judge David Patterson sentenced seven people on drug charges and two others for burglaries in DeKalb County Criminal Court Monday, March 18
20 year old James Dillon Mitchell and 19 year old Amy Elizabeth Mullican pleaded guilty to attempted initiation of the manufacture of methamphetamine. Each received a six year sentence, all suspended to judicial diversion supervised probation and were fined $2,000. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, September 20, 2012 a drug detective stopped a vehicle on Highway 70 east for having a headlight out. Mitchell, the driver, had very slurred speech and he kept dropping things in the car. The detective noticed a strong chemical odor coming from the automobile. Mitchell was asked to get out of the vehicle. He submitted to a search and the detective found in Mitchell’s coat pocket, rubber tubing taped to the lid of a bottle. In Mitchell’s pants pocket, the detective found a sock which contained a scale, glass pipe, and aluminum foil. Mullican, the owner of the vehicle and a passenger, gave consent to search the automobile and the detective found a plastic bottle, a one pot lab, in the front floor board along with two small plastic containers that held lye, three cut hoses, and empty blister packs. Mitchell said that the one pot lab belonged to him. Mullican admitted to knowing the one pot lab was in the car. A female correctional officer was called to the scene to search Mullican. Found in Mullican’s bra was a small plastic baggie with a white powdery substance believed to be methamphetamine.
25 year old Amanda Brooke Washer pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and received a three year sentence, all suspended to supervised probation. The sentence is to run concurrently with a sentence she is now serving in Warren County. She must also make restitution if applicable. Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger said that on Saturday, June 9, 2012 Washer allegedly broke into the residence of Eulain Poley Shelton on Gentry Avenue and took several items from the house including pieces of jewelry, cash, and other items, all valued at over $1,000
33 year old Jamie Edward Carroll pleaded guilty to promotion of methamphetamine. He received a five year sentence, suspended to 243 days of time served with the balance on TDOC supervised probation. Carroll must complete a long term residential drug rehab program. He was also fined $2,000. He was given jail credit of 243 days. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, July 19, 2012 officers went to Carroll’s residence at 834 Gentry Avenue due to high traffic volume there. After receiving consent to search, officers found four hypodermic needles and several items used to manufacture methamphetamine including Aleve D Cold tablet boxes (in a kitchen garbage can); a 20 ounce plastic bottle, partially filled with a solid substance; a cold pack, partially burned in the back yard; and another cold pack which was found cut on the carport area of the home.
40 year old Scott Lynn Sykes pleaded guilty to attempted initiation of methamphetamine. He received a six year sentence to serve at 30% before his release eligibility date. His probation in another case was also revoked and he must serve the balance of a four year sentence in that case. The two sentences are to run concurrently with each other. Sykes was given jail credit from November 11, 2011 to November 24, 2012 and from January 1, 2013 to March 18, 2013. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on New Year’s Day a sheriff’s department drug detective came to Sykes’ home on Alexander Street to do a welfare check on a small child. Sykes gave the detective consent to search the residence. In Sykes’ bedroom, the detective found rubber tubing, a 20 ounce Pepsi bottle, acid, ice compresses (cold packs) that had been cut open, a plastic baggie with a white substance believed to be lye, and pliers and cutters. In the kitchen, the detective found a two liter bottle partially filled with lighter fluid, an empty quart Kingsford fluid container, and a sixteen ounce bottle partially filled with acid. These components are used to manufacture methamphetamine. Sykes admitted that these items belonged to him. He was arrested and brought to the jail for booking. The house was placed under quarantine.
