The DeKalb County Commission tackled a few issues at their monthly meeting on Monday, September 27. Redistricting and a proposed kiosk outside the County Clerk’s office were among the issued discussed.
First up, County Mayor Tim Stribling was re-elected as Chairman after Sixth district Commissioner Jeff Barnes made a motion that Stribling be re-elected. Second district member Sabrina Farler offered a second to the motion. Seventh District Commissioner Bruce Malone made a motion to elect Sixth District Commissioner Matt Adcock as chairman, but the motion failed after not receiving a second. All commissioners in attendance voted in favor of Stribling, except for Malone.
Afterwards, Barnes was re-elected chairman pro temp, after Fifth District Commissioner Anita Puckett made a motion for him to be re-elected. Farler seconded the motion, and all in attendance voted for in favor.
Redistricting was next on the agenda, with the commission addressing a proposal by the Redistricting Committee. In the recommendation, four districts with 264 people, would be affected.
Counties are required by law to redraw district lines every ten years, after the completion of the US Census. Districts have to be equally populated as close as possible, with the overall deviation no more than 10 percent. The deviation in DeKalb, according to 2020 Census numbers, was at 11 percent, so lines had to be redrawn slightly to be in compliance.
The Redistricting Committee’s recommended plan, prepared and proposed by John Thomas, GIS specialist with the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office, was to move 158 people from District 3 to District 2. The area is bounded on the northeast by State Route 83; on the north by Vickers Hollow Road; on the southeast by Short Mountain Road; and on the southwest by Lee Braswell Road.
The plan also moves 106 residents from District 5 to District 6. That area is bounded on the north by Turner Road; on the west by Jacobs Pillar Road; on the south by Cappy Springs Branch; and on the east by McMinnville Highway.
With the plan, the overall deviation would be 7.5 percent. The commission voted to approve the Redistricting Committee’s plan. The Election Commission will now work on voting precincts and updating voter rolls for the 2022 elections
According to the 2020 US Census, the DeKalb County total population is 20,080. A breakdown of the total population in each of the seven districts and the deviation from the optimum in each. The optimum is the total population of 20,080 divided by seven, or almost 2,869 people per district:
District 1: Total Population- 2,860 (-9 people or 0% deviation from optimum)
District 2: Total Population- 2,691 (-178 people or -6% deviation)
District 3: Total Population- 2,992 (+123 people or 4% deviation)
District 4: Total Population- 2,948 (+79 people or 3% deviation)
District 5: Total Population- 2,945 (+76 people or 3% deviation)
District 6: Total Population-2,663 (-206 people or -7% deviation)
District 7: Total Population 2,981 (+112 people or 4% deviation)
Another issue the commission addressed was a proposal by County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss who asked the commission to approve a $26,000 expenditure from the Federal American Rescue Plan ACT funds. The funds were to purchase a kiosk to be placed outside the County Clerk’s office at the County Complex, where residents could renew their standard registration 24/7.
The kiosk would allow individuals to renew their current vehicle registration, or state renewal notice, by remitting payment by debit or credit card. A registration card, with the expiration year decal attached would be printed from the kiosk at the end of the transaction. Unlike the Kiosk inside his office, the outdoor kiosk would only provide registration renewals for eligible vehicles.
The purchase of the kiosk would qualify for ARP Act funds, but a $5,000 fee would have to be paid by the county each year for maintenance, and that was a sticking point for a few commissioners.
“If it’s not going to take any work load off you why then should we shell out $5,000 for a machine,” Fifth District Commissioner Jerry Adcock asked during the meeting. Then, Seventh District Commissioner Bruce Malone moved to table the request until a workshop is held to determine if it is eligible under the ARP ACT. “I would like to have our workshop first and see this in writing,” said Malone. Commissioner Jerry Adcock seconded the motion, but the vote to table the request failed with a six “yes” to five “no” vote.
After the vote it seemed that most commissioners were not against the kiosk, but wanted more time to review the proposal. “I greatly appreciate Mr. Poss bringing this to us. He is always looking for ways to make things convenient for the people of DeKalb County, but because it will add $5,000 to the budget, I would like some time to consider that,” said Seventh District Commissioner Beth Pafford.
“I hate we are having to make a decision right now when I feel most of us are in favor of this. We just want to make sure how the American Rescue Plan will work with this. We just need more time to make sure how the $5,000 yearly will play a part of our budget and line items,” said Fifth district commissioner Anita Puckett.
Fourth District Commissioner Janice Fish-Stewart then asked the chair if a motion could be made to adopt it pending approval of the American Rescue Plan money, but Poss then announced that he would withdraw his request.
“I have asked for your consideration. I think it’s a great thing for the community. If you want more time to look at it I am good with withdrawing it from the agenda. This is for the people. This is for the convenience of the service of what I am trying to give the people,” Poss told the commission.
The request may be revisited following an ARP ACT workshop on Tuesday, October 19 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss in general terms how funds might be spent.
