U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), in a meeting recently with Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Capitol hosted by U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), said that he will explore writing legislation to change the law in order to stop the Corps’ current plan to restrict access to dam tailwaters along the Cumberland River. Alexander urged Maj. Gen. Walsh to consider alternatives that would keep people safe when dams are spilling while allowing full access to the tailwaters when the dams are not spilling.
Of the meeting, Alexander said, “The tailwaters are only dangerous when the water is spilling through the dam, and when it’s not, tailwaters provide some of the best fishing areas in the U.S., attracting thousands of fishermen and creating hundreds of jobs in Tennessee and Kentucky. For example, water spills through the Center Hill dam about 14 percent of the time. The most logical solution would be to make the area safe when the danger exists: To close the tailwaters to fishing 100 percent of the time would be like keeping the gate down at the railroad crossing 100 percent of the time – the track is not dangerous when the train is not coming, and the tailwaters are not dangerous when the water is not spilling through the dam.”
Alexander sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy, voicing his “strong opposition” to the Corps plan that would divert $2.6 million in federal money toward barriers restricting access to the tailwaters. In the letter, Alexander highlighted the importance of the fishing areas, both recreationally and economically: “The Cumberland River system is enjoyed by Tennesseans and visitors from around the world, and the open access of the Cumberland River system is critical to our recreational fishermen and is an important part of Tennessee’s economy.”
Alexander is the senior Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, which has jurisdiction over the Army Corps of Engineers.
The full text of the letter is below:
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to restrict access to fishing areas in tailwaters below dams on the Cumberland River system.
On December 6th, I met with Lt. Colonel James DeLapp, Commander of the Nashville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to discuss the proposed restrictions. While I understand the importance of improving boater safety, the Corps is planning to divert previously appropriated federal funding to implement the proposed restrictions. I received a list of projects in the Nashville District that will be affected by the Corps’ decision, and I am very concerned about some of the proposed actions which include delaying maintenance activities and reducing services at recreation areas.
I also want to make you aware that the Corps’ actions will have a significant impact on fisheries in Tennessee and Kentucky, and the Corps’ proposed restrictions are opposed by both state wildlife agencies. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Tennessee Wildlife Federation believe that further restricting access to tailwater areas is unnecessary, and I agree with them. You should consider reasonable alternatives to improve public safety, not unilaterally prohibit access to some of the highest quality fishing areas in my state. Changes should only be considered after a thorough review of all public comments and suggestions, which will not happen if the Corps proceeds according to their proposed timeline. I am concerned that the proper environmental assessment has not occurred, and I am evaluating legislative options to prevent the Corps from going forward.
I would like to talk with you directly about the Corps’ decision before the Corps takes any further action. The Cumberland River system is enjoyed by Tennesseans and visitors from around the world, and the open access of the Cumberland River system is critical to our recreational fishermen and is an important part of Tennessee’s economy.
Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to meeting with you.
Sincerely,
Lamar Alexander
United States Senator

With a local principal calling for more School Resource Officers, the school board has scheduled a workshop for Monday, February 25 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss options for strengthening school security, including the possibility of asking the state legislature and county commission to help fund more SRO officers.
DeKalb County currently has one School Resource Officer at DCHS. The four other schools do not have an SRO.

During Thursday night’s school board meeting held at DeKalb West School, Dr. Gayle Redmon, Principal at Northside Elementary School said its time for the school board to act. “While I am aware that the funding for School Resource Officers is not an item that comes out of the school budget, I would like to make an appeal to the School Board to request from our County Commissioners, a School Resource Officer in each of our schools in DeKalb County,” she said.
(VIEW THE ENTIRE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING THURSDAY NIGHT BY PLAYING BOTH VIDEOS BELOW-PARTS 1 & 2)
M2U00996 from dwayne page on Vimeo.
Referring to an incident in Warren County Thursday, Dr. Redmon said “today (Thursday), we had a report of a threat made by a student in another county (Warren County) and our school (NES) was fortunate enough to have an officer assigned to our school for most of the day as we maintained a high alert status. The presence of this officer made everyone at Northside feel safer and more secure,” she said.

