White County Commissioners approved Tuesday night thie hiring of Don Pearcy as the county’s first parks and recreation director.
The county began the search after receiving a parks and recreation grant from the state. White County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said the county’s HR Department and the state recommended the county hire Pearcy.
“With the state and HR, we have a recommendation of Don Pearcy due to his experience in our local youth sports facilities, and I am asking that he be confirmed, and would appreciate a positive vote,” Robinson said.
Commissioner Chris Brewington questioned Robinson on how the process was conducted. Brewington voted against the hiring, saying the hiring process was not fair.
“Listen, and I am not saying nothing bad right here,” Brewington said. “Don is a good man for the job, but looking at the applications that I looked at, there were five applications in there. Most of the applications were put in and submitted in the first couple of weeks of December. Don Piercy put his in on February 3, and then here we are going on what the 16th -17th and he automatically gets hired? Did the other five just have nothing at all?”
Robinson said he was not heavily involved with the hiring process; however, he did sit in on a majority of the interviews, which he later stated was about five to six interviews. Chairman Derrick Hutchings said he recalls in a January meeting that the candidates at the time did not meet the qualifications.
Robinson said the candidates met the qualifications; however, most of them were from outside of Tennessee.
“We just didn’t feel with starting a new parks and rec department- we probably needed to have somebody who has a feel for the community and understood kind of how business is done in White County,” Robinson said.
Brewington further voiced his frustrations with how the process was handled.
“I just feel like the process was not handled right,” Brewington said. “Nothing against Don, but it’s just some shady stuff, that good ol’ boy system.”
Robinson said he offered an invitation to the commissioners to be a part of the hiring process if they wanted to. Robinson later added that finally making the hire is a step forward for the county.
“Well, it would be a great thing for the county,” Robinson said. “That’s kind of almost like low-hanging fruit for the county. You know, the sports complex, having people to be able to schedule events, being able to advertise from like travel balls, travel, other travel sports, football. Having somebody to be in charge of that and actively go after and pursue that stuff, and then incorporate our new disc golf course in with that and being able to advertise that better, and having somebody that that’s their job. It’s going to be very exciting for White County.”
Robinson said he plans to meet with Pearcy with the goal of getting him started as soon as possible. Robinson said he wants Pearcy to begin by preparing a report assessing the condition of the county’s current recreational assets.
“Start giving us a report on what needs to be repaired, what’s in good shape, what we need to look for in the future, and to start scheduling the different leagues and different tournaments and stuff,” Robinson said. “That’s going to be his job number one, is just kind of getting it organized.”
In other business, the commission recognized the White County Fair Board for being crowned the Tennessee Association of Fairs’ Champion of Champions. The commission also recognized Hannah Haley, who was also crowned being crowned Tennessee’s Fairest of the Fairs.
The commission approved a budget amendment to move an estimated $3 million for cash flow reasons as the county awaits reimbursement funds for the construction of the health department and several water projects.