Commissioners pass numerous resolutions

White County Board of Commissioners gathered for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting Oct. 21 where 12 members unanimously passed all items on the agenda.

The meeting was marked by a series of resolutions that focused on enhancing public safety, infrastructure, and educational resources within the county.

One of the first items addressed was Resolution 68, which allocated $45,000 from the unassigned fund to the Drug Control Fund. This allocation is aimed at acquiring necessary law enforcement equipment, reinforcing the county’s efforts to combat drug-related issues and enhance overall public safety.

Resolution 69-10-2024 was introduced, which proposed an appropriation of $200,000 from the Highway Public Works Fund balance. This funding is crucial for additional payments related to ongoing infrastructure projects, ensuring that essential road maintenance and improvements can continue without interruption. The board recognized the importance of maintaining and upgrading the county’s infrastructure to support both residents and businesses.

Resolution 70-10-2024 was comprised of five distinct parts and was aimed to secure funding from various grants, highlighting the county’s strategic approach to utilizing available resources for community betterment:

1. The first part allocated $45,748 from the mental health transport grant
2. The second part appropriated $50,000 from the Three-Star Grant to provide essential equipment for volunteer fire departments.
3. The third and fourth parts focused on training, with a total of $29,932 allocated from the Training Equipment Grant funds from the Tennessee Corrections Institute (TCI). These funds are earmarked for purchasing materials and equipment necessary for hands-on training of corrections staff, an essential investment in enhancing the skills and capabilities of those in the corrections field.
4. The fifth part allocated $28,420 for bonuses as a training supplement payment to certified officers who complete specific training programs.

“All of those are grant funding or state funds. None of those affect our fund balance or maintenance of effort,” Kyle Goff, chairperson of the budget Committee, explained.

The commissioners also approved Resolution 71-10-2024, which appropriated $7,500 from the General Fund to purchase and test a fire truck pump. This resolution included provisions to tow a fire department truck that is currently out of commission to a mechanic for testing.

Resolution 72-10-2024, was derived from the General School Fund and comprised two essential components aimed at enhancing educational infrastructure in the county:

1. The first section appropriated remaining Innovative School Model (ISM) Grant funds for expenditure in the third year of the program. This initiative is designed to positively impact education and workforce development in White County by expanding and supporting Career Technical Education program offerings at both White County High School and White County Middle School.
2. The second section allocated Public School Safety Grant funds received from the Tennessee Department of Education. This funding will be used for software upgrades to various security camera systems throughout the county’s schools, further ensuring the safety and security of students and staff.

In addition to the resolutions, the board approved a series of notaries presented for approval, including Debbie Volden, Renee Flatt, Angie Hickey, Chase Hoke, Jennifer Holmes, Delilah Robotto, Raj Patel, Susan Smith, Rhonda Todd, John Dakota White, and Christine Whitley. All were accepted and approved without objection.

Commissioners Cain Rogers and Jordan Cocke were absent from the meeting.

The next meeting of the White County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for 6 p.m., Nov. 18, 2024, in the third-floor courtroom of the White County Courthouse. Committee meetings are scheduled for Nov. 4. All meetings are open to the public.