WJLE Radio

07/17/2026

(UPDATE) A total of 473 have cast ballots during the first three days of early voting for the August 6th elections.

According to the DeKalb County Election Commission. 410 have voted in the Tennessee Republican Primary, 46 in the Tennessee Democratic Primary and 17 have cast ballots only in the DeKalb County General Election without voting in either primary for a total of 473.

Here are the results from the first three days:

Friday, July 17: Total 223: Republican Primary-197; Democratic Primary 16; General Election Only 10

Saturday, July 18: Total 95: Republican Primary-78; Democratic Primary 16; General Election Only 1

Monday, July 20. Total 155: Republican Primary-135; Democratic Primary 14; General Election Only 6.

07/17/2026

As early voting begins today (Friday, July 17) for the August 6 elections, questions have surfaced about whether two write-in candidates are legally qualified to serve if elected in the Alexandria Municipal Election.

Charles A. (Tony) Bates has filed to be a certified write-in candidate for mayor and Susan Wooten Holmes as a four-year alderman candidate. Neither name appears on the August 6 city election ballot and while both own property and businesses inside the city, neither apparently resides there which is the basis for a recent opinion sought and received by MTAS, the UT Municipal Technical Advisory Service which offers each of the state’s cities and town governments advice and assistance on legal matters. Bates apparently lives in Wilson County and Holmes in Smith County, near the Alexandria city limits

In summary, Melissa Ashburn, Legal Consultant for MTAS wrote that “A person who does not reside inside the Alexandria town limits is disqualified from holding any town office, under both the town charter and state law. If the write in campaign is successful and this person wins the election, they may not legally be sworn into office”. (READ THE COMPLETE MTAS OPINION BELOW)

WJLE reached out to both Bates and Holmes Thursday night and both suggested a double standard is being applied to them when others on the town council are allowed to serve and their own legal residency has been called into question.

“It’s pretty comical when it matters when I am running and it doesn’t when the other two are already in there” (referring to Aldermen Bobby Simpson and Luke Prichard). “Why do laws matter now when they didn’t for the others,” said Bates.

When asked for a further response, Bates said “You’ll find out tomorrow (Friday). I’ve got TV people I’ve already talked to. It’ll be a good story I promise you,” said Bates.

When asked if she would contest the MTAS opinion, Holmes told WJLE “No sir, I’m not going to contest it but if I leave (the race) the others have to as well (referring to Bates if he wins along with Incumbent Aldermen Simpson and Prichard who are also property and business owners there). ” I believe I should not be singled out as long as the others are on the board that do not live in the city limits as well. Bobby Simpson does not live in Alexandria, but he is on the board. His driver license says he has the address of a car wash”, said Holmes. “Luke Prichard’s residence is annexed out. He is not in the Alexandria city limits, yet they are on the board and have been making decisions for Alexandria for a year,” added Holmes”

“My driver license shows that I live in Smith County. I do have a business that brings in revenue and I have been here for seven years. I also have a residence address, not that I live there, but a residence address on Gin Alley which is the back side of my building. I am within a mile and a half of my store at any time of the day. I do not live at Brush Creek or Gordonsville. I am (live) a mile and a half past my store,” said Holmes.

Holmes said before she chose to launch her write-in campaign she sought from the election commission answers to questions she had. “I said I Iive in Smith County. Can I run as a write-in candidate? The response was yes you can but if someone challenges you with an attorney we cannot (don’t have the authority) to step in and help you,” said Holmes.

WJLE then contacted DeKalb Election Administrator Dustin Estes Thursday night for a statement on what the state law requires for write-in candidates.

“According to Tennessee State Election Law, in order to have votes counted for a write-in candidate in local elections, the candidate must file a Certificate of Write-In to the county election commission no less than 50 days Noon before the election,” said Administrator Estes in a prepared statement.

“With the exception of Road Superintendent, qualifications of write-in candidates are NOT reviewed by the election commission”.

“In the event a write-in candidate wins an election but does not meet the statutory requirements for that particular office, the election commission has no role of authority in determining if that write-in candidate takes the office.”

“The role of the election commission is to review the candidates and qualifications whose names appear on the ballot, tallying all eligible votes cast during the election accurately and certifying the election results.”

