A man believed responsible for several vehicle burglaries was sentenced Friday, February 19 in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
Judge David Patterson presided.
18 year old Steven Tyler Wheeler entered a plea to three counts of auto burglary and received a two year sentence in each case to run consecutively with each other for a total of six years. The sentence has been suspended to supervised probation except for 120 days. Wheeler is requesting judicial diversion. He is also to make restitution of $700 to Model City Auto Sales. Wheeler was given 94 days jail credit.
Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins said Wheeler was arrested on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 on three counts of burglary and vandalism. Officers took two reports on Walker Drive where someone had entered vehicles and taken items without the owner’s permission. A report was also taken on Tuesday, November 17 of someone busting out a window and possibly trying to hot wire a vehicle at Model City Auto Sales in an attempt to steal the automobile. Upon investigation it was determined that all three incidents were related and that Wheeler was a suspect. After questioning, Wheeler was charged and arrested without incident.
Wheeler was charged with another burglary and theft on Friday, November 20. According to police, an officer took a report on Wednesday, November 18 in which a vehicle had been broken into on Walker Drive. Upon investigation, Wheeler was determined to have been involved in this incident in addition to the other break-ins on Walker Drive.
47 year old Kimberly Ann Patterson entered a plea to possession of a schedule II drug for resale. She received a six year sentence to serve at 30% The term is to run concurrently with all other current sentences against her. All other charges including two drug offenses are to be dismissed and not presented for indictment. She was given jail credit from July 24, 2015 to February 19, 2016.
Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, July 24, 2015 a sheriff’s department detective went to Patterson’s residence on Toad Road and spoke with her. During a discussion about a search, Patterson produced money and a silver container from her bra. The cash totaled $200. Inside the container were four and a half pills believed to be Dilaudid. She was placed under arrest.
47 year old William (Billy) Stephen Zaderiko entered a plea to theft of property under $500 and received a suspended sentence of 11 months and 29 days. He must make restitution of $1,500. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 Zaderiko was questioned about a 2013 Hustler zero turn lawn mower which he had in his possession. Zaderiko said he had purchased the mower from an auction company in Cookeville. After an investigation, it was discovered that Zaderiko had lied to law enforcement officers. During subsequent questioning, Zaderiko admitted to having lied about where he obtained the lawn mower saying he received it from his cousin who resides in Benton, Kentucky. Zaderiko further admitted to having sold the lawn mower to another person for $7,500. Officers learned that the lawn mower had been stolen in Benton, Kentucky on July 18, 2014 and that the serial number had been removed. Zaderiko said he lied about the lawn mower because he did not want to get his cousin in trouble.
46 year old Robert Roy Atnip, Jr. entered a plea to burglary and received a ten year sentence as a range III offender to serve 45% before parole eligibility. He must make restitution of $500 to Smithville Golf Course. Atnip was given jail credit of 220 days. Smithville Police said that on Saturday, September 6, 2014 Atnip allegedly broke into an outbuilding at the Smithville Golf Course and took several grass trimmers and hedge trimmers, valued at $1,500.
24 year old Clay Andrew Bain entered a plea by information to a charge of aggravated assault. He received a five year sentence all suspended except for 90 days. Bain will be on TDOC supervised probation and he must forfeit his weapon. Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 a deputy was dispatched to Lakeview Drive in reference to a domestic. Upon arrival the officer spoke with Bain’s girlfriend who reported that after she and Bain had gotten into an argument he shoved her to the ground causing a cut and swelling to her hand. As the woman’s daughter, a minor child, tried to break up the argument, Bain grabbed her by the arm and slung her to the side causing injury to the child’s arm and shoulder. After being told by the deputy that he was under arrest, Bain ran into the house and to a back bedroom where he grabbed a muzzleloader pistol from a dresser, and waved it around with the officer and others in the room. Bain was forcibly restrained and handcuffed. The weapon was found to be unloaded.
32 year old Terra Elaine Locklear entered a plea to aggravated burglary and theft over $1,000. She received a sentence of three years for the aggravated burglary and two years in the theft case to run consecutively with each other for a total of five years. The term is also to run consecutively with another case against her. Locklear will remain in the DeKalb County Drug Court Program and she is to make restitution to victims in the following amounts $500 and $425.
Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 Locklear and a co-defendant, 37 year old Jessie Eugene Thomas broke into a residence on Dale Ridge Road and took several tools and building materials with a total value of $1,190. During the burglary, Thomas also broke out a window valued at $425. The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective. Thomas and Locklear were arrested on Friday, June 26. Thomas was also charged with vandalism. His case remains pending in court.
31 year old Rickey Stanley entered a plea to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended except for 48 hours to serve. He was fined $360. He will be on supervised probation for six months followed by six months of good behavior probation. Stanley must also undergo an alcohol and drug assessment.
30 year old Brandon Scott Kidd entered a plea by information to reckless endangerment and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on supervised probation.
26 year old Christopher Alan Medlin entered a plea by information to burglary other than a habitation and theft over $1,000. He received a three year sentence in each case suspended to supervised probation. The sentences will run consecutively with each other for a total of six years to serve 120 days. A co-defendant, 24 year old Hillary Elizabeth Knowles entered a plea by information on February 12 to burglary and theft over $1,000 and received a three year sentence in each case suspended to probation. The sentences are to run consecutively with each other for a total of six years and consecutive to a violation in General Sessions Court . She is to make restitution to victims in the following amounts: $111.50, $7.29, and $50.
Sheriff Ray said that on September 13, 2015 Knowles and Medlin allegedly broke into an outbuilding at a residence on Oak Place Drive and took property valued at $550 including a Troybilt pressure washer and a tool box full of various tools. Medlin allegedly admitted to selling the stolen property. The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective.
The theft charge against Medlin alleged that on August 29, 2015 he took various merchandise from Walmart valued at more than $1,000.
51 year old Lisa D. Dyer entered a plea to theft over $10,000 and received a four year sentence on TDOC probation. She was given 22 days jail credit and must make restitution of $12,047 to Edgar Evins Marina.
41 year old Ernest Barnwell entered a plea to a fourth offense of driving on a revoked license and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days to run concurrently with a Warren County sentence against him.
35 year old Roger Curtis Gregory entered a plea by information to reckless driving and received a six month sentence on supervised probation.
45 year old Clarence Sexton, Jr. entered a plea to driving on a suspended license and received a sentence of six months on supervised probation. He will lose his license pursuant to Tennessee Department of Safety regulations.
53 year old Carl E. Martin pled guilty to domestic assault and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to probation. The sentence is to run concurrently to all current sentences against him. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, May 9, 2015 a deputy responded to Cookeville Highway for a physical domestic between Martin and his wife. Martin allegedly caused bodily harm to the woman by breaking her tooth, busting her lip, and bruising her eye lid and eye brow. The woman said that Martin held her down by the hair and beat her in the face while in the living room of the home. The woman said she feared for her safety.
38 year old Joel Thomas Hayes entered a plea to theft under $500 and simple possession. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case on probation. Hayes was fined $750. The sentences are to run concurrently with each other but consecutive to a Warren County case against him. He must make restitution of $20 to a victim.
50 year old James Warner, Jr. entered a plea to aggravated assault and received a three year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. He must attend domestic violence classes. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, August 15, 2014 Warner allegedly assaulted his wife by grabbing her by the throat and he threw her on the ground, resulting in a knot on the back of her head. He also allegedly hit her in the face which resulted in a knot on her forehead. Physical markings could be seen on the woman’s throat area where Warner had tried to strangle her. A minor child was in the home at the time and witnessed the assault.
38 year old Michelle Yarbro entered a plea to driving under the influence and simple possession of schedule IV and II drugs. She received a suspended sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case to run consecutively for a total of almost three years. Yarbro must serve 48 hours and then be on probation. She was fined a total of $1,850 and must attend a DUI class and victim impact panel, undergo an alcohol and drug assessment and follow all recommendations. She will also lose her driver license for one year.
68 year old Paul Cox Herron, Jr. entered a plea by information to reckless driving and received a six month sentence on supervised probation.
20 year old Oscar Garcia pled guilty to evading arrest and resisting arrest . He got a one year sentence for evading and six months for resisting . The sentences are to run concurrently with each other but consecutive to a Putnam County case against him. He will be on supervised probation. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, July 3, 2014 a deputy was dispatched to Cookeville Highway to look for a possible drunk driver. The officer saw the vehicle and noticed that it had failed to maintain its lane of travel. The deputy tried to stop the automobile but it sped away traveling at up to 100 miles per hour down Cookeville Highway. The car ran four traffic lights along the way, barely missing other motorists as it carelessly swerved in and out of traffic. At one point, the vehicle pulled over to the shoulder of the road and stopped, but then took off again as the officer got out of his patrol car. The deputy got back in his cruiser and began a 13.75 mile pursuit to Hurricane Ridge Road where the fleeing automobile finally stopped. The driver, Garcia initially refused to get out of the vehicle. When he finally did exit the car, Garcia resisted being handcuffed. Garcia was eventually arrested and brought to the jail for booking. Garcia, who had a strong odor of alcohol on his person, admitted to drinking two beers.
37 year old Gregory Roberts pled guilty to a third offense of driving on a revoked license. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to supervised probation except for 48 hours to serve. He will lose his driver license eligibility per Department of Safety regulations. Roberts was given two days of jail credit.
47 year old Bradley L. Luna entered a plea to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days to serve 48 hours and then be on probation. He was fined $350 and will lose his driver license for one year. He must attend a DUI class and victim impact panel.

