White County Commissioners failed to pass a resolution Monday that would have sold a 20 acre plot of surplus land to the state.
Chairman Derrick Hutchings said the county bought the access land for $200,000 to sell to the state at the same price. It was a request of the state. Commissioner Chris Brewington dissented, saying the deal did not benefit the county enough financially.
“I asked a question, I said what is the (inaudible) he said the state is wanting to buy it back the same amount we bought it back for he didn’t say we was making 10 percent he didn’t say we was making five percent or three percent,” Brewington said. “You can’t go to the bank and buy $20,000 and turn around and pay that $20,000 back.”
County Director Denny Wayne Robinson said he did not know what the county would do with the land at this point. Hutchings said the county hopes to benefit from the tourism the Sparta Rock House will bring.
Brewington said the state has enough money to pay the county a higher price than the county paid for the plot of land.
“So the state is getting there benefit, the county’s not getting none,” Brewington said. “To me, that’s just bad business.”
Nine out of 14 commissioners attended the meeting this week. Hutchings said last month saw a similar, low turnout. Hutchings said commissioner absences can have a significant impact on voting outcomes.
“If all commissioners were here it probably would have flew by with flying colors,” Brewington said. “But only nine of them here, and six of them ain’t. I hate it for the county but I feel like in my heart it’s the right decision.”
In other business, the commission established two committees, the Budget Committee and the Audit Committee. Commissioners Chris Brewington, Derrick Hutchings, Robert McCormick and Dakota White were appointed to both committees.
