$300,000 industrial loan approved for Jackson Kayak

White County Board of Commissioners has voted 8-4 to loan Jackson Kayak $300,000 from the Industrial Loan Fund.

Four out of 12 commissioners who were present at the July 17 meeting opposed the 4 percent interest rate the Industrial Development Board approved for the loan to Jackson Kayak. Commissioner Derrick Hutchings (District 6) said that an interest rate of 6 percent would be more appropriate, given the current 8.5 percent Prime Rate. County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said the expansion would add approximately 17 new jobs at the Sparta facility, and the loan is only part of a more significant deal for the project, with another party loaning an additional $350,000 at 6 percent and Jackson Kayak providing the remaining funds.

Commissioners Hutchings, Larry Daniels (District 7), Becky Golden (District 3), and Chris Brewington (District 1) voted for an amendment to the proposal brought by Hutchings to change the interest rate to 6 percent, but the amendment did not pass. The same four commissioners then voted against the original proposal. Jackson Kayak will use the loan to purchase a new Rotomold oven to support existing and new contracts.

In other business, commissioners:

• Approved applying for the TCD Grant for Broadband Community Ready Program.
• Authorized an agreement with South Central Workforce Alliance to provide inmate mental health and substance abuse services at the White County Jail to be paid with $578,328 awarded from the Federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant and an agreement with Kellwell Food Management to provide food service operations for the jail.
• Ratified a Private Act for Adoption Jurisdiction for White County, Private Chapter 15, House Bill 1555, Senate Bill 1540, 113th General Assembly. A Private Act is a law that applies to a single person, group, or area. This Private Act allows the White County General Sessions Judge to have concurrent jurisdiction, power, and authority with Chancery and Circuit Courts to hear and determine all adoption cases.
• Approved Personnel Sick Leave Policy for county employees and Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) Sick Leave Provisions.
• Approved notary applications for Haven Koehler and Brandi D. Lawson
• Appointed Robert McCormick to fill the Tri-County Railroad Authority vacancy caused by Ernie Cheek’s death.

Twelve out of 14 commissioners were in attendance: Cain Rogers (District 1), Chris Brewington (District 1), T.K. Austin (District 2), Robert McCormick (District 3), Becky Golden (District 3), Lanny Selby (District 4), Dakota White (District 4), Jordan Cocke (District 5), Roger Mason (District 6), Derrick Hutchings (District 6), Kyle Goff (District 7), and Larry Daniels (District 7),

Commissioners David Cranford (District 2) and Thomas Margeson (District 5) were absent.