Landfill and archery range among topics discussed

White County has taken the first steps toward developing the Everett Rowland Sawmill property.

Steering Committee B has recommended spending $3,500 to have the property cleared of overgrowth, and the Budget Committee approved it. Once the overgrowth has been removed, the county will be better positioned to decide how to continue. There are more extensive discussions in the future, but, after six years, this move is a welcome start for those who support turning the sawmill into a historic site and tourist attraction.

Steering Committee B also approved a Mutual Aid Agreement allowing the city’s insurance company to cover city police operating outside the city limits but inside White County.

Steering Committee A discussed making a Parks and Recreation subcommittee or recommending that the full commission create a Parks and Recreation Board. After some discussion, the committee decided to table the matter until next month. The committee also discussed erecting signs designating the county sports complex on Highway 70 as the David Culley Sports Complex. The committee hopes to have brown state signs to the east and west of the complex entrance and a large sign facing the highway at the complex entrance.

Discussion of an archery range at the complex was tabled for another month to allow Commissioner Larry Daniels and County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson to scout the area for a spot to locate the range. Discussion of changing building fees was also tabled to enable Commissioner Lanny Selby and County Executive Robinson to investigate the matter. With the support of County Highway Superintendent Jerry Sawyer, the committee approved a new process for changing speed limits and stop signs within the county.

In other business, the Solid Waste Committee approved spending up to $350,000 for a new front-end truck. Executive Robinson explained that the county would need the truck whether the county sells the landfill or not. Discussions continued on the possible sale of the landfill, with the approval of the decision matrix and a decision not to demand a host fee from any potential buyer. The committee also explained that the sale of the landfill would also improve the county’s recycling program, which some residents have been critical of recently.  

The committees also approved designating several items and vehicles from the landfill and the sheriff’s department as surplus for auction.

The full commission will meet at 6 p.m., Sept. 18, at the courthouse.