The latest Union County Commission meeting was held on Monday, July 22 at 7:00pm at Union County Courthouse. The meeting was opened with invocation by Commissioner Jody Smith and the pledge led by Commissioner Bill Cox. All commissioners were in attendance, with the exception of Janet Holloway.

Mayor Bailey made announcements including welcoming a new business to the Main Street area, Griid Infrastructure which is a data company. Also recognized was that Hubbs Grove Convenience Center is to be closed for at least three weeks which began Monday, July 29 due to renovations taking place.

Grants were of hot topic with a new $500,000 Home Grant with no match from the county being awarded recently. There will be a public meeting in August with an open invitation to the community. The grant provides a program for home rehabilitation to do home repairs, not remodeling. The goal is to bring homes in the community up to code and to a safe livable state for the families that reside there. Some general criteria for the program is Union County residency, property taxes paid up to date, cannot have ownership of more than one residence, and not located in a floodplain. This is HUD funding, so no type of mobile home is eligible. The resolution for the grant was voted on and passed.

An Access to Health Grant will bring new playground equipment to Sharps Chapel Park in which will be conveniently located and easily accessible for ballgames, events, and the community. A potential future grant is for the Farmers Market to have a permanent structure, in the area near Union County High School, built possibly on a concrete slab with covered areas, restrooms and sinks for farmer access.

Improvements to county buildings and upgrades at the courthouse are in the works. All community centers as well as Wilson and Sharps Chapel Parks were evaluated. Refurbishing at the Veteran’s Wall is to begin this month with county costs estimated at $5,000: approximately 50% of the total cost, minus all donations and fundraising funds.

Ann Dyer, Director of Finance, was absent; however, the mayor states there were no transfers or amendments on this month’s reports.

The Union County Audit Committee, Sidney Jessee Jr., Gail Corum, and Jennifer Garren, serves as a liaison between the commission and the state auditors. They presented a report concluding that all noted weaknesses have been addressed and should not occur in future findings. The committee does not do the audits themselves.

The appointment of a 3rd Civil District Constable was postponed and will be presented again at the August meeting due to lack of nomination.

It was voted on to sell approximately 17 acres near the Luttrell Industrial Park to a neighboring business owner. The sale was agreed upon at $4,000 per acre, contingent upon splitting the survey costs. The funds cleared and will be put into the industrial and community development budget for future improvements in that area.

Still with controversy amidst the committee members, Commissioner Larry Lay made a motion to give the deputies their retirement to line them up with other county employees in a total of an agreed upon 6,775 hours of retirement. The motion passed with a disagreeable vote among the committee.

Mayor Bailey proposed a tax incentive matrix which had already been approved by the Business and Industry Committee, to help bring new businesses to our county by giving them the incentive of tax abatement. There would be a points system measuring job creation, wages, investments, location, and residency as a part of the evaluation of the inventive.

The next meeting of the Union County Commission will be on August 26, 2019 at 7:00pm.