A total of 938 persons cast ballots during the eleven day early voting period for the Tennessee Presidential Preference Primaries and the DeKalb County Democratic Primary.
According to Administrator of Elections Dennis Stanley, 595 persons voted in the Republican Primary and 343 cast ballots in the Democratic Primaries.
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW SAMPLE BALLOT)
MARCH SAMPLE BALLOT MASTER.pdf (41.39 KB)
On Tuesday, February 23, the last day for early voting 181 persons cast ballots including 179 in person and 2 by absentee. One hundred fifteen voted in the Republican Primary and 66 in the Democratic Primaries.
Although early voting has ended, absentees can still come in through election day.
The Primary is set for Tuesday, March 1. Voting at all precincts in the county will be that day from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Although some candidates have dropped out, the names of presidential candidates for the March 1 presidential preference primary, or “SEC Primary” in Tennessee are as follows:
Republican Primary Ballot
•Jeb Bush
•Ben Carson
•Chris Christie
•Ted Cruz
•Carly Fiorina
•Jim Gilmore
•Lindsey O. Graham
•Mike Huckabee
•John R. Kasich
•George Pataki
•Rand Paul
•Marco Rubio
•Rick Santorum
•Donald J. Trump
Democratic Primary Ballot
•Hillary Clinton
•Martin J. O’Malley
•Bernie Sanders
Meanwhile, the DeKalb County Democratic Primary will be held on March 1 to select nominees for Assessor of Property and Constable in six of the seven districts of the county.
Incumbent Assessor of Property Scott Cantrell will be unopposed for re-nomination by his party in the March 1 DeKalb County Democratic Primary but he will be opposed by Republican Shannon A. Cantrell in the August General Election.
Democrat Jason C. Taylor is unopposed for Constable in the 1st district in the March 1 Primary but he will face Republican Lee Plummer in the August County General Election.
There is no Democratic candidate for Constable in the 2nd district. Republican Tom Theriaque will be unopposed for 2nd district Constable in the August General Election.
Incumbent Democratic Constables Travis Bryant in the 3rd district, Paul Cantrell in the 4th district, Mark Milam in the 5th district, Carl Lee Webb in the 6th district, and Johnny King in the 7th district will be unopposed in both the March 1 Primary and in the August General Election.
The DeKalb County Democratic Primary is being held in conjunction with the Tennessee Presidential Preference Primary on March 1.

