During public comment at the March Union County Commission meeting, Stephany Davis requested a one hour workshop to allow discussion of constables with public participation. Fred Gilliam, a constable and resident of Speedwell, urged the commission to have a discussion of issues and commented that a recent law allowed a non-performing constable can be removed from office by a judge. But their comments did not change the minds of commissioners. Commission voted unanimously to abolish the position of constable when the current terms expire.

Commissioner Jessee asked that copies of the lawsuits and crash report be added to the minutes so everyone will understand why the action to abolish occurred. According to reports from last April, a truck that carried two men was traveling erratically and speeding in Sharps Chapel. The driver sped away when the 5th District constable approached the truck as it was parked near Palmer’s Junction. The constable caught sight of the Dodge Ram truck as the driver turned onto Hwy 33 and headed toward the bridge over Norris Lake. With the constable following, the truck driver increased his speed, lost control, and collided with a Dodge Caravan head on. The truck driver and his passenger, along with the Caravan driver, died at the scene.

Commission also adopted a resolution to recognize Union County E911 employees as First Responders. The resolution urges the Tennessee General Assembly and the US Congress to do the same in order to entitle the E911 employees to receive the same benefits provided to other public safety personnel. Another resolution authorized Mayor Jason Bailey to submit a 2025 Community Development Block Grant application for funding an EMS facility in Maynardville. The grant is a maximum of $1M with a local match of $176,471 and a total project worth $1,176,471. In addition, Bailey shared the updated plan for Blue Mud and will apply for a grant to upgrade the area with paved parking, a double boat launch, a fishing pier and a boat boarding facility. Bailey also appointed a construction committee comprised of commissioners where development is occurring in Districts 1, 4 and 5.

A snafu occurred with another construction project when excavators apparently allowed the removal of dirt to spill over onto private property. The Union County Health Department is having a driveway constructed around the building to enable drive-up services in the event of another pandemic or to simply distribute emergency public education material. What excavators and the architect thought was a right of way is part utility right of way and deeded property owned by County Attorney David Myers.

Attorney Myers had an engineer to explain that the bank was now too steep a grade to allow entrance to his property. Myers also noted that as owner of the property, he could not advise the commission on action to be taken. So commission voted to allow the mayor to retain another attorney to advise commissioners on possible resolutions.

Jake Thomas and Paul McColl shared photos of the construction progress on the new middle school. Director Greg Clay answered questions regarding how the increased costs due to excessive rock would be funded. Clay assured the commissioners that the school system budget and capital project fund balance would cover the additional expense. He also noted that there was more rock at the site of the softball field, but the board intends to complete all of the sports fields without seeking more funding from the commission.

Mindi Grimm and Samantha Brantley Smith presented the mission and program for the Opioid Abatement Board. Smith had completed an extensive survey of the needs of some 79 participants with drug issues. The survey revealed that homelessness, unemployment and regular health care were major needs of the participants. About half had insurance but lacked transportation to visit a doctor on a regular basis. According to Grimm, the board developed a three-prong program: prevent addiction, reduce harm and promote recovery. Several projects to expand the locations of drug drop-off boxes, support victims and families and to provide supervised work along with steps to restore driver licenses have begun. In order to provide better service, the commission voted to rent the entire office space located in the renovated old jail building now owned by Travis Patterson. Patterson, who is now the sessions judge, has vacated the space.

Mayor Bailey filled two vacancies on the 911 Board and the commission approved the trustee's recommendation of Ali Patterson as the delinquent tax attorney.

The next regular meeting of commission will be on April 28 at 7 p.m. in the large courtroom. The salary committee will meet on April 15 at 5 p.m. followed by the budget committee at 6 to begin discussion of the FY 26 Budget.