“What happens after the election is outside the authority of the election commission,” said Election Administrator Estes.

Alexandria has a contested municipal election for mayor and aldermen August 6.

The mayor candidates are Jeff Ford, who was appointed to the position last year, and challenger Jeremy Prince. Those two names are the only ones on the ballot for mayor, but Charles A. (Tony) Bates has filed to be a certified write-in candidate for mayor. The term of office is four years.

Those in the race for a full four-year term as Alexandria aldermen are Debbie Fischer, Margaret Stevens, Eddie Tubbs, Tony Griffith, David Cripps, and Cason Oakley. Fischer and Cripps have been serving as aldermen appointees. Those six candidates are the only names on the ballot, but Susan Wooten Holmes has filed as a certified write-in four-year alderman candidate.

Two are in the race to fill a two-year unexpired Alexandria alderman term, Danny Parkerson and Curtis Rutter. Those two names are the only ones on the ballot and there is no certified write in candidate for that position.

The complete MTAS opinion from the questions asked is as follows:

Section 2.01 (1) of the Charter of the Town of Alexandria states that “Any elector who has been a resident of the City for at least one (1) year may be qualified as a candidate by a nominating petition submitted to the DeKalb County Election Commission at such time and manner as determined by the General Laws of the State of Tennessee”.

Q: Would a person not living within the Town of Alexandria violate this section by running a write-in campaign for Alderman or Mayor? Would someone elected to a position of Mayor or Alderman be disqualified from service if they did not live within the Town of Alexandria?

The answer to your question is yes, such a write in campaign violates the charter and a person who is elected to office who does not live inside town limits may not legally hold a town office, whether it is mayor or alderman. The above charter language clearly requires residency inside the city for at least 1 year prior to election. Note the term “elector” used in the charter language above. “Elector” is defined as “a person who has the right to vote in an election” by Oxford Dictionary. That sentence means that a person not only must reside inside town limits but also be qualified to vote in town elections for at least 1 year prior to the election. Accordingly, any nonresident or convicted and disenfranchised felon is immediately disqualified from holding office in Alexandria.

Tennessee law also requires residency to run for a local public office. A person’s ability to register to vote, or to qualify as a voter in any location is determined by that person’s residency. Although the term “residency” seems simple enough, the election code lays out a rather long list of factors to consider when determining if a person resides in the area in which they wish to register to vote. Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-2-122. If a person cannot comply with that statute concerning residency and register to vote in Alexandria elections, they may not run for office in Alexandria.

MTAS is frequently asked about what happens when an elected official moves outside city limits, and the general law is clear that such removal from the area represented vacates the office:

Any office in this state is vacated by:

(1) The death of the incumbent;

(2) The incumbent’s resignation, when permitted by law;

(3) Ceasing to be a resident of the state, or of the district, circuit, or county for which the incumbent was elected or appointed;

(4) The decision of a competent tribunal, declaring the election or appointment void or the office vacant;

(5) An act of the general assembly abridging the term of office, where it is not fixed by the constitution;

(6) The sentence of the incumbent, by any competent tribunal in this or any other state, to the penitentiary, subject to restoration if the judgment is reversed, but not if the incumbent is pardoned; or

(7) Due adjudication of the incumbent’s insanity.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-48-101

Although the above statutory language does not mention “city” or city limits, the Tennessee Attorney General has opined that this law does apply to municipal officials.

Municipal officers have a statutory continuing residency requirement imposed upon them by virtue of Tenn. Code Ann. § 8–48–101(3), stating that “[a]ny office in this state is vacated by [c]easing to be a resident of the state, or of the district, circuit or county for which the incumbent was elected or appointed[[.]” In determining whether any position constitutes an “office” and is thereby subject to Tenn. Code Ann. § 8–48–101(3), one determines whether the position is occupied by a “public officer.” Tennessee courts have set forth the following general definition:

“Public officer” has been defined as an incumbent of a public office; an individual who has been appointed or elected in a manner prescribed by law, who has a designation or a title given him by law, and who exercises the functions concerning the public assigned to him by law. Sitton v. Fulton, 566 S.W.2d 887, 889 (Tenn.1978)

…..Although the distinctions between employees and officers are not always clear, the positions at issue appear to be “offices” and, accordingly, would be deemed vacant if the serving official did not reside in the municipality. Tenn. Code Ann. § 8–48–101(3).

