At the February meeting, Union County Commission approved a resolution entitled “Resolution Urging Governor Lee and the General Assembly Fund and Begin Construction of Improvements on State Highway 33 aka Maynardville Highway from Knox County Line Northwardly to the Municipal Limits of Maynardville.”
This section of Maynardville Highway is the last one to connect Knoxville and Maynardville with a four-lane highway. The five miles from SR 144 to the Knox County line has been “shovel ready” for several years.
Mayor Jason Bailey commented that all of the counties in the TDOT North Rural Planning Organization have ranked this section a number one priority for many years. Attorney K. David Myers, Mayor Bailey, and the commissioners urged citizens to contact members of the state legislature and ask them to fund these improvements to Hwy 33. Contact information is listed at the end of this article.
Thunder in the Park, an annual Union County celebration, overcame a hiccup when the commission agreed to give the Union County Chamber of Commerce $25,000 from the hotel/motel tax to fund Thunder in the Park in 2020. The original request for $29,000 failed although it had been approved by budget and finance committee.
Apparently, several commissioners were confused by the multiple requests for funds. After some discussion, Thunder in the Park received funding, although chamber president Thomas Skibinski stated that he was searching for another Ferris wheel since the one used last year is not available this year.
He also related that the cost of the fireworks remained at $11,000, but the cost of parking and a different Ferris wheel would increase the budget.
Commissioner Jody Smith gave a passionate plea for the chamber to be given an earmarked annual portion of the hotel/motel tax, which has a current fund balance of $106,000, but no action was taken. Nor did anyone mention any other continuing projects or organizations that receive funding from the hotel/motel tax to mainly promote tourism and economic development in Union County.
In the Mayor’s Report, Bailey noted that there are two upcoming grants that may help with the excavation and building of sports fields on county property in Luttrell. One is a TVA Grant and the other is a Health and Environment/Conservation Grant. Another Community Development Block Grant cycle as well as the Farmers Market Grant will be open soon.
The community center roof will be started as soon as the weather permits. If Governor Lee's budget passes, Union County will get approximately $250,000 in non-reoccurring funds to spend on road improvements, building upgrades or a handful of other projects.
Governor Lee has proposed $50 million for cities and $50 million for counties as part of his plan to improve infrastructure across Tennessee. Also, Bailey informed commissioners that payroll checks would be deposited on the first Monday of each month beginning with the March payroll for commissioners and county employees.
Finally, the mayor noted that sales taxes increased significantly in 2019. Commissioner Jody Smith inquired about the Safe Route to Schools Grant to build a sidewalk for Luttrell Elementary that has been stalled since 2014. Bailey said he would check on the status of the grant.
Sheriff Billy Breeding reported for the month of January, 2020: 832 calls, 10 wrecks with injury, 29 wrecks without injury, 147 booked into jail, 141 released from jail, and 95 as the current jail population
Finance Director Ann Dyer reported all spending in expected parameters and that the Trustee's Report had nothing significant from normal finances. Under Budget Amendments and Transfers, money was moved in the County General Fund 101 in order for the sheriff’s department to purchase a vehicle.
In General Purpose School Fund 141, new revenues were accepted and other funds moved to meet the need. In Education Capital Projects 177, the school board requested using $11,850 from education capital projects to fund the part of the bid on the SCES sewer improvement not covered by the ARC Grant. All were approved.
Dyer also requested to change the Cooperative Purchasing Agreement contract to reflect the name change made by the organization who aids the county in getting bids for certain supplies and equipment. The request was approved. Finally, the commission added some stripped-down vehicles from the sheriff’s department to the surplus list.
Commission approved the County Officials Bond with corrections for the Clerk and Master Sandra Edmondson, who is appointed by the Chancery Court Judge.
Bailey requested a moment of silence to remember James (Jimmy) DeVault, 7th District Road Commissioner from Plainview, who recently died. Bailey also noted that Joyce Meltabarger was at Beverly Place and doing well as she recovers from a stroke. In addition, commissoiners Brantley and Jessee had work and family responsibilities that kept them from attending.
Commission approved the minutes and the appointment of two notaries in separate motions.
Before adjourning, commissioners agreed to place the filling of the vacancy in Road Commissioner for 7th District on the March agenda. Bailey and attorney Myers noted that applicants would need to file with the Election Office and the appointee would need to run for election in August.
With no Public Comments, commission adjourned until Monday, March 23, at 7 p.m.
Representative Dennis Powers
425 5th Avenue North
Suite 674 Cordell Hull Bldg.
Nashville TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-3335
Fax: (615) 253-0296
Representative Jerry Sexton
425 5th Avenue North
Suite 672 Cordell Hull Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-2534
Fax: (615) 253-0273
Senator Frank S. Niceley
425 5th Avenue North
Suite 712 Cordell Hull Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-2061
Fax: (615) 253-0255