White County will apply for a Tennessee Recreation Initiative Program Grant to try and hire a county Parks and Recreation Director.
County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said the grant is a three-year grant worth $25,000 and requires a $25,000 match for the first two years and then on the third year, the county would be responsible for the full $50,000 for the position. Denny Wayne Robinson said the commissioners have to be committed to hiring a director in order to receive the grant.
“If we agree to do this, we are committed to the three years,” Robinson said. “We are committed to spending $100,000 love the next three years. $25K, $25K, and $50K. After that, my understanding that’s where the obligation would end if we see that it is not going like we think.”
Robinson said he preferred to go ahead and have approval to at least apply for the grant as the application period for the grant opens March 17. Robinson said grant recipients would be notified in late May and that the county could budget the funds for the upcoming budget should the county receive the grant.
“I don’t foresee it requiring any budget amendments,” Robinson said. “The program would go into effect after July 1, so it would just be appropriated in the upcoming budget. If you are interested, I would probably send it to budget just so they know, but this is about the best I can find.”
Commissioner TK Austin said he believed the county needs a Parks and Rec director so several projects can further advance. Commissioner Derrick Hutchings said he was in favor of the county applying for the grant.
“I mean I’m on board of hiring somebody regardless if we get the grant or not,” Hutchings said. “We’ve had several conversations in meetings about needing a full-time P&R. So I mean I’m on board regardless if the grant is approved or not.”
The proposal to provide the funds required to match the grant will be sent to the full court for approval during the March 17 commission meeting.