“While it saddens me that we must make this request, I believe it is imperative that we think in terms of being proactive rather than reactive,” said Dr. Redmon.
“Research does indicate that a School Resource Officer would be instrumental in protecting students and staff in the event that we were to ever to have an intruder in our school who intended to do harm to students or an adult. I am aware of only one incident in which an SRO officer was killed in a school shooting. Most of the attacks in schools occur where there is not an SRO present. In instances where there has been an SRO present during a violent attack at school, the officer has been able to signficantly limit the harm to innocent people,” she said
“In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for example in 2011, a student entered a school with two pipe bombs in his backpack. He then shot and wounded the School Resource Officer. But the officer was able to stop that student before he could do any further harm,” said Dr. Redmon.
“In our own state of Tennessee, in Sullivan County a 62 year old man came in and confronted a principal. He put a gun in the principal’s face. The School Resource Officer intervened and was able to calm the man down at least until more officers could arrive, at which time that man did draw the gun on the SRO and he was shot by those officers,” she said.
“Examples like that could go on and on.”
“The one thing that really sticks out in my mind at all the school safety and security meetings I have attended in our own county or at Tennessee Tech and other places is that each of the schools reported having one thing in common and that was that they never thought that a shooting would occur at their school,” she said.
“I believe an SRO is needed at every school. I believe they would be able to protect our schools. I think they could coordinate the response better for other police resources and maybe help us to address crime and disorder problems as they occur and further help prevent such crimes,” according to Dr. Redmon.
“I believe an SRO would be able to take action immediately against unauthorized persons on our school property. In addition, I think they would be a deterrent to bullying in our schools,” she said..
“I believe the presence of SRO’s in our schools would be invaluable an immeasurable if they were able to save even one life,” concluded Dr. Redmon.
“I concur with Mrs. Redmon,” said Danny Parkerson, Principal at DeKalb West School. “Schools have changed. Our society has changed. An SRO Officer in the schools just has a calming affect if nothing else. I’ve been to ball games and had SRO Officers attend our ball games and it makes an unruly fan, ruly,” said Parkerson.
First District member John David Foutch said the school board has been discussing ways to improve school security for several weeks. “The day after Sandy Hook, we started working on this,” said Foutch. ” We’ve talked to local law enforcement departments. In our own county, we’ve gone a long way. We’ve got people interested in taking those jobs (SROs). What we are lacking mainly is funding. If you will talk to your county commissioners, we’ll talk to our legislators. To get this funded and off the ground, we need people at home standing behind us. This is something we’re trying to make happen but we can’t make it happen on our own. We need everybody’s help,” said Foutch.
“In the workshop prior to this meeting, we were already discussing some of these issues,” said Board Chairman Johnny Lattimore. ” I think Mr. (Mark) Willoughby is going to be checking into the costs and we will be making recommendations. Some of our board members will be attending the “Day on the Hill” (State Legislature) in just a few days and they will be talking to some of our legislators about such things as being able to help fund some of those (SROs) and a lot of other things we need to do to upgrade our security systems at the schools,” said Lattimore.
Fourth District member Billy Miller proposed having a workshop on school security, but to open it up to the community so that more people, including local law enforcement officers and business persons could offer up ideas. “I do think it is a community responsibility for us to look at this,” said Miller. ” I would make a proposal that we have a workshop to come up with solutions. It needs to be an open workshop to include the Sheriff’s Department, the Police Department, First Responders, local businessmen, and the community. If we come together as a community I think we can get way ahead on this problem. If we have the community involved in this, maybe we can come up with a solution and maybe be able to put more SRO’s into the school system. It’s not going to solve all our problems but it’s a start in the right direction. I would like to see this board step up for the community and have the community involved,” said Miller.
Chris Allen, a concerned parent and owner of two local businesses addressed the school board offering an idea on how to pay for more SRO’s. ” I’ve thought about the funding for the SRO’s. If every working citizen in DeKalb County who works in the county would commit to having one penny an hour deducted off of their pay, that would fund an SRO Officer for each school in the county. I don’t know how difficult that would be to do but it wouldn’t have to come out of anybody’s budget. I don’t know how it could be implemented or even if it could be a private thing instead of through the state or the county,” said Allen.
Board Chairman Lattimore said the school system could not implement such a plan and that Allen would have to contact the county commission or state legislature about his proposal. “That would be something that would have to be taken up by the county commission or the state legislature,” said Lattimore. “How ever the SRO’s are funded, the taxpayers will have to pay for that. Right now all of our county taxes are through property taxes so if the county commission pays for it (more SRO’s) then that’s probably how they would do it is add to the county property taxes. I recommend that you talk to your county commissioners and maybe you can send in an email to your state representatives too and let them know about your idea. They are the ones who actually tax us so that’s where that would have to come from,” said Lattimore.

