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Read comments (23)The officer, who will be picked from Bedford County Sheriff's Department personnel, will work only 10 hours a week with his main duty to watch for speeders.
A total of $10,000 was budgeted for this experiment, which is slated to last for a trial period of four months -- from March 1 until June 30.
The town is also working out a deal with the county to lease a car for the temporary officer for $1. The officer would be paid $25 an hour.
A number of citizens objected to the need for an officer, with some citing previous bad experiences with law enforcement. One individual did not want the officer "harassing" children in his family about curfew violations. Mayor Dennis Webb stressed that the officer would be completely impartial and he would not be directing the patrolman to "go after" certain individuals while leaving others alone.
There were also concerns from citizens of who the officer would answer to: Bell Buckle officials or the sheriff.
However, other citizens said the officer was needed due to the continued problem of speeding through the town. Another consideration is that the town could be sued since they have ordinances on the book with no way to enforce them.
Alderwoman Jenny Hunt also mentioned that there had been reports of open drug dealing in Bell Buckle during daylight hours.
The town will also be dealing with similar items in coming meetings related to bringing law enforcement to Bell Buckle -- such as a municipal court. Alderman James Anderson said he had been approached, through a third party, by retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Adolpho A. Birch, Jr about filling the role of municipal judge.
Anderson said that the judge had read about the town's search for a judge in the Times-Gazette and quoted Birch as saying it would be an opportunity to help out. Birch retired from the bench in 2006.
Birch, who lives in Nashville, would likely charge somewhere in the amount of $200 per hour, however the proposed court would only be held just once every month or so, so the cost was considered minimal. The board voted to defer action until they could firm up the pay rates.
Also tabled were two other related ordinances. One would adopt by reference, state traffic offenses and "rule of the road" for the state of Tennessee. The other would establish court costs for the proposed city court, however the board wanted to confirm certain aspects of the fee schedule before proceeding.
Hey bellbuckle09, She best not throw one of them old shoes at me. I might be justa a mind to throw it back. shame, shame, shame
Heck, I might just pull over and started tossing both my shoes at her. Wun't that be the sight now. Guawwwwwwly!! Ya know sumthin, we might just start havin a shoe tossing festival over here to go long with our moon pies and RC Colers.
Hey goober! I hope they can do something about that crazy woman too.
Actually, bell buckle09, I never said it was ok. I just said that I do it. It's really no better than speeding here, just I don't do it here. Generally, I stay within the speed limit anytime I'm in a neighborhood (wherever I am), but the entire town of Bell Buckle is a neighborhood.
Hey bellbuckle09, I sure hope Barney catches that lady throwing her shoes at the big trucks coming through Bell Buckle too. I am almost afraid to deliver the milk truck back to Sam after repairing it for fear of being struck with a shoe up side the head. I cain't roll up the winnders cause the handles are missing and the fan dun't work.
Well I'm for growth so I guess I can't be against newcomers either. It's the bunch that's in there now that really gets to me. I hope the new police officer will really do his job, like when a certain person rides down the road in her golf cart. Pretty sure that's illegal, and these laws need to be enforced during the arts and crafts festival. I mean if we're going to have them they need to be constantly enforced.
There is a drug problem nationwide , not just in BELL BUCKLE , or BEDFORD COUNTY ,but nationwide. 10 hours of patrol time for a week is a joke. SPEEDERS are everywhere , not just the great 'state'of BELL BUCKLE. IF only there were enough police officers to tend to everyone's needs we all would be better off. ALSO , have you ever thought that all of our local police officer's do the best that they can with the resources that they are given!!!!!!!!!!
Bell Buckle does not need a police officer, the only thing that ever happens in that town is a few people speeding. And 25 mph is ridiculous it should be raised to a normal speed.
And Thom why is it ok to speed everywhere else and not in Bell Buckle? That makes no sense and probably offends the people where you are speeding, just like it offends you. I agree the people that move here are the ones stirring up trouble. Everyone wants to move here because it's so wonderful and as soon as they get here they want to change things.
Why doesn't the Sheriff's Department just post one of thier officers out there instead of Bell Buckle spending the money to employ an officer for only 10 hours a week? They are already going to have to lease a patrol car from BCSO, why not just have a deputy patrol out there?
Yeah, I'm sure he'll help out the drug problem. Then again, I didn't even realize that it was that much of a problem until I was in the meeting on Tuesday night.
Does Bell Buckle need some form of law enforcement? Yes, we need someone that can answer calls when the Sheriff's department is too busy and undermanned. Does our new officer need to be concerned with stopping people walking down the road and bothering people that aren't doing anything wrong? Nope, that should not be his concern. Actually, Mayor Webb himself said that there would be a significant "warning" period for the traffic offenders. He also stated that he will let the officer know that he doesn't want to get a bunch of calls at his house telling him that "Officer So-and-so pulled me over for doing five mph over the limit." I can understand that. Personally, I'd prefer to have an officer that lives in town simply to be available when there are calls, and to do a few rounds per day through town.
