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The Leader thursday, August 15 , 2013 ▪ vo l . 1 2 9 , n o. 3 5 ▪ T h e vo i c e o f Tipton County s i n c e 1 8 8 6 ▪
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County passes $126.7M budget By JEFF IRELAND jireland@covingtonleader.com The county passed a 2013-14 budget at Monday night's monthly Tipton County Legislature meeting, setting the property tax rate at $2.34, unchanged from last year. “I want to thank the finance committee for their hard work,” County Executive Jeff Huffman said. “Every year people come to them with legitimate needs, and some don't get it … The need is always real, but we can't always give it to them.” The $126.7 million budget includes
crime
$78 million ($1.11 of the tax rate) for the schools, by far the most money in any category. A little more than $50 million of that goes to salaries. The rest of the budget breaks down like this: $7.5 million ($.35) for debt service, $6.6 million ($.07) for public works/highways and $16.6 million ($.81) for the general fund. Approximately $18.5 million of the budget is not funded by property tax. Those funds come from the state and federal governments or are borrowed for capital outlay projects. Commissioner Dale Smith thanked budget director W.T. Bailey, who was
hired last year, for his work on the budget. “Last year we were flying by the seat of our pants,” Smith said. “This year was much better. What a difference a year makes.” In other matters: • Huffman announced that Tipton County has been awarded a zeromatch $1 million hazard mitigation grant. The money, Huffman said, will be used to build a building near the Tipton County Public Works facility in Brighton that will store equipment to be used in the event of a natural
disaster. “This all came about after the 2010 flood,” Huffman said. “There's a lot of work still to be done on this.” Although there is no match, the county will have to spend money for the design of the building. He said the budget that just passed does not include money for that. • A committee consisting of commissioners Steve Bringle, Bob Wilson, Tommy Dunavant and Rusty Wooten was appointed to handle the task of putting prices on land the county has acquired over the years because of unpaid property taxes.
snapshots
Stepfather arrested in newborn murder By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com A Munford man was arrested Thursday for the December 2012 murder of his infant stepson, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced Friday. Bryan Austin DeMeza, 21, of Drummonds Roads, was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated child abuse in the death of 19-dayold Zayne Hunter DeMeza. Bryan DeMeza reportedly found the baby unresponsive on Dec. 6, 2012. At the time, he told investigators he fell while Bryan DeMeza, 21, holding him. was charged with the Accordmurder of his 19-daying to the old stepson after TBI, DeMeza confessing to the TBI admitted to his role in the infant's shaking the death. newborn eight to ten times in a fast, forwardto-backward motion and falling on the infant twice during the evening before his death. When DeMeza found he was unresponsive in his bassinet, he took the newborn to his in-laws' house where they called 911. The baby was pronounced dead at 4:07 a.m. That was not the only alleged incident of abuse, however. The report states DeMeza admitted to dropping Zayne on Nov. 23, just six days after his birth, while standing in the kitchen. He reportedly described to investigators the way the baby's body hit his knee and the kitchen cabinet before hitting the floor. Five days later, Zayne's head collided with a door frame while DeMeza was holding him. This incident resulted in a bruise on the baby's forehead. DeMeza reportedly admitted to this as well. Kristin Helm, spokesperson for the TBI, said the autopsy showed Zayne suffered bruising and abrasions in front of his ear as well as on his scalp, the right side of his neck and the back of his lower left neck. The baby suffered from both a brain and See infant, A3
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Joseph and Elizabeth Watts of Covington serve customer Taylor Aday a cup of lemonade from their stand on Tuesday afternoon. Photo by Andy Posey
Munford hires new administrator By JEFF IRELAND jireland@covingtonleader.com Munford has a new city administrator, and he's somebody many people in Munford already know. Peter Colin Sr. accepted the position Monday and will begin Sept. 16. He replaces Neal Hunter, who held the position for 40 years before retiring at the end of last year. Colin's wife, Terry Colin, is a Munford alderman. Mayor Dwayne Cole said Terry Colin “recused herself completely from the (hiring) process at the start.” She will resign her position before her husband begins his new job. “While I understand the need, I regret that Alderman Terry Colin will
resign her position as alderman,” Cole said. “And, it has been my pleasure to serve with her for many years." Peter Colin holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and is a certified professional engineer. He worked in the waste water management field for several years and also at Union Planters Bank as a financial technology manager. Colin also worked in the electronic infrastructure and information technology departments at Vining Sparks, a financial firm with offices all across the country. “He has a strong background in financials, accounting and management,” Cole said. “I believe he will provide exceptional leadership for the future.”
Cole said several candidates were considered. A selection committee consisting of Cole, Hunter and five aldermen – Bob Forbess, Jack Foraker, Johnny Crigger, Sue Arthur and Mike Durham – was assisted by Tennessee's Municipal Technical Assistant Service. “MTAS’s review took into consideration the education, professional experience and qualifications of the applicants,” Cole said. “The top candidates made it through the MTAS review to the final round.” Hunter has been working part time for Munford since his retirement and will continue to serve in an advisory role.” The job's compensation is $52,000 a year.
schools
Cyber-bullying now a zero tolerance offense By FRANCE GASQUET fgasquet@covingtonleader.com The school board is proposing cyber-bullying and electronic threats a zero tolerance offense, punishable by an indefinite expulsion. The addition is in accordance with a new state law requiring development of policy regarding harassment, intimidation, bullying or cyber bullying.
According to school board member, Farrel Vincent, cyber bullying is a big issue around the nation, “kids have committed suicide across the country because of this type of bullying. I’m all for having a policy in place.” The amended policy states “any student who transmits by an electronic device any communication containing a credible threat
to cause bodily injury or death to another student or school employee and the transmission of such threat creates actual disruptive activity at the school that requires administrative intervention shall be expelled for a period of not less than one calendar year.” Vincent especially likes the provision that the expulsion is on a case-bycase basis. “I’m doubtful a
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student would be expelled for a year, we’ve never really had a major bullying problem, to my knowledge, however, I like that the director of schools has the last say in the length of expulsion. The decision stays here in the county.” The second reading will take place on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
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