Fire truck, recreation director discussed during the recent committee meetings

At this month’s White County Commission Committee meetings, young leaders in the county got to participate in a new way.

White County High School FFA got to have their team meet in the courthouse just before the rest of the committees. It gave the students a good chance to discuss and interact in a very formal setting.

During Steering Committee A, there was a new update on the parks and recreation director position that garnered a lot of attention during the budget process last summer. County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said they have gone through some good applications, but they are now awaiting word from the state to set up interviews for the position.

David Culley Recreational Complex may receive new signage in Culley’s honor. Located on Smithville Highway, Executive Robinson was showing commissioners proposals for signage on the area. Commissioner Becky Mitchell brought up that the signage was “not what I had in mind.”

Commissioner T.K. Austin agreed it was not what he had in mind as well. He said, “This thing has gone down the road, at least three years?”

Commissioner Chris Brewington also agreed he was not pleased with the sign as well.

“I would rather do something like that and honor the man,” Commissioner Mitchell said. “Something nice, instead of sticking his name up there and putting all these other things underneath it. I understand you’re just doing what you’re doing with limited resources, but that’s not anything what I envisioned what we were going to do to honor the man.”

A motion failed to do the sign as it was proposed if it stayed in their budgeted range. For now, a subcommittee was formed to make design proposals for the sign before the next committee meetings.

Steering Committee B revisited the BonDeCroft Fire Engine, and Matt McBride, director-Office of Emergency Management, spoke to the matter to help inform the commissioners better. McBride spoke with other fire chiefs, and he said that none of the other departments claimed they needed the fire engine nor did most have the space. McBride did say, however, that he felt a procedure needed to be put onto paper for the process of selling these, in case the matter arises again.

Steering Committee B did not have any updates on the Property Tax Freeze that has been floating as an idea for a few months now. Now that holidays are finished and over, the committee intends to have a work session dedicated to viewing the matter and all its facets.

The Audit Committee met during the month’s meetings as well. Dakota White was elected chairman of the committee, Robert McCormick was elected vice chairman, and Chris Brewington was elected as secretary.

The committee met to review audit results from 2025. Finance Director Chad Marcum gave the results, saying, “I’m pleased to report that the fiscal year 2025 audit resulted in no audit findings for White County. We had an unmodified opinion on our financial statements. No material weaknesses were identified. No significant deficiencies were reported, and no non-compliance material to the financial statements were reported.”

At the end of the committee’s meeting, Director Marcum also wanted to take a moment to thank everyone that works together on the financial report.

The budget committee sent one amendment to full court and one within committee, while another amendment had no action taken. The first amendment was a $2,050 amendment to recognize the donation from the insurance carrier. The funds from the grant will benefit both the sheriff’s office and solid waste. The second amendment presented was Director Marcum’s draft on how to increase hours at the Quebeck Community Center, adding six hours. The committee chose not to take action after a prior discussion on its lack of necessity. The third amendment reallocated $1,000 from the CTE Perkins grant, moving funds from other supplies and materials to travel. It was already approved by the school board last month, so the committee approved it as well.

Solid Waste Committee had a brief word from Executive Robinson about a part-time convenience center worker. Robinson said, as of now, there was no need for one, but that he would keep the committee updated if that changed.

White County Board of Commissioners will meet at 6 p.m., Jan. 20, 2026, on the third floor of the courthouse. The next committee meetings will be Feb. 2, 2026.