Landfill and convenience center questions still plague commission

Landfill questions are still being directed to White County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson, specifically about the closing of the convenience center that is at the landfill.

During the Nov. 17, meeting of White County Board of Commissioners, updates were requested about the convenience center that is intended to replace the one at landfill, on Gum Springs Mountain Road.

The convenience center shut down Nov. 15, and Executive Robinson was asked to provide information on how quickly a replacement can be finalized.

Commission Chairman Derrick Hutchings broached the topic of the landfill.

“Mister Executive, I’ve had several questions about the notice of the convenience center at the landfill closing,” Chairman Hutchings said. “Several of my constituents have reached out to me about that. Do you have an update of when that might possibly reopen?”

Executive Robinson said an application for the permit to build a new one is pending. While he does not have an exact time frame for when that permit will be approved, he was assured it would be handled as quickly as possible.

When asked if there was anything that the commission can do in the interim, Executive Robinson said, “Other than add some more containers probably at one of the other 10 convenience centers, there’s not much. We could probably put some open tops down there probably now, but again, people would be having to throw trash up[ward].

Executive Robinson said once the permits clears, work could possibly begin in two to three months.

In other business, Commissioner Becky [Golden] Mitchell asked a question about the codes department.

“I’ve had a couple of people reach out to me about the codes, asking if the position is going to be posted that’s being vacated,” she said.

Executive Robinson responded, “Yes, our codes person has put in their resignation, and Hunter [Kline] will be trying to go through the process to get his - he has a year to get his qualifications and stuff. So, I want to give him the opportunity to try and see what he can do. See if he can fill that position.”

A resolution from Steering Committee B, which was surplus property from the sheriff’s office, including a 2015 Ford Explorer and a drone, was unanimously approved.

The Budget Committee had three resolutions coming before the full commission. The first was a $12,000 grant for extrication equipment for White County Emergency Medical Service, which Director Mike Kerr answered questions about during the committee meetings this month. The second resolution had a few changes for data processing fees, a resolution for the juvenile drug court, and then closing the Community Development Block grant. The third resolution was an $8,000 contribution from the Tennessee School Board Association. All the resolutions were approved unanimously.

Commissioner T.K. Austin wanted to revisit Resolution 84-10-2025, now renamed 97-11-2025, which was to surplus and sell 20 acres of property to the state of Tennessee. The previous version of the resolution failed in October, with Commissioner Chris Brewington voting no. Since there were a handful of commissioners absent, his vote was enough to fail the motion.

The motion passed this month will 11 votes, with Commissioner Brewington once again voting no.

Just before the end of the meeting, it was announced that Brooke Luna, executive assistant, is soon to resign from her position with the county. Chairman Hutchings said, “We would like to thank her for her service and wish her the best of luck.”The next meeting for White County Board of Commissioners will be 6 p.m., Dec. 15, at the courthouse, in the third-floor courtroom. All meetings are open to the public and livestreamed on the county website at White County TN Commission.