It follows then that the official must reside in the city where the office is held. Tenn. Op. Att’y Gen. No. 99-075 (Apr. 5, 1999)

Under our State laws, a municipal official who moves their residence outside city limits vacates their office. It logically follows that a nonresident cannot hold city office, as they would immediately vacate the office due to their residency being elsewhere.

A person who does not reside inside the Alexandria town limits is disqualified from holding any town office, under both the town charter and state law. If the write in campaign is successful and this person wins the election, they may not legally be sworn into office,” according to the MTAS opinion.

06/23/2026

Budget approved!

The DeKalb County Commission Monday night formally adopted a new budget and certified property tax rate for the 2026-27 fiscal year effective July 1.

DeKalb-2027 FINAL Consolidated Budget

The new certified property tax rate of $1.5571 cents breaks down as follows:

County General: $0.7721

Highway/Public Works: $0.0200

General Capital Projects: $0.0500

Debt Service: $0.3900

General Purpose Schools: $0.3250

Total: $1.5571

As part of the budget adoption process, the county commission had to act on the appropriations resolution, tax levy resolution, non-profit funding resolution, statement of Individual funds, capital improvement plan, debt management policy, and the consolidated budget to send to the state comptroller.

Prior to action on the budget, Commissioner Beth Pafford made a motion to remove all items from the agenda pertaining to adoption of the budget. Pafford said she wanted to delay action on the budget until the July meeting to give commissioners and the public more time to study it and be able to ask questions. But her motion was defeated 10-2 with only Commissioner Myron Rhody voting with her.

When asked by Commissioner Mathias Anderson what might be affected by postponing adoption of the budget, Steve Bates, the county’s fiscal agent said bond issuance for new school construction would be delayed.

“You can’t issue school bonds until the budget is passed and approved by the comptroller’s office. I think the comptroller’s office has 30 days to approve it so you are just pushing off when the school can get their money. They (school board) has told me they have spent in excess of one million dollars (on the new school project) and they need their money (reimbursement),” said Bates

On the appropriations resolution, the vote was 10-2 for adoption. Both Commissioners Pafford and Rhody voted no.

The tax levy resolution vote setting the certified tax rate at $1.5571 cents was 10-2 for adoption. Pafford and Rhody voted no.

The statement of individual funds vote was 11-1 with Pafford voting no.

The capital improvement plan was adopted on an 11-1 vote. Pafford voted no

The debt management policy was adopted 11-1 with Pafford voting no.

The consolidated budget to be submitted to the state comptroller was adopted 10-2. Pafford and Rhody voted no.

The non-profit funding resolution was adopted 12-0.

Two commissioners were absent, Tom Chandler and Brandon Donnell.

When asked, County Attorney Hilton Conger explained that because the DeKalb County Government operates under the Local Option Budgeting Law of 1993 no public hearing is required (only public notice) before adoption of the budget unless a change (increase) is made in the certified property tax rate.

Budget Highlights:

*Previously established step raises for county employees as they apply

*Across the board increase in county employee part time pay from $13 to $14 per hour

*Increasing from $550 to $650 the amount the county pays toward covering employees enrolled in the county healthcare insurance plan

*Fire Department: An additional $38,805 to be divided among the 75 volunteers to provide an increase for incentives in training, incident response, work sessions, and public safety education.

*EMS: Directors salary increase from $61,700 to $70,000; 12% increase in the ambulance service budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year including a new pay plan for employees modeled after Cannon County’s EMS salary schedule. No longer paying on seniority or longevity but paying on credentials alone. Taking EMTs to $16.50 per hour, AMTs to $21.22 an hour, paramedics to $25.96 an hour, and a critical care paramedic to $27.68 an hour.

*Clerk and Master: Part-time position in the office to be made full time

*Administrator of Elections: Part-time position in the office to be made full time

*County Clerk: Funding the full salary for a fifth deputy clerk position going forward due to uncertainties about available earmarked fees which has been designated the last three years to fund half the salary.

