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WHITMIRE — The Town of Whitmire has hired a full time recreation director who also happens to be a Whitmire native.

Joe Dillard, whose family owns Joe’s Market in town, took on recreation responsibilities at the beginning of the month.

Mayor Billy Hollingsworth announced the hire at Monday’s town council meeting and said that the decision was unanimously made by the town council members.

The council reviewed applicants and chose Dillard instead of opting for a committee to choose the person.

Five people were interviewed and three were called back, according to Town Clerk Carla Taylor, who said Dillard was educated in athletics.

The town has been without a full time recreation director for about a year. Hollingsworth and town council decided to pursue the hiring of a director to help aid the town and also help out the youth.

In other recreation business, the Whitmire Jaycees were at the meeting to hear what town council decided about allowing them to sell alcohol at their upcoming Party in the Pines festival.

No decision was made although councilman Michael Thomas said that he was not in favor of it because of the extra burden that would be handed to the officers.

Sue Hollingsworth, Jaycees president, said she would check to see what their liability coverage is because the town’s attorney, Robert Lake, was at the meeting. According to Taylor, Lake said that any liability would come back on the town and that they need some sort of liability insurance.

No decisions were made about the selling of alcohol by the Jaycees at the festival.

In other news, a first reading of an amended ordinance in regards to abandoned vehicles that are in a state of disrepair was amended and passed.

The original ordinance combined abandoned vehicles with homes that were considered a nuisance. A second reading will be read at the next meeting.

The council also adopted a resolution for the Community Development Block Grant for the Old Mill Village Renaissance grant. The grant would help fix up the Old Mill area and the town has to match 10 percent of $13,400. There are also other funds that the town must help with through labor or whatever work they can find. That number for the additional funds comes to about $4,600.

The total project is $152,000 while the grant is for $134,000, according to Taylor.

In town employee news, Hollingsworth also announced that the public works director Jimmy Dunaway received a $3,000 used truck to use for work purposes instead of driving around for work in his personal vehicle.

The town council will also announce at their April 8 meeting dates for budget workshop meetings. April 8 is the council’s next regularly scheduled meeting.