34 year old James Frederick Summers pleaded guilty to possession of a schedule VI drug for resale and possession of a prohibited weapon. He received a two year sentence on the drug charge, all suspended to probation except for 180 days to serve. He was also fined $2,000. Summers received a one year sentence on the prohibited weapon charge, all suspended to supervised probation. The two sentences are to run consecutively for a total of three years. He was given jail credit of 158 days. Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger said that on Thursday, September 20, 2012 as he was driving north in his patrol car on Tramel Street going toward West Main Street, a 2000 model Hyundai, driven by Summers, was approaching him, coming south on Tramel Street. He said the car almost hit him head-on. Summers pulled into the parking lot of DeKalb Community Bank. Chief Caplinger stopped the vehicle and detained Summers. A passenger of the car, 28 year old Joshua Cripps, got out and fled on foot. He was picked up later at another location in the county and was charged with evading arrest. Officer Chip Avera and Corporal Travis Bryant arrived to assist Chief Caplinger at the scene. Found in Summers’ car were 40 grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana wrapped in paper along with some drug paraphernalia. A check of Summers’ driving record revealed that he was driving on a revoked license. His license had previously been revoked for driving under the influence in Warren County and for two DUI’s in DeKalb County. Summers was taken into custody and his car was seized by police. Summers had in his possession a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles).
29 year old Daniel Ray Wilson pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and received a three year sentence in each case to run concurrently with each other and with General Sessions cases against him. The sentence was suspended to supervised probation except for 120 days to serve and he must make restitution if applicable. Wilson was given jail credit of 115 days. Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger said that on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at Taco Bell, Wilson allegedly broke the passenger side window of the victim’s vehicle with a brick and then reached inside and took her purse. Wilson was arrested again on Thanksgiving Day after allegedly breaking into a vehicle at NHC. Entry was made by breaking the back side glass out and taking items from the automobile.
35 year old Gary Ashford pleaded guilty to sale of a schedule IV controlled substance and received a three year sentence, all suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000. He also pleaded guilty to a violation of probation in another case and received a sentence of 120 days to serve. The sentences are to run consecutively. Ashford was given jail credit from November 27, 2012 to March 18, 2013 along with 21 days of previous jail credit.
37 year old Greg Patton pleaded guilty to attempted initiation of the manufacture of methamphetamine and evading arrest. He received a four year sentence to serve at 30% in the meth case and 11 months and 29 days to serve for evading arrest. The sentences are to run concurrently with each other. Patton was fined $2,000.

City officials are admonishing property owners to keep their lots maintained free of junk and clutter and to remove any dilapidated and unsafe structures.
During Monday night’s city council meeting, Mayor Jimmy Poss said there are clear violations of the city’s property maintenance ordinance across town. “There is property in town that has got a lot of junk in the yard. We’ve looked at it. It’s not only one spot. Its more than one spot. It entails a lot of property. I can take you to houses that has been abandoned. Its grown up. The houses need to be torn down. I want to give the property owners a chance to clean it up,” said Mayor Poss.

Those who don’t clean up their properties could risk civil penalties. “I just want to make everybody aware that sooner or later we’re going to have to send out some citations, “said Mayor Poss.
The city’s “Minimum Property Maintenance Requirements” states that “no person owning, leasing, renting, occupying, including vacant lots, shall maintain or allow to be maintained on such property, except as may be permitted by any other city ordinance, any of the following conditions visible from any public street or alley:
Junk, litter and trash;
Outdoor nuisances dangerous to children, including but not limited to abandoned, broken or neglected equipment, machinery, or any appliance with a latching door;
Shopping carts in any front yard, side yard, rear yard or vacant lot of any property;
Dead, decayed, diseased or hazardous trees, or any other vegetation a majority of which (excluding vegetation located in flowerbeds, or trees, or shrubbery or existing hayfields) exceeds twelve (12) inches in height, or which is dangerous to public health, safety, and welfare, located in any front yard, side yard, rear yard, or upon any vacant lot”.
“Has the city notified them (property owners in violation) by letter?,” asked Alderman Tim Stribling.
“No we haven’t done it. I have talked to family members of one house and they’re okay with it,” answered Mayor Poss.
“I talked with Mr. (Eugene) O’Neil (city building codes inspector) over a year ago and there are a few (unkept properties) over by you (mayor) that we looked at,” said Alderman Danny Washer.
“We did send out notices on those,” responded Mayor Poss.
Alderman Washer said the problem with some is that the owners of abandoned properties are difficult to locate. “You send them (notices) out to the last known property owner and get no response. That’s what he (O’Neil) told me,” said Alderman Washer.