*Solid Waste: Director’s salary increase from $61,700 to $70,000; $1.50 per hour pay raise on the base rate for solid waste truck drivers putting their wage at $22.50 per hour; $1.00 an hour increase in pay for the solid waste scale house operator at the transfer station and the grounds laborer. New dumpsters-$115,000. New Roll-Off Truck- $245,000 to $260,000. Ton truck-$55,000 and trailer- $8,000; Two part time employee positions to be funded locally for the new manned Temperance Hall convenience center which has not yet been completed.

*Building Codes: $75,000 in Inspector Davey Horton’s contracted services along with software to implement an online permitting system, a yearly $9,000 expense, as a convenience to the public, and $2,000 for office supplies.

*School Budget: Pay raises for professional personnel and support staff- $4,000 for staff with 20 years of service or longer; $3,000 increase for those with 10-19 years; and $2,000 for employees with up to 9 years of service.

*Highway Department No new local funding requests

*Capital Projects: Fire Department- $250,000 in seed money previously set aside for the future development of a public safety building in the Wolf Creek community. The funds will not be spent if the construction project does not move forward during the year; Projected cost of $525,000 & $50,000 for the needed loose equipment ($575,000 total) to purchase a tanker for the underserved south/southeast quadrant of the county (Four Seasons/Belk/Blue Springs areas) This $575,000 amount would only be spent if the county’s application for a $624,089 Community Development Block Grant is not funded to buy the tanker. If the grant is awarded the county’s local match would be $204,089; $100,000 seed money for a future three bay district station at Keltonburg for firefighting purposes, adding to the two district stations already in existence at Liberty and at the Main Station on King Ridge Road. The total project cost to fully fund construction of this new district station is estimated to be $365,000.

*Capital Projects: EMS- $178,700 to fund the purchase of a remounted ambulance already on order which is expected for delivery next spring.

*Capital Projects: Sheriff’s Department- $175,000 to purchase four new patrol cars

*Capital Projects-Community Centers: $100,000 for repairs and maintenance to the six aging and deteriorating community centers including Belk, Keltonburg, Midway, Blue Springs, Johnson’s Chapel, and Snow Hill.

Non-Profit Funding Contributions:

*Let Live Homeless Shelter in Smithville- $45,000 (New Funding)

*DeKalb Animal Coalition’s annual contribution of $36,805 (Same as Previous Years)

*Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad budgeted an extra $25,000 for the organization to purchase a pre-owned emergency vehicle to replace another in addition to the annual contribution it gets of $51,321. Total amount: $76,321

*DeKalb County Fair and the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree each budgeted $8,000, which is up from $5,000 in previous years

*Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce budgeted a contribution of $40,500, up from $35,000. However, $500 of the increase will be passed on to the Leadership DeKalb program.

*Tennessee Forestry Division: $1,500

Plateau Mental Health Center: $7,180

Imagination Library: $12,000

UCHRA Programs: $5,500

Civil War Trails: $500

TOTAL: $241,306 Non-Profit Funding Contributions

Local allocations of funding from the state’s Opioid Abatement Trust Fund for the 2026-27 fiscal year are as follows: $30,000 to the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program; $45,000 to the Youth and Family Resources Network (Spot Program); $54,261 to the DeKalb Prevention Coalition; and $12,615.83 to the DARE program.

DeKalb-2027 FINAL Consolidated Budget

06/22/2026

WJLE

06/21/2026

In order to keep the town’s wastewater utility out of hot water with the state, Alexandria is facing a possible 20% increase in sewer rates in 2026-27 and perhaps for the following two years after that. But the town council so far has been reluctant to approve a rate hike. If sewer rates aren’t raised, the town may run the risk of the state forcing a rate increase.

(Visit www.wjle.com to view a video of Tuesday night's meeting or click link below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uigUh0rDcYs

During Tuesday night’s regular monthly meeting, the aldermen failed to vote on a resolution raising the sewer rates even though a recent rate study conducted by Buddy Petty and Jack Elston of RateStudies of Hermitage concluded that a rate hike is necessary.