The county will take more time in searching for a new judicial commissioner.
During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting the county commission voted to re-advertise an opening for two additional weeks hoping to get more applications. The county’s judicial committee will then review any applications received and make a recommendation to the county commission.
The vacancy has been created due to the resignation of Taft Hendrixson because of health reasons.
The county recently advertised the opening and received one applicant but she is the spouse of a Smithville police officer and members of the judicial committee were concerned that this could be viewed as a conflict.
One of the judicial commissioners now serving, James Harvey Barnes, is the sheriff’s uncle. Some question why this is not a conflict.
County Attorney Hilton Conger said Monday night that he has placed a call to an attorney for the state’s judicial ethics committee to inquire as to whether the spouse of a police officer should serve as a judicial commissioner. Conger said he has not yet heard back from the attorney.
If the opinion is that the police officer’s wife could serve, she may still be considered for the position along with any others who apply within the next two weeks.
“Judicial commissioners are under the auspices of the Court of the Judiciary the same as judges from the Supreme Court down through judicial commissioners. I put in a call for the attorney for the ethics commission to discuss this with him but I didn’t get a call back this afternoon (Monday). I think the concern of the (county judicial) committee was that if this particular officer came in to request a warrant and his wife was on duty you might not have a neutral and detached magistrate which is the requirement,” said County Attorney Conger.
As for one of the judicial commissioners being the Sheriff’s uncle Conger said this may not actually be a conflict since he (sheriff) seldom signs a warrant. “I don’t ever see the Sheriff signing any warrants. His deputies do but the Sheriff doesn’t usually request a warrant. I don’t know if his uncle being a judicial commissioner would have any bearing on that but I could certainly see a husband and wife situation. It might raise a conflict and we don’t want to do anything that at least appears improper,” said Conger.
The county has had three judicial commissioners including Taft Hendrixson, James Harvey Barnes, and Tammy Ashburn. They were appointed by the county commission to the positions for a one year term last September as recommended by the judicial committee.
The judicial committee is made up of the General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge, Sheriff, Circuit Court Clerk, County Mayor, and a representative of the District Attorney General’s Office.
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. Judicial commissioners serve at the pleasure of the county commission and their terms of office can be one year to four years.