With the Tiger’s 85-60 victory over the Chattanooga Patriots Thursday on Senior Night, Coach Lynus Martin reached a milestone with his 200th career coaching win.
Coach Martin’s overall record is now at 200-117, dating back to when he took over during the 2002-03 season. This is his 11th season with the team. Coach Martin has a 67-59 district record. His post-season record is 12-16. He has won one Regular Season District Championship (this year), finished as District Tournament runners-up twice (2010-11 & 2011-12) and appeared in the Region Tournament five times.
Coach Martin has also been selected to coach in the Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee All-Star Game in Murfreesboro on Saturday, March 16. Tiger seniors Braxton Atnip, Sonni Fullilove and Stephen Howell have all been selected to play.
The regular season for the DCHS basketball teams ends Saturday night. DC travels to Gabriel Christian Friday night for games starting at 6:00 p.m. and at Gordonsville Saturday night with action getting underway at 6:00 p.m. WJLE will have LIVE coverage. The District Tournament begins next week at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville
Coach Martin’s year-by-year records are as follows:
2012-13: 25-4
2011-12: 26-7
2010-11: 23-8
2009-10: 16-12
2008-09: 19-12
2007-08: 14-12
2006-07: 20-11
2005-06: 14-18
2004-05: 21-7
2003-04: 12-15
2002-03: 10-11 (Coach Martin took over for former DCHS Coach Danny Bond after first three games were played)

The DeKalb County Board of Education formally adopted the school calendar for the 2013-2014 year Thursday night during the February meeting held at DeKalb West School
Registration for all students will be Thursday, August 1. That will be an abbreviated school day from 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.
Friday, August 2 will be an administrative day for teachers only
The first full day of school for all students will be Monday, August 5
A system wide professional development day will be Monday, July 29 at DCHS from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
All teachers will report to their individual schools on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 30 and July 31 from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Students will not attend on Monday, Labor Day, September 2.
Schools will be closed for the fall break October 14-25
Students will be off for the Thanksgiving holiday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, November 27, 28, & 29 and for the winter break December 23 through January 3. Wednesday, December 20 will be the last day students attend before winter break and that will be an abbreviated school day. Students will return after the holidays on Monday, January 6.
Schools will be closed for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 20 and for President’s Day, Monday, February 17.
Schools will be closed for spring break March 24-28
No school for students on Good Friday, April 18 and Memorial Day, Monday May 26.
The following are designated as Early Release dates: Friday, October 4; Friday, February 14; Friday, March 7, and Friday, March 21
Students will not attend on Tuesday, May 27. That will be an administrative day and all teachers must attend. The last day of school will be Wednesday, May 28. That will be an abbreviated school day and report cards will be sent home.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, October 8 and Tuesday, March 11 at DeKalb County High School from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will also be held from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Thursday, October 10 and Thursday, March 13 at DeKalb Middle School, Northside Elementary, Smithville Elementary, and DeKalb West School.
DCHS report cards will be sent home on Monday, October 7 and at all other schools on Tuesday, October 8. Report cards to be sent home from all schools on Tuesday, January 7. DCHS report cards to be sent home Monday, March 10 and at all other schools Tuesday, March 11.
ACT Test for the 11th grade will be Tuesday, March 4
Writing Assessment for the 5th, 8th, and 11th grades will be February 3-7.
TCAP testing of elementary students will be April 28 through May 9
Meanwhile, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby presented his monthly report on personnel.
The following were employed since last month:
Tabitha Farmer, Maranda Moore, and Judy Redmon as substitute teachers
Rebecca Parker, Education Assistant at Smithville Elementary School replacing Bonnie Rigsby
Holly Espinosa, Special Education Teacher at DeKalb West School
Regina Campbell, Special Education Teacher replacing Rickey Cross at Northside Elementary School
Leave of Absence:
Donna Knowles, Educational Assistant at Northside Elementary School, leave as requested
Shelly Jennings, teacher at Northside Elementary School, leave as requested
Taleen Lambert, teacher at DeKalb Middle School, leave as requested
Amanda Mullinax, teacher at DeKalb West School, leave as requested
Resignation:
Rickey Cross, Special Education Teacher at Northside Elementary School
In other business, the board adopted a resolution of appreciation in honor of principals and assistant principals.
The resolutions is as follows:
“Whereas, principals and assistant principals have a great amount of responsibilities including leading, observing, evaluating, mentoring and much more; and
Whereas, principals and assistant principals are exceptional leaders who provide support and guidance to students, teachers, and other school employees in our district; and
Whereas, our principals keep the focus clearly on established goals for the school and its students; and
Whereas, our principals create strategies for making their schools the very best they can be; and
Whereas, principals seek support from parents and community so their students get the very best education possible; and
Whereas, principals strive to enhance the learning and working environment for everyone in the school;
Now, therefore be it resolved that the DeKalb County Board of Education hereby adopts February 14, 2013 as Principal Appreciation Day in all of our schools; and
Be it further resolved that the Board expresses deep appreciation to principals and assistant principals in our system and encourages the students and staff to join us in expressing appreciation to the leaders of DeKalb County Schools.
The board gave permission for the Beta Club of DCHS to attend the National Beta Club State Convention to be held at Gaylord Opryland Hotel on April 1-3. The purpose of the convention is for the student members to compete with other high schools in the state in various academic and non-academic events.
The school board voted to accept sealed bids to sell declared surplus property including folding mobile cafeteria tables- bench seats, wood construction, with laminated finish and metal base (72 x 30 each section). The property is to be sold as is with no guarantee of usefulness or warranty. Bids will be accepted until March 14 to be opened during the regular monthly school board meeting that night. The board reserves the right to reject all bids should it be more profitable to sell as scrap.