In February, Petty and Elston met with the mayor and aldermen and reported that the rate study on behalf of the Town of Alexandria’s water and sewer utility was done in compliance with an order by Tennessee Board of Utility Regulation (TBOUR). According to Petty and Elston, this was Alexandria’s first-rate study in four years.

RateStudies was founded by Petty, a professional engineer with over 25 years of experience in the water and wastewater field. Elston is a CPA. According to the RateStudies website “Buddy has been directly involved with a variety of water and wastewater capital improvement projects as well as consulting with utilities about financing these projects”.

Although the study found that Alexandria’s water rates don’t need to be raised in 2026-27, the sewer rates do need to be increased by as much as 20%, with another 20% hike for the following two years to get the town out of the financial hole.

Mayor Jeff Ford Tuesday night read a resolution which if approved by the aldermen would have increased the sewer rates by 20% in 2026-27.

“Whereas the town of Alexandria has certain financial obligations within its water and sewer departments, and whereas the town’s water provider raises the town’s cost each year, by contract, the town must pass the increase to its customers. Hereby, be it resolved by the major and board of aldermen of the town of Alexandria, that the beginning of each fiscal year of the town, beginning July 1, the town increases its sewer rates 20% over the next three years, ending in 2029”.

No motion was offered to approve the resolution.

Aldermen Debbie Fischer then asked. “What happens if we don’t?”

“We are kind of in the hands of the comptroller. They’ll do their audit, and they’ll decide what they do. They can compel us to raise rates. They have the same information that we have. They’ve read the recommendation of our audit so this may not be looked at favorably at the comptroller’s office, and they can compel us,” replied Mayor Ford.

“And they (state comptroller) could raise it more than 20% also,” added Jessica Howard, the town’s financial officer. “It’d be up to them as to how much they want to raise it,” she said.

“I would make a motion (adopting the resolution) but I don’t think these three (Aldermen Bobby Simpson, Luke Prichard, and David Cripps) will approve it or second it unless I’m wrong,” said Alderman Fischer.

“Are you going to second it?”, Alderman Fischer asked Alderman Simpson.

“My bill (water and sewer) is $1,500 a month. Why would I want to sit here and blow my brains out,” replied Simpson

“What are you going to do you when the comptroller tells us its going to be more”, asked Fischer

“Well, at least it aint me,” answered Simpson.

“They could put a gun to my head but Bobby aint going to put no gun to his head”, said Simpson.

“I’ve got two water bills and pay sewer on both of them, and I’ve been paying one of them for 36 years, and it don’t have sewer,” said Alderman David Cripps. “It’s not connected to the sewer. I’ve been paying it for 36 years. I was told years ago that it couldn’t be taken off, that everybody sewer was available to had to pay for sewer,” said Alderman Cripps.

In February, Elston of RateStudies explained to the mayor and aldermen why sewer rates need to be increased.

“You’ve got plenty of cash in water and you’re doing fine as far as you’re change in net position. There is really no need to raise water rates,” said Elston. “But for 2026 we’re recommending a 20% rate increase in wastewater rates starting on July 1st which would be for fiscal year 2027. If we do increase the rates on waste water by 20%, you’re still going to be in the hole in 2026, that’s a given and you’re going to be in the hole in 2027, but you will come out of the hole in 2028 and come out of the hole even further in 2029 by $50,000,” said Elston.

How would that impact Alexandria Water and Sewer customers?

The study shows a chart with different ranges of usage with 4,000 gallons per month being the average for a wastewater customer. “We’re talking about a $10 raise per month. If you continue to do a 20% increase, it’s going to be in that neighborhood, $10 to maybe $15 per month by the third year,” said Elston.

Elston went into more detail why the rate study was needed and what it shows.

“When we got started the basis for this, and this is important to understand, is that the city is under an administrative order by the Tennessee Board of Utility Regulators, and we were responding to that order. That is what caused the town to hire us,” said Elston. “This order required the town to prepare a rate study which it had not done for four years, and in fact the town has not raised rates for two years so the issue there was to say, we need to see, are the rates going to be sufficient to cover the operating expenses? Are they going to be sufficient to cover the capital improvement projects you’ve got? And are they going to be sufficient enough to keep you out of that net loss position? That’s what they (TBOUR) pay attention to. They say, how are you doing financially? You need to have a positive cash flow, but you need to have positive net income or positive change in net position. They do allow for any utility to go from time to time into a negative position, but if you’re in a negative position for two years, then you’re under order to have your rates studied and raised and that’s what we’re trying to prevent. You’re not in that situation right now. You’re in a positive net position as it is now, but if we look to the future, see the projects, and we see the growth of the stability, if you will, of the town, we’re saying there’s going to be a need for some rate increases,” said Elston.