A sex offender has been arrested for not giving timely notice after relocating from Cannon to DeKalb County.
41 year old Robin Clark Green of Ragland Bottom Road, Smithville is charged with violation of the sex offender registration law. Green’s bond is $5,000 and he will make a court appearance on February 25.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Green moved from Cannon to DeKalb County without giving notice within 24 hours of the move in violation of the sex offender registration law.
“On Wednesday, January 13 a Sheriff’s Department Detective went to 267 Ragland Bottom Road to tell Green that his address needed to be changed on the sex offender registry. Green was told that he had twenty four hours from the time he moved to change the address. On January 19, the detective spoke with Cannon County officials who said that Green had not changed his address and was still registered in Cannon County,” said Sheriff Ray.
Green was subsequently placed under arrest.
Meanwhile, 33 year old Timothy Paul Proctor of Meadowbrook Drive, McMinnville is charged with public intoxication and child abuse or neglect. His bond is $6,500 and he will make a court appearance February 25.
Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, February 18 a deputy was called to Vaughn Lane due to a man passed out behind the steering wheel of a vehicle. A small child was also in the automobile. The man, Proctor, admitted to the officer that he had taken suboxone throughout the day before driving to the residence on Vaughn Lane and falling asleep in the driver’s seat with a child in the backseat.

Smithville was well represented at the 2016 Cheersport Nationals held February 12-14 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
Cheersport Nationals is the largest cheerleading competition in the world with over 1,250 teams and over 25,000 cheerleaders in attendance this year.
Power Athletics’ Storm Cats, a Senior Coed Level 3 team, took home the National Championship in their division. After day one of competition, the Storm Cats were in second place by .4 points and had zero deductions for their routine. At the end of day two, the Storm Cats edged ahead of their competition to win the National title and take home the jackets with an aggregate two-day score of 92.6 and a second day of zero deductions. Members of the Storm Cats from Smithville are (L-R) Carlee West, Talon Billings, Malia Stanley, and Hayley Martin. This is the second National Championship for Hayley Martin and Carlee West who were both members of the 2015 Power Athletics’ Lady Cats Junior 2 team. The 2015 Lady Cats won a bid and attended The Summit (which is the Super Bowl of cheerleading) at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida as a result of their win at Cheersport Nationals last year. The Storm Cats are coached by Ashley Farris and JC Hen ry.
Power Athletics’ Lady Cats, a Junior Level 2 team and defending National Champions, took home second place after a very close two-day competition. Day one of competition found the Lady Cats .1 point behind the leader and .1 point in front of third place; they also had zero deductions for their routine. They fell short on day two after performing another zero deduction routine with an aggregate two-day score of 92.78. Representing Smithville on the Lady Cats is Madeline Martin. The Lady Cats are coached by Ashley Farris and Kelsie Smith.
Power Athletics is the most successful All-Star cheer gym in the Upper Cumberlands. They offer classes in cheer, tumble, and stunt. It is located at 40 CC Camp Rd, Cookeville, TN. For more information, please contact them at info@powerathletics.net. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or go to their website at www.powerathletics.net for the latest information.”