Unless Congress intervenes, the United States Postal Service plans to stop delivering and collecting letters and other first-class mail on Saturdays beginning August 5, although packages will continue to be delivered.
The Postal Service expects to generate cost savings of approximately $2 billion annually, once the plan is fully implemented.
David Walton, spokesman for the Tennessee District of the United States Postal Service, in a telephone interview with WJLE Thursday, said once implemented, mail delivery to street addresses will occur Monday through Friday. Packages will continue to be delivered six days per week. Mail addressed to PO Boxes will continue to be delivered on Saturdays. Post Offices currently open on Saturdays will remain open on Saturdays so that customers can drop off mail or packages, buy postage stamps or access their post office boxes. “What this means is, customers who are getting mail now to their homes delivered six days a week Monday through Saturday, that is going to change,” said Walton. ” They will now get their mail delivered Monday through Friday. What we’re doing is taking away the letter mail. We’re not going to be delivering letter mail anymore six days a week. Now we are going to keep delivering packages. I know medicines are usually sent by priority mail. They are considered packages. We know that is a big concern to customers. So nothing will change as far as medications. They will still be delivered six days a week. If you’ve got a P.O Box, there won’t be any changes for you. You will still get your mail six days a week. For post offices, there is going to be no changes to those as well. If you’ve got a post office that you use that is open on Saturdays, it will still be open on Saturdays,” said Walton
“The Postal Service is advancing an important new approach to delivery that reflects the strong growth of our package business and responds to the financial realities resulting from America’s changing mailing habits,” said Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General and CEO in a prepared news release. “We developed this approach by working with our customers to understand their delivery needs and by identifying creative ways to generate significant cost savings.”
Over the past several years, the Postal Service has advocated shifting to a five-day delivery schedule for mail and packages. However, recent strong growth in package delivery (14 percent volume increase since 2010) and projections of continued strong package growth throughout the coming decade led to the revised approach to maintain package delivery six days per week.
“Our customers see strong value in the national delivery platform we provide and maintaining a six-day delivery schedule for packages is an important part of that platform,” said Donahoe. “As consumers increasingly use and rely on delivery services — especially due to the rise of e-commerce — we can play an increasingly vital role as a delivery provider of choice, and as a driver of growth opportunities for America’s businesses.”