As some of these "newcomers", my wife and I like this town and would prefer to keep it safe. I thought it was rather neat when I was first told that there are no police in town. The neat part was that there wasn't really the need for them. But since I've moved here, just over a year ago, there have been arsons, vandalism, thefts of some of my neighbor's tools from his garage, and from what I hear: a couple of dogs have been poisoned with rat poison, there is now (and may have been for a while) a drug problem in town somewhere, and traffic continues to blow through town at WAY over the posted speed limit. If the officer is sitting somewhere and he or she notices something suspicious it is their DUTY to look into it. They are supposed to uphold the laws…ALL OF THEM. But the main purpose of this officer is going to be to help control the traffic issues. There are people's children, dogs, cats, and an occasional goat or five walking in the street (although I hear the goats are gone now). If one of these yahoos flying along texting or dialing on their cell phones isn't paying attention, all it takes is a split second to end someone's life. Do I speed, yep, you betcha. Do I speed in Bell Buckle, nope. There are two places that I ALWAYS do the speed-limit or less, those are Bell Buckle and Wartrace. To me these two towns are more like communities than cities. Communities where the people aren't afraid to walk around, and as soon as someone is killed by one of these people, that will cease to be the case.
mtsufan - Have you ever heard my Cary Grant imitation.......Judy, Judy, Judy
I understand Rickey Headley is seeking a job now that is is not longer Sheriff of Williamson County. We might could get him
for 4 hours a day.
Goober Pyle,
I liked Goober but Gomer was much better After all Gomer was sometimes deputized by Barney when additional assistance was needed to keep law and order in Mayberry. Who could forget his catchphrases! Shazam! and Suprise!, Suprise!, Suprise!
But on to the real post, Bell Buckle needs law enfrocement and I am glad to see the city taking a step forward.
All the people that have moved into the town limits are the ones want change, not the people that have lived here all there lives. We like it fine.
They may arrest the "street walkers" what will we do....
We will all have to get a second job to pay for these new "SERVICES", beside our property taxes will skyrocket.
I for one hope Bell Buckle does get some part time law enforcement and especially for speeders. I for one get tired of driving the speed limit and have John Doe or Sally Doe right on my bumper flashing their lights and blowing their horns for you to get out of their way and go faster than the posted speed limit and even passing on double yellow lines in a 25 mile speed zone. THERE IS A POSTED SPEED LIMIT AND IT NEEDS TO BE ENFORCED. On the drug issue, when a certain pick up truck goes by your house 10 to 15 times a day plus late in the evenings and comes right back in a few minutes, why do you think they are going out the road a little ways from where they live. To meet another vehicle, which I have personally seen first hand several times and they only set a few minutes, hand something out the driver window of each vehicle to each other and the truck turns around in the middle of the road and returns back to their house. Could that be a good drug trade, You Think? I'm glad some people in Bell Buckle finally realize there is a problem and follows through dealing with it. There are several more problems which I will address later. (And yes I have video of these bumper riders).
Union - You better be glad they took Barney's bullet from him. After he figured out you had him chop up all that wood for nothing he was a fit to be tied. Aunt Bee had to sit on him to cool him down.
bond0007 - They still only allow him one bullet and he may not have it now. Heard it accidently discharged a few months ago in Bell Buckle and struck a big milk cow and they decided to just let him think he has a bullet.
Lolbert - in case you didn't catch it in the last sentence of my last post, you can have it both ways. Just ask Floyd and Otis!
loblert - Nobody is "AGAINST" newcomers. As you tried to state, in order to be "FOR" the construction of all these new subdivisions you can not be AGAINST newcomers. After all it does take newcomers to fill these new subdivisions. What you apparently do not understand is that everyone is only against the "previous newcomers'" attitudes of wanting to be the last newcomers to Bell Buckle. It is that simple.
My comment however on this article is in reference to the actual perceived need to have a police officer. Does every small subdivision such as Bell Buckle need a police officer. Covered Bridges subdivision is quite a bit larger than Bell Buckle so does it also need its own police officer? If every similar concentrated group of people required a police officer and judge there would be one on almost every corner. Could not we possibly be better served by relinquishing the illegal but granfathered-in title of town for a newly formed Homeowners Association title and form us a little neighborhood watch group.
Gotta go, Floyd needs gassing up and Otis is already gassed up.
How come you people are FOR the construction of all these new subdivisions but AGAINST all the newcomers. You can't have it both ways.
I can't wait till this happens;
Subject: FW: Get 'R Done!
"Hello, is this the Sheriff's Office?"
"Yes. What can I do for you?"
"I'm calling to report 'bout my neighbor Virgil Smith....He's hidin' marijuana inside his firewood! Don't quite know how he gets it inside them logs, but he's hidin' it there."
"Thank you very much for the call, sir."
The next day, the Sheriff's Deputies descend on Virgil's house. They search the shed where the firewood is kept. Using axes, they bust open every piece of wood, but find no marijuana.
They sneer at Virgil and leave.
Shortly, the phone rings at Virgil's house.
"Hey, Virgil! This here's Floyd....Did the Sheriff come?"
"Yeah!"
"Did they chop your firewood?"
"Ye p!"
"Happy Birthday, buddy!"
Rednecks know how to git-R-dun
We had a constable in 1973. Mr Mullins I belive and also Howard Hatchett was later.
I hope they address the "move over law" when the get the new Barney. Hard to move over on the one lane
Mayberry at it's best. I wonder how many bullets will Bell Buckle's elite allow Barney Fifh to carry. I have lived in Bell Buckle all my life and we have never had any problems of this nature until all these outsiders moved in and all of a sudden they need a cop. If these people will bother to look back we did not have any of these problems till they moved here and they claim that they are from Bell Buckle. "Horse crap" The problems that have occured are of their on actions. These people moved to Bell Buckle to avoid all the city hassles but they are creating the same situations that they were avoiding by moving to BB. These people are ruining this town.