Another incumbent alderman has qualified for the August Smithville Municipal Election
Danny Washer will be in the race for re-election.
Three aldermen will be elected on August 4th. The terms are for four years.
Others who have obtained qualifying petitions to date are:
Wesley Nokes
Ronald D. Stanley
Shawn Jacobs (incumbent)
Josh Miller (incumbent). Miller’s petition has been returned and verified
Gary Durham
The qualifying deadline is Noon April 7

The 2016-17 Tennessee hunting and fishing licenses are now on sale
Licenses are available at Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) regional offices, license agents, on the TWRA website, www.tnwildlife.org, and at the TWRA “On the Go App” and charged to a credit card. Licenses may also be ordered by telephone and charged to a credit card by calling 1-888-814-8972.
The new licenses annually go on sale each Feb. 18. The 2016-17 licenses are valid through February 2017. License sales provide the primary funding for the TWRA, which does not receive any funding from the state’s general fund (i.e. state sales tax). The 2015-16 licenses expire Feb. 29.
Resident licenses may be purchased by persons who possess a valid Tennessee driver’s license; persons who have lived in Tennessee for 90 consecutive days with the genuine intent of making Tennessee their permanent home(but do not hold a driver’s license in another state); military personnel on active duty in this state and their immediate families, who reside with them, regardless of resident status; students who are enrolled in a Tennessee school, college, or university for at least six months. A Social Security number is required to purchase a Tennessee hunting or fishing license.
All licenses purchased by credit card will be charged a processing and handling fee. The fees over the telephone are $7.50 for those licenses mailed and $6.25 for those not mailed. Through the internet, charges are $4.25 for those licenses mailed and $3 for self-prints.
To expedite telephone orders, the caller should have ready the name, address, physical description, Social Security number, driver’s license number, TWRA ID number (if renewal), and credit card number.
Licenses are printed on a special tear-resistant, water-proof paper. In case of a lost license, duplicate licenses can be obtained from any TWRA license agent for an $8 fee.

Fellow County Commissioners said their goodbyes to 1st district member Elmer Ellis, Jr. Monday night.
Ellis, who has served as a commissioner for more than nine years, is stepping down. He made the announcement during an all committees meeting of the county commission Thursday night. He met with the county commission for the final time Monday night.
Ellis and his wife are soon moving to Texas to be near their daughter due to his wife’s health.
County Mayor Tim Stribling presented a plaque to Ellis in appreciation for his years of service.
“We thank you Junior for your service to the county. He has been fair and has always voted what he thought represented his district. I served on the 911 board with him before I even became County Mayor when I was an Aldermen and represented the City of Smithville on the 911 Board,” said Stribling
“He is going to be a difficult one to replace. We wish him well. I have always respected him. I respect him even more in that he’s doing this (resigning) because of his family. I think you have to look after your family first and foremost. He has put his family above himself. Junior we thank you for your service to this county and this commission. I appreciate your service,” County Mayor Stribling concluded.
Ellis was first elected to the county commission in August 2006. He was re-elected in 2010 and in 2014. His term expires August 31, 2018.
The remainder of the term will be filled in the August 4 DeKalb County General Election.
In this situation there will be no primary election, but any nominees of political parties shall be selected by party convention. The office will be on the August 4th ballot, according to Dennis Stanley, Administrator of Elections.
Under state law, if there is still time for a normal qualifying deadline, the normal qualifying deadline will be used. The qualifying deadline for the August 4 elections is Noon April 7.
In this case, Ellis resigned prior to 10 days before the April 7 Noon qualifying deadline. Therefore, candidates can be certified by party convention prior to the deadline and appear on the August ballot as a party nominee.
And/Or—candidates can seek the office by petition process as an Independent candidate.
However, if a candidate seeks the nomination of a party by convention and fails in his/her attempt..that person cannot run as an independent under state law.
“I want to publicly thank Elmer Ellis for his service to DeKalb County during his time as a 1st District County Commissioner. I wish him and his family well on their future endeavors. Anyone interested in becoming the Democratic Party nominee to fill Mr. Ellis’ vacancy as a 1st District County Commissioner please let me know. The Democratic Party will hold a nominating convention to select a candidate. The office will be on the August General and State Primary ballot,” said DeKalb County Democratic Party Chairman Jordan Wilkins.

The DeKalb County Commission Monday night voted to establish terms for members of the Beer Board.
Currently, the seven members of the beer board serve for life or until they resign.