Although there have been no reports of threats against anyone in the DeKalb County School System, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby said extra precautions have been taken today because of what is being reported in Warren County.
According to Nashville media reports, Warren County Director of Schools Bobby Cox said they were alerted about a Facebook post Wednesday evening regarding someone who said he had access to his father’s guns and was planning something at Warren County High in McMinnville. Cox said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is working to identify who posted the message. He said there will be extra patrols at all 11 schools in the district and there will be limited access to the buildings.
Again, no such threats have been made in DeKalb County today, still Director of Schools Mark Willoughby said the incident in neighboring Warren County has heightened awareness here. “We’re taking extra precautions today just because of some of the threats we have heard at some neighboring school systems. We haven’t received any direct threats in DeKalb County as far as I know but our schools are probably a little bit more secure today. You may see the sheriff’s department and city police department on the schools around the property a little more today. But this is just stemming from the threats in a neighboring county. I understand some things in the neighboring county have come over Facebook which has caused them concern. But we have not received any direct threats to any of our schools in DeKalb County but we are taking extra precautions. Safety is our number one priority,”said Willoughby.

The DeKalb County Complex is hosting a FREE MOVIE NIGHT tonight (Thursday, February 7).
ParaNorman, a 2012 American 3D stop-motion animated comedy horror film, will be featured starting at 6:00 p.m. at the county complex auditorium. No admission charge for either children or adults. Concessions will be available for purchase.
County Mayor Mike Foster said movies and other special events will be scheduled on a regular basis at the county complex to attract more people. “We’ve been trying to think of things to involve more kids so the staff there have decided they are going to show a movie called “ParaNorman” which is an animated movie. It lasts about an hour and a half. Its rated PG and was picked as one of the top movies of the year. People who have seen it say it’s a cute little film. We’re just trying to establish some things on Thursday night. We’re probably going to try to do a movie night at least once a month. We hope to have an open mic night, a band, and karaoke. We want to try to have something each Thursday night,” said Foster.
The movie ParaNorman is about the little town of Blithe Hollow where a boy named Norman Babcock can speak to the dead, but no one besides his eccentric new friend, Neil, believes his ability is real. One day, Norman’s estranged eccentric uncle tells him of an important annual ritual he must take up to protect the town from a curse cast by a witch it condemned centuries ago. Eventually, Norman decides to cooperate, but things don’t go according to plan. Now, a magic storm of the witch threatens Blithe Hollow as the accursed dead rise. Together with unexpected new companions, Norman struggles to save his town, only to discover the horrific truth of the curse. With that insight, Norman must resolve the crisis for good as only he can.

The Smithville Downtown Revitalization Project was a recent recipient of funds from the Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Project Hometown Help program. These funds will be used to assist with the construction of a new open-air stage located at the Anne S. and Joe L. Evins Park across from the Smithville Post Office and used for outdoor concerts, performances, and other community events for the public to enjoy and use.
Project Hometown Help is funded by the customers of Middle Tennessee Natural Gas who allow the utility to round their bill up to the next dollar. The money collected in this fashion is distributed to local organizations and charities. These customers have given more than $1,500,000 to their communities since 2005.
Presenting the check from Middle Tennessee Natural Gas is (center) W. Michael Corley, Vice President – Human Resources and General. Accepting the check for the Tennessee Downtowns Program Steering Committee is from left to right, Mark Ashburn, Wade Smith, Corley, Steve White and Suzanne Williams.

