County Commission rejected a request regarding sick leave accrued during a previous administration for employees who continued to work under the current sheriff. Sheriff Billy Breeding stated that the employees were requesting over 7900 hours of sick leave to be used for retirement credit only.

Deputy Jackie Nicely said that the bookkeeper who kept the time sheets was not present. Mr. Nicely also explained that in the past administration deputies who were out sick had to work extra and make up their time. According to Finance Director Dyer, the Sheriff Department did not submit an employee list itemizing sick leave for employees prior to 2016 as the other elected officials had done. In a prior meeting, Sheriff Breeding explained that he had sick leave records for all employees beginning with September 2014 when he first became sheriff. Since there were no documents regarding sick leave for retirement when he took office, his list only dates from 2014 while other county officials listed sick leave back to 1999. After a lengthy discussion, Attorney David Myers helped Commissioner Jeff Chesney (1st) word a motion to approve the requested amount of sick leave hours to be credited toward the TCRS account to be used for retirement purposes only and on the condition that each individual employee swear to the validity of the amount, sign a release to absolve the county from any future financial responsibility, and waive the right to pursue any court action to obtain any compensation. Commissioner Debra Keck seconded the motion. Voting to approve the request were Chesney (1st), England (1st), Jessee (2nd), Keck (6th), Munsey (7th), and Smith (2nd). Voting to reject the request were Brantley (5th), Cooke (4th), B. Cox (3rd), Hill (5th), Holloway (1st), Jones (6th), Lay (6th), and Meltabarger (7th). Commissioner E. Cox (3rd) passed. Commissioner Dawn Flatford (4th) was absent. The motion failed.

Another issue that stirred strong opinions was the gifting of the Canon IPF 710 Printer/Plotter to the Union County Historical Society. Mayor Bailey had consulted County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS) and also talked with the auditors regarding the gift which occurred in March. CTAS and the auditor gave conflicting opinions with CTAS stating the printer could not be gifted to Union County Historical Society, and the auditor offering that the gift was allowed. So, Mayor Bailey sent the conflicting opinions to both, and CTAS responded with the law that required the surplus declaration, but the auditor still said the gift was okay to do. Ms. Wanda Cox Byerley, Union County Historical Society President, noted that the society appreciated the Mayor and County Commission for trying to help and donate the printer, but the society was fine with not having the gift. President Byerley also thanked Commission for the nonprofit funding and said “we are just trying to take care of building and property and preserve history for present citizens”. Ms. Byerley asked that the commissioners come and visit the museum “to see what we do”.

So, Commissioner Smith moved to rescind the prior motion to gift the printer. Commissioner Lay provided a second. Voting to rescind were Chesney, B.Cox, England, Hill, Jones, Lay, Meltabarger, Munsey, and Smith. Voting against rescinding were Brantley, Cooke, E Cox, Jessee, and Keck. The motion was approved.

To complete the business regarding the printer/plotter, Commissioner Lay moved to surplus it. B. Cox seconded the motion. Voting for the motion were Chesney, B. Cox, England, Hill, Jones, Lay, Meltabarger, Munsey, Smith. Voting against were Brantley, Cooke, E. Cox, Jessee, and Keck. The motion carried.

EMS Director Andrew Reed offered a contract with a third party to handle billing for 90 days due to the resignation of the current billing clerk as of July 5. The billing contractor will bring accounts up to date as well as allow time to train the new clerk. Attorney Myers said to change the wording to laws of Tennessee instead of Georgia and the rest of the contract was fine. Commission approved the contract with 13 voting in favor and Jeff Brantley and Earl Cox voting to pass.

Commission approved the appointment of Ed Guyanese to replace Lori Wolfenbarger and Santa Lopez to serve a regular term on the Library Board.

Mayor Bailey reported the status of grants and improvements to county buildings. Union County will receive a Home Grant in the amount of $500,000 with no county match. More information will be available in July about the requirements for residents to qualify to receive the funds to make home repairs. Also awarded to the county is the Access to Health Grant for $20,000 to provide playground equipment in Sharps Chapel Park. The Tourism Grant was not approved. Signatures are in progress to obtain the Optimist Building.

Luttrell Business Park has two businesses interested in purchasing land. The Business and Industrial Committee is reviewing the requests. Mayor Bailey has met with one client and is scheduled to meet with the other. New Voice over IP phones and computer connections have been installed in the courthouse, sheriff’s office, county clerk’s office, and other county offices. New maintenance trucks have arrived with the Union County website on the back near the bumper of the truck.

Other improvements in the courthouse include the automatic back door opener. Future repairs include window caulking, pressure washing the outside of the courthouse, replacing the ceiling tiles, and lining the parking spaces in back. However, the wall at the back door is too costly to remove.

Commission approved minutes for May on a motion and seconded by Commissioner Meltabarger and Commissioner Holloway as well as minutes for the June Special Called Meeting on a motion by Commissioner Jones and seconded by Commissioner Smith.

Commission approved as notaries: Laura Bailey, Ashley Buckner, and Billie McClure.

Sheriff Breeding reported 813 calls, 9 wrecks with injury, 31 wrecks without injury, 148 booked in to jail, 142 released, and 101 as the current population as of May 31.

Finance Director Ann Dyer reported that revenue and expenditures for May were within budget guidelines. Budget amendments are to clean up the respective departments to do the yearend report. One financial note of interest was that the school system had accumulated a fund balance in account 141 that exceeded the required two months of operating funds so three million dollars was moved to capital outlay in anticipation of future building needs. The final projections for the school system will not be available until July from the state. Therefore, an additional one million dollars was added to TNVA revenues based on the January estimate of funds to come in July.

Mayor Bailey introduced a new employee in the finance department to handle accounts payable, Terry Cook.

Road Superintendent David Cox received approval of a grant from TDOT for $250,000 to be used for gravel, signs, and road repairs in the Big Ridge and Paulette areas.
Kelvin Nease addressed the Commission regarding the Nuisance/Litter Ordinance and sought help with an unsanitary condition in his community. An elderly resident has so much garbage on her property that rats roam the yard. Mr. Nease related that he had shot three on his property and another neighbor killed 18 on his property. However, Mr. Nease lives in the City of Luttrell, so Luttrell will need to address the situation. The sheriff is prohibited by state law from enforcing a city ordinance. Luttrell has no city police to enforce its ordinance. Commissioner Smith said the problem is more widespread than Luttrell. A revised county litter regulation is being written and will be considered at a future meeting.

Marty Smith, Chairperson of the Census Committee, and Kimberly Smith encouraged support for completing the ten-minute census survey. They asked for everyone who receives a long survey (American Community Survey) to complete it in addition to the short survey. The census can be done online, on the phone or by mail. Also, the census needs to hire 165 employees in Union County and only 69 have applied. The pay is $13.50 per hour and 58 cents per mile. Jobs include census takers, recruiting assistants, office staff, and supervisory staff. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Social Security number, and be a U.S. citizen. Information on how to make an application is available online at https://2020census.gov/en/jobs/how-to-apply.html.