Fifth District Commissioner Anita Puckett wants to change that. In addressing the issue Monday night during the regular monthly county commission meeting, Puckett made a motion to have all seven members serve as appointees and that the terms be staggered with the first, third, fifth, and seventh district positions being appointed in odd years. The second, fourth, and sixth district seats would be filled in even years. Puckett also wants the beer board to re-organize (name officers) every twenty four months.
“As many of you know there are no guidelines or procedures for our beer board members or appointment or structure of the board. I would like to establish this by trying to create some orderly procedures,” said Puckett
“I’d like to make a motion to create orderly procedures or guidelines. One would be staggering years of appointment or reappointment of the said members. Even districts would be voted on in even years and odd districts in odd years. I would like to implement this in April 2016. We would either reappoint or look at appointing new members for the second, fourth, and sixth districts. In April 2017 we could look at the first, third, fifth, and seventh districts. We as county commissioners can contact the beer board members in our districts to see if they are still interested in this position and then bring names back to the floor and we can vote. Also I would like reorganization of the members to take place every twenty four months,” she said.
Seventh District Commissioner Larry Summers expressed reservations about establishing terms for the beer board because of the difficulty in getting citizens to serve. ” I have no problem with this but it’s so hard to get anybody to make these unpopular (beer board) decisions although it (procedure for granting a beer license) is written down as state law. If you give them ( incumbent beer board members) an opportunity to see if they want to do it again (be reappointed) they may say no I’m fed up with it,” said Summers.
Fourth District Commissioner Wayne Cantrell agreed with Summers. ” It’s hard to get people to do these things,” he said.
Puckett’s motion was adopted on a 9-4 vote.
Commissioners Elmer Ellis, Jr., Mason Carter, Joe Johnson, Jimmy Midgett, Jack Barton, Jonathan Norris, Anita Puckett, Betty Atnip, and Kevin Robinson voted in favor.
Commissioners Larry Summers, Wayne Cantrell, Jerry Adcock, and Jeff Barnes voted against the motion.
Commissioner Bradley Hendrix was absent.
Current members of the Beer Board are Jim Stagi in the 1st District, Frank Thomas in the 2nd District, Edward Frazier in the 3rd District, Robert Rowe in the 4th District, Rhonda Caplinger in the 5th District, Leonard Dickens in the 6th District, and Johnny King in the 7th District.

Residents in the Austin Bottom Community can expect to see law enforcement patrols a little more often this summer.

The Putnam County Access is among the lakesite areas covered in a new three year agreement between the county and the U.S Army Corps of Engineers for extra patrols.
Sheriff Patrick Ray presented the proposed new contract to members of the county commission during an all committees meeting Thursday night. The commissioners formally approved the deal during the regular monthly meeting Monday night.
Under the new contract, the Sheriff’s Department will provide lakesite patrols at Johnson’s Chapel, Ragland Bottom, Floating Mill, Center Hill Dam Area, Hurricane Bridge, and the Putnam County Access (Austin Bottom Community) on Center Hill Lake. The contract runs from May 6 through September 5, 2016.
The total amount of the agreement under which the Corps pays the county is $23,571, which is more than last year. The deal calls for 97 patrol periods with six area patrols per period along with an orientation meeting. The county has also accepted the Corps’ officer to make this a three year contract with the county to receive $24,057 in 2017 and $23,814 in 2018.
Sheriff Ray plans to hire a part time officer funded by the Corps under this contract to patrol all the sites and he wants the part time officer to have POST certification. “We would like to hire a part time officer to take care of the lakesites for us because of the extra place at Austin Bottom. We only have two deputies on during the weekends on our day shifts so there is no way we would want to leave the whole county with just one officer here. He (part time officer) would be paid from the money out of the (Corps) contract,” said Sheriff Ray during Monday night’s County Commission Meeting.
According to Sheriff Ray, when the officer patrols the Putnam County Access, he will also check out the Denny Bottom Recreation area to further heighten a law enforcement presence in the community.
In August many residents in the Austin Bottom community of DeKalb County met with several local officials and the Corps of Engineers at the fire station there to vent their frustrations about public nuisance issues at a boat ramp in the area.
Corps Resource Manager Kevin Salvilla took questions and comments from the group. County Mayor Tim Stribling, Sheriff Patrick Ray, County Fire Chief Donny Green, and Fourth District County Commissioners Wayne Cantrell and Jonathon Norris were also there.
While most of the residents at the meeting said they didn’t want the Putco Boat Ramp (Austin Bottom Lake Boat Access Area) closed, they did want to see more law enforcement to keep undesirables out.
“We had a meeting over there and at that time Kevin (Salvilla) said if he could find some money to put in for that specific area he would and he did come through and put some money in the contract which makes it better for us,” said County Mayor Stribling during Monday night’s County Commission Meeting,
“I’d like to go on record and say I appreciate all those who went over there and met with the people in that district to work this out and for the Corps for meeting us and allowing us to do this. I think they (residents) often feel unrepresented over there and we often feel a lack of resources to address it but at least the Corps has helped,” said Commissioner Jack Barton.