By Marilyn Toppins
After several meetings and much discussion, the Union County Commission passed a resolution at its May meeting to fund the Union County Chamber of Commerce with the majority of the hotel/motel tax annual revenues. The resolution will give the chamber 80% of the last three years average.
For the FY21 budget, the chamber would receive $39,076. The chamber would not receive any additional county funds. During the discussion, commissioners noted that having a chamber was one of the requirements for the Three Star Program to access state grants.
Comments also revealed that the chamber would have to develop ways to bring in more tourism dollars in order to grow its revenue from the tax. The balance of $54,286 would remain to be used for other tourism-related projects at the commission's discretion.
The other organizations funded under the hotel/motel tax had already been moved to the county general fund in the proposed budget for FY21. The FY21 budget will be considered by county commission on June 22, 2020, and then for final consideration and to set the tax rate in a called meeting on June 22. No tax increase is expected since all of the proposed budget is in balance with the current rate.
Another resolution approved by commission will bring $652,676 into Union County. The money is from the Governor's Local Government Support Grants that was in Governor Bill Lee's state spending plan. Commission agreed to split the money between fund 171-Capital Projects and fund 131-County Highway Department. The mayor plans to use approximately $400,000 to continue the county building renovations and upgrades. The amount for roads would be about $250,000.
A third resolution to fund the Paulette Community Fire Department was not considered since the Budget and Finance Committee refused to recommend the resolution for funding. Larry Lay of the 6th district and chairman of the committee had proposed that Paulette Fire Department receive the same amount of funds as the other departments.
Paulette Fire Department charges $75 a year for membership and bills nonmembers for service if they experience a fire where Paulette responds. Commissioner Lay maintained that citizens in the 4th and 6th districts pay taxes and should have those taxes support fire protection. But Commissioner Flatford from the 4th district disagreed with supporting a conscripted or membership paid service with taxpayer money. However, Commissioner Flatford and Commissioner Lay thought there should be a method for the county to pay the membership fee for citizens who met the guidelines for government assistance. But consensus was unreachable for the committee so the resolution was not recommended for county commission to consider.
In the Mayor's Report, Mayor Bailey noted that commissioners would have a month to review and ask questions on the budget. He also suggested that a July meeting may not be needed if all of commission's work is completed at the called meeting on June 22. He continued with a report that the various grant projects were being completed but some had been slowed by the pandemic.
The Sharps Chapel playground is scheduled to be complete this summer and the Farmer's Market is awaiting a phone line removal in order to grade the area. After many years, the Highway 33 expansion from the Knox County line to Hickory Star Road (SR 144 West) will begin in February of 2021. New pay for road commissioners will begin July 1. The courthouse renovations and several community building projects are nearly finished.
Two people spoke under the Public Forum. Mayor Marty Smith of Maynardville urged the commission to consider restoring $10,000 for the Maynardville Fire Department to be used to repave the department's parking lot. Mayor Smith stated that the citizens of Maynardville pay county taxes and the requested amount is less than half of the amount received by each of the other fire departments. She also noted that the pandemic had lowered city revenues. The estimated cost of the paving is $11,000.
Another speaker was Jonathan Woods of 911/EMS who cautioned commission that the ambulance service should be using certified mechanics to address mechanical issues with brakes, fuel filters and all maintenance. Apparently, breakdowns have contributed to extremely slow response times, according to Woods.
Sheriff Billy Breeding reported for April there were 671 calls, 6 wrecks with injury, 23 wrecks without injury, 40 booked into the jail, 46 released, and 64 is the current population. Commission also extended the contract with Southern Health for inmate medical claims at a three percent increase in cost.
In other business items, the commission approved the appointment of Colleen Beeler and Richard Phillips to the County Equalization Board due to the voluntary resignation of Wanda Cox Byerley and James Meltabarger. Two notaries received approval and all budget amendments and transfers were passed by commission. Mayor Bailey appointed a Constable Mileage Committee with Larry Lay as chairman to research and recommend appropriate reimbursement for constable mileage.
The Union County Commission continued its physical distancing practices with its May meeting. Participating by phone were Dawn Flatford, Becky Munsey, Jeff Chesney, Jody Smith, and Billy Cox. At the tables in the large courtroom were Janet Holloway, Gary England, R. L. Jones, Debra Keck, Sydney Jessee, Earl Cox, Danny Cooke, Larry Lay, and Kenny Hill. Absent for illness were Jeff Brantley and Joyce Meltabarger.