News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
White County will install a heating system to help keep animals warm at the county’s Animal Shelter while forming a building committee to look at long-term solutions.
County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson told the Steering Committee Monday night the county has purchased sheet metal to help insulate the pens at the shelter at the cost of around $1,700. Animal Shelter Director Mike Sparks said the heating project will also consist of an underground plastic piping system to prevent moisture from infiltrating the pens. Robinson said the heating system would be adequate for the time being.
“We’ve been told that the heating system there is adequate to heat both spaces,” Robinson said. “In the event, it is not we will get additional heating and that will take care of us until such a time as we get moved.”
The building committee will consist of county commissioners Dakota White, Chris Brewington, and Robert McCormick, Animal Shelter Director Mike Sparks, and the county’s code official. A volunteer from one of the community organizations that represent animal shelter will also be appointed to the committee. White said he wanted to be on the committee so he could ensure the county will explore options of moving the animal shelter to property the county already owns.
“The county owns 25 acres across from the ball fields,” White said. “You know an old house an old barn that sat there at one time and it’s just used as a hay field currently, so if we can save by not having to purchase property you know, I don’t want to necessarily call it a vision yet but I think that would be a good place to start property wise.”
Commission Chair Roger Mason said the responsibility of the building committee will be to provide updates each month on where things stand on moving the animal shelter. Meeting times for the building committee have not officially been established.
White County Finance Director Chad Marcum said the county is paying for the project using general funds. Sparks said once the project is completed the shelter will have 32 heated pens for the upcoming winter. Sparks said they have not been quoted on what the plastic piping would cost and that the total cost of the project is unknown. Sparks said it is ideal to begin the project now as the shelter does not have as many dogs as it usually does.
“We are low, there are not but four dogs in the back, and probably tomorrow there are five leaving and it won’t be but two out there,” Sparks said. “So we can juggle it around and move. Now is the time to fix it.”
The commission also discussed looking into adopting a process to monitor volunteers who are helping at the animal shelter. Robinson said of now he is not sure who all volunteers at the shelter and that not knowing or having a process in place can lead to major liability issues. The commission will consider adopting a volunteer application to address the issue.
In other business, Commissioners discussed solutions for addressing the issue of storing court documents. Brewington said he would like the commission to take action as the commission has continued to kick the can on the issue instead of addressing it.
White County Circuit Court Clerk Beverly Jolly said the caseload is not slowing down and she desperately needs to find more space to store documents. The commissioners are considering to look into renting possible storage units that meet requirements as a temporary solution.
Commissioners discussed a resolution to send a request to T-DOT to reduce and extend the speed limit from 55 to 45 on US 70 or also known as Smithville Hwy. The extension will be from Lizard Lane to Will Thompson Road. The proposal will be sent to the full commission for a vote at the next commission meeting.
