Commissioners vote down salary request for codes

White County Board of Commissioners Jan. 21 rather than their regular third-Monday of the month because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

During their meeting, they made several budget amendments, but one of the agenda items failed to get enough votes to pass.

Items that were passed include Resolution 01-01-2025, which listed as surplus one vehicle from White County Sheriff’s Office and seven cots from White County Emergency Medical Service and Resolution 02-01-2025, which served to list Finance Director Chad Marcum as the county’s designee for recording and communicating with the USDA for the purpose of grant management.

Also passing with unanimous approval was Resolution 04-01-2025, which had five separate appropriations. The resolution appropriated $2,000 each to the sheriff’s office, animal control, and White County EMS with funds coming from a citizen contribution as well as the sale of animals. Also appropriated were funds to help with the repair of an engine for BonDeCroft Volunteer Fire Department, with the county providing 75 percent of the funding and the fire department providing the remaining 25 percent. Funds from a Training of the Public Grant were given to White County Public Library for the purpose of digital literacy training for residents, while funds from the Broadband Ready Community Grant were marked to be used for installation of public Wi-Fi at the White County Recreational Complex, on Highway 70.  Resolution 05-01-2025 was also passed, with the county agreeing to match up to $5,000 of what the City of Sparta agrees to donate to the Friends of White County Animals for the purpose of spaying and neutering cats.

 However, Resolution 03-01-2025 met with some questions from commissioners. The resolution intended to provide up to $28,000 for the purpose of paying the salary of a full-time person to help with the codes department for the remainder of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Questions arose as to whether the codes department was financially productive and would support the continuation of the position or if this money was going to have to continue to come from other funds within the county.

When put to a vote, Resolution 03-01-2025 only received seven yes votes and therefore failed to pass. Commissioners voting in favor of the resolution were Derrick Hutchings, T.K. Austin, Kyle Goff, David Cranford, Robert McCormick, Thomas Margeson, and Lanny Selby. Those voting against the resolution included Chris Brewington, Cain Rogers, and Jordan Cocke. Four commissioners were absent.

The next meeting of White County Board of Commissioners will not take place on its regular third-Monday date as that date is also a federal holiday. The next meeting will take place 6 p.m., Feb. 18, in the third-floor courtroom, at White County Courthouse.