Local commissioners had a lot on their plate at budget committee meeting last Tuesday, October 15. The committee voted to recommend a bond resolution for a proposed new elementary school, as well as funding for a new fire truck to replace a current obsolete fire unit, and a new security officer position at the DeKalb Courthouse.
During the meeting, the budget committee voted 5-0 to recommend to the full county commission, to approve a 30-year bond resolution, not to exceed $55 million, for construction of a new elementary school. The proposal is contingent on the four municipalities in the county, Alexandria, Liberty, Dowelltown, and Smithville, approve extending their existing sales tax agreements with the county for the life of the bond. The cities have until January 1 to act based on terms of the bonds for the project if issued as early as February.
The sales tax agreements with the municipalities are set to expire in 13 years on July 16, 2037. Through the agreement, the towns turn over a greater percentage of their local option sales tax collections than they would otherwise be required to do, all to be used for schools. Officials say a new agreement must be made in order to secure the 30-year bonds.
If approved, funds for construction of the new school would be supported by the local purpose fund (local option sales taxes) to debt service. No property tax dollars would be needed.
Tom Chandler made the motion for the proposal, while Mathias Anderson offered a second. Sabrina Farler, Tony (Cully) Culwell, and Chairman Jeff Barnes all voted in favor. Budget committee members Tony Luna and Glynn Merriman were not present.
The County Commission and the DeKalb County School Board held a joint meeting on October 8, to discuss the school and to meet with Brian Templeton of Upland Design Group, the school board’s architect. The current plans are to build a new 800-student Pre-K to 2nd grade, 124,207 square foot elementary school to replace the existing Smithville Elementary.
The site of the new school would be on property already owned by the school board, next to Northside Elementary School. In September 2022 the projected cost was $46,199,875, but with rising prices the cost is now projected at $53,414,825.
The committee also recommended to the full commission that $425,000 be allocated from the capital projects fund to purchase a demo fire truck for DeKalb Fire. Fire Chief Donny Green had reported that a new truck is needed to replace an obsolete truck that is in need of repair. The vehicle’s manufacturer is no longer in business and it would be hard to find parts for the aging truck. The vehicle was used as a backup vehicle, which is required in order to keep the county’s current ISO insurance rating. Without a backup vehicle, area homeowners could face increased insurance rates.
Funding for a vehicle had had been included earlier in the year, through funding in a proposed bond resolution for a new judicial center/jail. The vehicle would have been funded from the interest from the bonds.
With the bond resolution up on a referendum vote, and with the fire truck continually out of service, the budget committee decided to recommend to the county commission for passage of a budget amendment in the amount of $425,000 for the fire truck from capital projects.
The new truck would not serve as the backup vehicle, but would rather replace one of the most frequently used station trucks, sending the oldest vehicle in the fleet as the backup.
The budget committee then discussed security at the DeKalb Courthouse and recommended the hiring of a part-time security officer in order to provide help to newly appointed full-time security officer Mark Milam. The committee voted 5-0 to recommend the position to fill the gap when Milam takes breaks including for lunch.
According to County Mayor Matt Adcock, a constable will most likely be used for the shared part-time position from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. five days a week. The cost to the county this fiscal year from November to June is $13,279. For a full year, it would be $20,253.
The east entrance to the courthouse, near the handicapped ramp on the second floor, has been identified by the county to be the only secured entry point. Constable Milam or the part time officer will be posted there with a metal detector. Until more secure exterior doors and locks are acquired, Milam and the part time officer will roam the courthouse.
The budget committee also voted to recommend to the county commission that new secure exterior doors, locks, and signage be purchased for the courthouse based on a quote obtained from County Emergency Management Agency Director Charlie Parker. Funds for the purchase (up to $30,000) would come from the county’s capital projects fund subject to approval by the county commission. Bids would also have to be let for the project.