Alderman Stribling asked about sending out more notices. “Mayor, on these houses that you’re saying you can’t find them (property owners), can the city send out the letter that they’re supposed to send out and within so many days if they (property owners) don’t do it (respond), can the city clean it up and then put a lien on the property?”
“I’m not sure,” replied Mayor Poss.
Alderman Washer said according to Mr. O’Neil, if the property owners don’t respond to the notices, the city could clean up the properties and charge them for the cost. “I might be wrong but I think what Mr O’Neil told me was that all we can do is add it (city’s cost of cleanup) on to their taxes if they don’t do nothing,” said Alderman Washer.
“I think we need to start by sending out notices to all the city property owners that’s not meeting the ordinance requirements,” said Alderman Gayla Hendrix. ” We could possibly put a fine and a lien on it. I’m not saying fine them up front. You could give them notice that they have so much time to get the property in order to meet the requirements of whatever the ordinance states and let them know that its punishable by a fine if its not cleaned up in a certain amount of time. But we definitely need to give people notice especially if they own property here and maybe live away from here and might not realize the condition (their property) is in. So give them notice. Give them an opportunity to fix it and if they don’t then impose a fine,” she said.
Alderman Washer said the problem is not just with abandoned houses. ” Its also people that do live there and they still junk it up. It ridiculous. We have a lot of people coming into our city that goes right by (some of these properties). It’s shameful. I can point you out cars that have set there and not been touched in probably fifteen years. They’re just setting there. They do nothing with them. Its not just one (vehicle). They keep adding to it. Next year you’ll have another one, and then another one. It just keeps multiplying. It an eyesore. And tires. We’re fixing to come into hot weather. That needs to be cleaned up,” said Alderman Washer.
Concerned citizen Faye Fuqua suggested having a city cleanup day and to encourage residents throughout town to participate. “I know some people are going to have to be forced (to clean up their properties) but maybe the whole city could have a clean up day and encourage everyone on each street and in each community to do that,” said Fuqua.
Alderman Hendrix also encouraged anyone knowing of unkept property to contact city hall or the mayor. “If you have a problem in your neighborhood with property that’s not kept notify city hall because sometimes we can’t get around to every area,” she said.
Mayor Poss said he liked Fuqua’s idea of a city cleanup day and may explore that possibility. “Maybe we need to have a city cleanup, like the county has a cleanup. Maybe we need to set a date. We’ll see what the people think and try to go with it,” he said.
The city’s property maintenance ordinance provides for enforcement stating that “It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector of the City of Smithville to serve notice upon the property owner of record in violation. The property owner shall be notified in writing specifying the nature of the violation, specifying the corrective measures to be taken, and require compliance within not more than 30 days. The notice may be served upon the owners of the premises where the violation is located by:
Posting notice in plain view on the property in violation, or sending notice by mail
The date the notice is posted or received by the offender shall serve as the beginning of the specified time period allowing for corrective action.”
The ordinance further states that “Failure by the property owner to take corrective action to bring the property within compliance shall constitute a violation and be a civil offense.”
“Any person violating this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty of $50 for each separate violation of this chapter. Each day the violation of this chapter continues shall be considered a separate violation,” according to the ordinance

How much does it cost the City of Smithville to treat and supply water?
$2.67 per 1,000 gallons according to the results of a water cost study by Warren and Associates Engineering, PLLC of Lebanon.
(CLICK PDF LINK BELOW TO READ THE ENTIRE REPORT)
Smithville Cost Study March 2013.pdf (327.54 KB)
According to the report, Based on the data reviewed provided by the City of Smithville, and based upon documented revenues, calculated expenses, and calculated capital expenditure
allowances, the average cost to treat and supply 1,000 gallons for the City is:
• Average Cost to Treat and Supply 1,000 Gallons: $2.67
The current rates charged by the City of Smithville to their customers are as follows:
• City of Smithville Customers: $5.00/1,000 gallons
• DeKalb Utility District: $2.05/1,000 gallons
The City of Smithville currently sells water to the DeKalb Utility District for $2.05 per thousand gallons and under terms of the contract, the rate increases by five cents per thousand gallons in January of each year. The two parties entered into the contract in 2004 and it expires in 2014. Even if the DUD builds its own water plant, it will apparently still need a new water agreement with the city to serve certain areas.
