County Mayor Jason Bailey has prided himself on promoting transparency in government. His background in education probably directed his schooling of the county commission at the regular May meeting.
Just as a dedicated teacher reviews the previous day’s learning objectives, Bailey clicked through the 101 County General Fund to make sure commissioners, especially those who serve on the Budget Committee, truly understood the objectives of the current budget.
He explained that the 101 County General Fund needed some $330,000 to balance and money was available in this year's fund balance to cover the shortfall for next year with no tax increase.
Then the mayor proceeded to review the increases. One increase resulted from adding the Dog Park Grant of $25,000 to the Humane Society donation. Commissioners seemed to know this fact. Some even nodded in agreement. After all, this act did not involve money from local taxes.
He moved on to the section for the sheriff's part of the General Fund. He explained that there were increases to mitigate the county liability for deputies’ comp time (overtime pay) and for equipment, salaries, and inmate food. More heads nodded. All seemed to understand.
He continued by noting that the Budget Committee removed the $1000 increase for the Union County Historical Society. Again, commissioners were not surprised.
The mayor commented that Northeast Union Volunteer Fire Department will receive $25,000 while the Rescue Squad, Luttrell VFD, and Sharps Chapel VFD will have a contribution of $22,000 each.
Some commissioners looked toward the mayor. Others began to whisper. A few obviously questioned this statement.
Mayor Bailey commented that the $3000 request of Northeast Union VFD was not removed so it was still in the proposed budget and so is the $10,000 request of the Maynardville City VFD.
Commissioners began to rustle papers even more. More questioning looks appeared. Some began to question what the Budget Committee recommended.
The mayor proceeded to the funding of the libraries and noted that the increase of $15,786 would make the total amount $208,578 for salaries, benefits, and supplies for the Union County Library Board to budget.
What!
Commissioners could no longer contain their disbelief and noted that the cost-of-living salary increases for all county employees had been capped at 1.2 percent in the May budget meeting.
But, as the mayor and Finance Director Ann Dyer explained, the library board makes the budget request, develops the budget, and employees the librarians.
By state mandate, the librarians are employees of the library board, not the county. The county acts as the fiscal agent to pay bills and is obligated to adhere to a maintenance of effort meaning the budget for the library board cannot decrease.
Commissioner Larry Lay, who is the chairman of the budget committee, stated that he did not know this fact, the others did not know this fact, and that the budget committee needed to set another meeting.
So commission and the mayor agreed on the following dates for discussion of the budget:
June 7 at 6 p.m. ‒ Budget Committee,
June 14 at 7 p.m. ‒ for the commission to discuss and vote on the FY22 budget,
June 28 at 7 p.m. ‒ for Commission to complete the budget and set the tax rate if needed.
With the plan to address the budget resolved, the commission turned to some other business items.
A proposal for Union County to make a $50,000 contribution to a nonprofit that plans to host a concert and a fair failed for lack of a second to the motion.
Commission approved Bailey's appointment of Ann Dyer to serve on the library board to begin on July 1, 2021. Dyer is retiring from the Director of Finance effective June 30.
Attorney Myers was informed that no further research was needed on the nonprofit status of the Paulette VFD since the department had submitted tax returns and status reports to the county.
Bailey explained the American Rescue Plan and noted that KUB will be running fiber to all households in its service area. This action will offer internet capabilities to most of Union County, since Powell Valley Electric has taken the same action in Sharps Chapel.
Comcast has offered a proposal that was unsuitable to serve the county but Bailey will be considering a Comcast proposal or one from AT&T to cover the section that is served by the Clinton Utilities Board if CUB does not offer broadband.
Further, the mayor explained that the American Rescue Plan would bring $1.9M to Union County this May and another $1.9M in May of 2022.
He proposed using the remainder of the money to ensure that all Union County citizens, or as many as the money would allow, be provided drinking water. Commission approved partnering with the City of Maynardville on a Community Block Development Grant (CBDG) water project and agreed to contribute $225,00 to run water to five areas with some outside the city limits.
Bailey stated that he would contact the City of Luttrell, the City of Plainview, and Luttrell-Blaine-Corryton Utility District (LBC) to determine other areas in need of water and report the results to the commission.
In routine business the commission approved as notaries: Dale Wade England, Brenda Louise Johnson, and Elkanna Aimmia Long.
The sheriff reported 65 inmates. Bailey has moved Donald Taylor, the new Veterans Service Officer, to the chamber office since the chamber is no longer using the building during the day and also to comply with a state requirement that records be kept secure in a vault if possible. A number of grants are in process and overall, Union County continues to grow from grant opportunities.
The next commission meeting will be June 14 at 7 p.m.