“We’re making the rate recommendations for the next two or three years, but we’re also saying in this report, you need to monitor it because you may change your minds about some of these improvements. You may either drop an improvement, or you may add to it. You need to look at this periodically again on an ongoing basis to see what’s coming up. That’s why the TBOUR said you hadn’t done it (rate study) for four years. You need to be doing it more often. This is our recommendation. It’s all based on existing numbers. It’s based on your budget numbers, and it’s based on your projected numbers. This is the best recommendation we can get for you,” said Elston.

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06/18/2026

The new certified property tax rates for DeKalb County and the Municipalities of Smithville, Alexandria, and Liberty have been determined for the 2026-27 fiscal year according to the State Board of Equalization following the 2026 reappraisal cycle.

Now that that all appeals have been heard by the assessor and county board of equalization the final certified county property tax rate for DeKalb County is now $1.5571, down from last year’s rate of $2.51 per $100 of assessed value. The preliminary rate before appeals according to the state was $1.533.

The City of Smithville’s new certified property tax rate is now $0.5199, down from $0.7523. The Town of Liberty’s certified rate is $0.0793, below $0.1422 last year. The Town of Alexandria’s new certified rate is $0.4065, below the rate last year of $0.6233.

In each case for the county and cities the amount of local revenue generated under the new certified property tax rates is to be about the same as last year’s tax rates.

The county and the cities are to adopt their respective new certified tax rates with adoption of the 2026-27 fiscal year budgets

Letters were sent Monday, June 15 to County Mayor Matt Adcock, Smithville Mayor Josh Miller, Alexandria Mayor Jeff Ford, and Liberty Mayor Audrey Martin, by E. Robin Pope, J.D., Executive Secretary of the State Board of Equalization concurring with the new certified tax rates.

06/12/2026

NHC Healthcare Smithville has announced the appointment of Braya Cripps as its new administrator, succeeding Ryan Vaden, who has moved to NHC HealthCare in Cookeville

Cripps, a Smithville native, is the daughter of Jeremy and Sabra Murphy and a 2019 graduate of DeKalb County High School. During her middle and high school years, Braya was a member of the DeKalb Middle School Lady Saints softball team and the DCHS Tigerettes softball squad her junior and senior years. Braya’s husband is Haden Cripps also from Smithville.

Braya is the first ever NHC Smithville administrator from DeKalb County.

A 2023 Tennessee Tech University graduate, Braya holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Professional Studies with a concentration in Healthcare Administration. In 2024 she received a Masters of Professional Studies degree with a concentration in Healthcare Administration. Before being named Administrator at NHC Smithville, Cripps worked as an Administrator in Training at NHC Cookeville and most recently at NHC Chattanooga.

In this new role, Cripps expressed her honor at leading NHC Smithville, praising the facility’s tradition of quality patient care and high customer satisfaction. She emphasized her excitement to work alongside the dedicated NHC team and contribute to the community of DeKalb County.

“I am excited to move back home, start a family surrounded by my loved ones, and continue upon the great work that previous administrator Ryan Vaden achieved while supporting the team that makes it all possible. I am so blessed to be gifted the opportunity to return to the community that raised me,” Cripps told WJLE.

‘I used to frequently visit my mom (Sabra) who worked at NHC Smithville as a nurse from 2003 to 2020,” said Cripps. “I grew to love the center (NHC) from my time here and knew I wanted to serve an aging population from my love for my grandparents (Judd & Janis Murphy, Jerry & Mary Bailey, and Melinda Tallent all of DeKalb County)”, said Cripps.

NHC Smithville, located at 825 Fisher Avenue in Smithville, TN, is a 120-bed post-acute center offering skilled nursing, short-term rehab, long-term care, and therapy services.