As a comparison, rates charged by other selected utilities in the Middle Tennessee area were
checked, according to the study. Following is a summary of the amount per 1,000 gallons charged.
Comparative Rates from Other Utilities as follows:
District/Utility Providing
District/Utility Purchasing
Price/1,000 Gallons
Town of Carthage Cordell Hull UD/25 UD $4.01
Smith Utility District Town of Alexandria $2.88
Smith Utility District Southside UD $3.75
Hartsville/Trousdale Water Cordell Hull UD $2.75
Hartsville/Trousdale Water City of Lafayette $2.75
Hartsville/Trousdale Water Castalian Springs UD $2.75
Hartsville/Trousdale Water Southside UD $2.75
Lafayette UD Red Boiling Springs $4.32
Cookeville UD Jackson County UD $3.71
Gainesboro UD Jackson County UD $2.82
Livingston UD Jackson County UD $2.99
Red Boiling Springs UD Jackson County UD $4.22
The city paid $7,500 to have the study done.
The City of Smithville and DeKalb Utility District were expected to share in a cost of service study as the two sides looked toward possibly making a deal on a new water contract. But the DUD opposed the city’s selection of Warren and Associates.
In a recent letter to city officials, signed by Board Chairman Roger Turney and manager Jon Foutch, DUD officials wrote that the city and DUD were to have agreed on the selection of an unbiased entity to perform the study. DUD officials claim that Warren and Associates is not unbiased in that it has been hired by the city and officials of the company will be presenting evidence against the DUD on behalf of the City of Smithville at the April 4 Utility Management Review Board (DUD rate review) proceeding in Smithville.
Smithville Cost Study March 2013.pdf (327.54 KB)

City officials are asking residents to keep their dogs from running loose
Mayor Jimmy Poss, during Monday night’s city council meeting, said dogs are running wild in the city and some people have been bitten. “We’ve been trying to catch one dog that’s done bit two people,” he said.
Mayor Poss is urging city residents to abide by the leash laws. “I know everybody has probably seen dogs running in the communities. There is a law in the city. There is a leash law on dogs. Its the owner’s responsibility to keep them in a pen or on a chain. A lot of people don’t like to do that but I just want everybody to know we’re trying (to solve the problem) and if anybody has dogs, I would ask them to tie that dog up. Any (dog) we catch out here running loose, we’re going to take to the pound. If they (dog owners) come over there (to the pound) then they will have to (pay the fee) to adopt them back. I believe its $10 or $20. Its something we’ve got to do as a community. I know it’s a touchy subject but we have people who are being bit. We don’t need biting dogs in the community,” said Mayor Poss.
“I know its in our ordinance but its also state law,” said Alderman Gayla Hendrix. “There’s a leash law in the state of Tennessee and people can take a warrant out if someone’s dog is running at large and bothering them. Of course the best thing to do if you’re in a neighborhood, if someone’s dog is bothering you and you know who it belongs to is to ask them first to keep the dog put up and if they continue to let the dog run and it becomes a nuisance then you can go to the sheriff’s office,” she said.
“If you’re going to be a pet owner then you need to be a responsible pet owner,” added Alderman Jason Murphy.
“You’ve basically got two types of dogs. You’ve got those dogs that are not trained that are just running wild and then you have those dogs that are pets,” said Alderman Tim Stribling. ” People need to keep them (pets) confined, on a leash, or in their homes because the weather is warming up, people are walking and running. If somebody runs by somebody’s house and a dog is out in the yard, it’s kind of protective of that area. Sometimes it (dog) goes after those people that are exercising,” said Alderman Stribling.
“At least if they (owners) put collars on them (dogs) we would know whose they are,” said Mayor Poss.
“Still, they shouldn’t be running loose,” responded Alderman Stribling
“If they don’t have a collar on we can assume that they’re wild. That would help us determine if they are somebody’s dog,” concluded Mayor Poss.
Alderman Danny Washer said if the city plans to enforce the laws on dogs, then city residents should be made aware of the laws they are expected to abide by.