When the State’s Utility Management Review Board comes to Smithville on April 4 for a DeKalb Utility District rate review hearing, the City of Smithville will apparently get to intervene along with DUD ratepayers.
Steve R. Darnell, an Administrative Law Judge, has granted a motion by the city to be a participant in the hearing, along with DUD ratepayers, to address the UMRB on how the proposed plans for a DUD water treatment plant could impact city water ratepayers.
Attorneys for the DeKalb Utility District are opposed to the city’s intervention in the hearing.
Darnell’s order, which came down Tuesday, stated “This is an action initiated by the petitioners (DUD rate payers) which grants the Board (Utility Management Review Board) the authority to review rates charged and services provided by public utility districts.”
“Smithville’s motion demonstrates the disposition of this case may, as a practical matter, affect Smithville’s interests. The factual issues asserted by Smithville are intertwined with the petitioners (DUD ratepayer’s) assertions. Finally, Smithville’s participation will not render the hearing unmanageable or interfere with the interests of justice and the orderly and prompt conduct of the proceeding. Accordingly, Smithville’s motion to intervene should be granted without restriction,” wrote Darnell.
“We had filed a motion to intervene in the hearing with DUD to set out what the position for the City of Smithville would be if we lost the contract with DUD and how that would affect our rate payers as well as their ratepayers,” said City Attorney Vester Parsley. “The administrative law judge filed an order this afternoon (Tuesday) allowing the city to intervene in that matter and be there on April 4 when we have a hearing here in Smithville to put on anything that we have to show that the ratepayers of DUD would certainly be materially affected and so would the city rate payers. Its good news for the city because the opposing counsel, Mr.(Dewey) Branstetter had opposed the intervention of the City of Smithville on the grounds that we didn’t have any basis to argue about what the rates are for DUD. We (city) filed a motion to intervene. Mr. Branstetter had filed a motion objecting to our intervention and the administrative law judge has made his decision and said we (city) are allowed to intervene and be a part of this hearing and have a right to participate in the hearing without restrictions. Mr. Branstetter was wanting to restrict it some if we were allowed to intervene. But the order clearly sets out that there are no restrictions (on the city),” said Parsley.
The DUD is represented by its own attorney Keith Blair and by Dewey Branstetter, a Nashville attorney recently hired by the DUD to help represent them before the UMRB.
Attorney Jason Holleman of Jones, Hawkins & Farmer, PLC of Nashville represents the City of Smithville in this matter along with City Attorney Vester Parsley.
Meanwhile an issue was raised as to whether Branstetter’s firm could represent DUD in this proceeding due to a potential conflict of interest. But the Administrative Law Judge said that issue was not proper for him to consider.
Darnell’s order states that “It appears the issue of a conflict of interest has been raised concerning the Branstetter firm’s representation of Respondent (DUD) in this proceeding, and also, the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts of which Smithville is a member. This issue is not a proper consideration in determining whether to grant Smithville’s motion to intervene. No motion to disqualify the Branstetter firm is pending before the undersigned (Darnell). It is noted that if there is a conflict it may exist regardless of whether Smithville is permitted to intervene. The parties are referred to the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility for guidance on this issue. If either party believes this to be a legitimate issue, guidance should be sought immediately to avoid delay of this hearing.”
“It is therefore ordered that Smithville’s motion is granted and Smithville shall have the right to participate in this hearing without restriction,” wrote Darnell.

The City of Smithville is taking advantage of a USDA Rural Development Grant/Loan for the purchase and installation of a new automated water meter reading project.
Under the program, the city has been approved for a total of $410,000 in funding including a $95,000 grant and a $315,000 loan for the project. The city will have to repay the loan. The aldermen, Monday night, adopted a bond resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of bonds up to $315,000 at an interest rate not to exceed 2.75% per annum. The bonds shall be payable over a term not to exceed twenty years. The bonds shall be revenue and tax deficiency general obligation bonds of the City of Smithville and will be payable from revenues derived from the City’s water and sewer system.
The new equipment will be installed on the existing water system but will replace the current manual read meters and include leak detecting encoding and a radio frequency transmitter. The new equipment will send a radio signal that can be read from outside by simply driving along the streets within the service area. The project will allow the city to make meter reading more efficient and billing more accurate.
“The grant/loan will free up our two meter readers that currently spend six to seven days reading meters and allow them to spend more time helping with other public works needs,” said City Secretary-Treasurer Hunter Hendrixson. “With the new automated system our entire water meter system can be read within one days time and without getting out of the vehicle which increases safety as well. Although it’s a 20 year loan I believe the city should be able to repay the entire sum within three to five years. Plus the city will receive $95,000 towards this project as a grant that does not have to be repaid,” said Hendrixson.
During a city council meeting in February 2010, Will Taylor of the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts, addressed the mayor and aldermen on this issue. According to Taylor, benefits to the city by having an automated meter reading system are that it would reduce water loss by an estimated seven to fifteen percent and cut costs associated with the current manner of reading meters.
Many utilities are now using Automated Meter Readers as a way of improving customer service while reducing the cost of reading meters. With this process, one driver in a vehicle is able to read more meters in one day. At the end of the day, the meter reader unloads the information to the city’s billing system.