At one of Mayor Bailey's early commission meetings, he promised to seek as much funding from grants as possible.
True to his word, he requested acceptance of another state grant, the Tourism Enhancement Grant, for $75,000 with a 5% county match of $3,750, at the August Union County Commission meeting. Commissioners eagerly approved the motion and second by Commissioners Bill Cox and Keck along with multiple seconds.
The grant will build a state-of-the-art outdoor stage at the farmers market to be used for musical performances, including some sponsored by the Union County Opry.
According to Commissioner Danny Cooke, the farmers market will have expanded bathroom facilities to accommodate crowds of at least 2,500, storage facilities, a commercial kitchen, the stage and a concrete floor. Bailey added that the Musical Pathways signs provided by the state and currently at the Union County Museum will be moved to the farmers market stage to enhance Union County's musical talent and bring tourists to Farmers Market Park.
In addition to the Tourism Enhancement Grant, Bailey itemized all of the ways that he intended to spend the Governor's Local Government Grant of $818,000 with no restrictions for how the county can allocate the money.
The courthouse painting will be completed. Signs for the courthouse and all county buildings will be purchased. Community centers will get paved parking lots. The Wilson Park parking lot will be resurfaced and repaired where needed.
The network for the courthouse will be upgraded and possibly replaced. The phone system will be expanded. Security cameras will be installed at community centers. The 13th District, Braden, will have a community center with a restroom, kitchen, and meeting area.
The senior center and the libraries will be accessible by automatic door openers. Money to pave 4.5 miles of local roads has already been added to the superintendent of roads budget. The sheriff will purchase six “gently used” vehicles.
EMS will receive a portion for upgrades. Maintenance will purchase a mower. Bailey and his staff are researching adding an enclosure at the courthouse back entrance for the security required by the court system.
Bailey also announced that the $500,000 Home Grant would fund three complete rebuilds and one remodel with any leftover funds to be used for some other home repairs. He also informed commissioners that he would have an expenditure proposal for the TN Cares Act for COVID Relief Grant in the amount of $295,320 at the September meeting.
In other announcements, Bailey noted that the Union County Heritage Festival and Thunder in the Park have been canceled due to the pandemic. The chamber of commerce plans to return the $25,000 that it received last spring from commission to host Thunder in the Park. These funds will return to the hotel/motel tax monies to be used to promote tourism.
Commissioners also asked Bailey to post a sign on the chamber office to notify visitors that they need to contact the mayor's office for maps, brochures, and information since the chamber office is closed.
Commissioner Debra Keck requested to be excused from additional committee meetings due to medical issues. The commission complied with a motion to excuse her from all meetings including commission if necessary in order to take care of her health.
The county's financial health continues to thrive. The state comptroller approved the FY21 budget. Several grants and revenues were approved during the budget amendments and transfers. The finance director noted one correction to the library budget of just over $11,000 in the employee insurance line.
The audit committee agreed with the auditors regarding one finding that was repeated from 2018 and did not involve any county funds or the finance office. The register of deeds had not reconciled a small amount of fee office funds with the ledger. To resolve the issue would require a journal entry.
The audit committee sent a letter to the register of deeds and told her to make the journal entry and file the report to the mayor's office and the county clerk's office. As of the meeting, the 2019 reports had been filed. The 2018 reports were outstanding and no record of the journal entry had been submitted.
Commission approved the appointment of Larry Lay to the Planning Commission to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Curtis Bates.
Bailey ignored the names recommended by the Union County Library Board to serve as members of that board. Instead he commented that he was going to use his right as county mayor to appoint Julia Gibbs and Chip Brown to bring some needed accountability to the library board.
The mayor's appointees were approved with Commissioner Keck casting a negative vote.
Commission authorized the sale of two residential properties that the county owns due to delinquent taxes. The parcels are on Keith Drive and Lynn Drive.
Commission discussed but took no action on the litter officer's request to adopt TCA 39.14-508.
A resolution to monitor court proceedings electronically was postponed until September.
Sheriff Billy Breeding reported 954 calls, 17 wrecks with injury, 19 wrecks without injury, 125 booked into the jail, 109 released, and a current population of 78 for June and July combined.
Bailey requested that the family of Boo Thomas, who was a dedicated police officer and public servant, be remembered in thought and prayer. He also said to remember Commissioner Meltabarger as she continues her recovery. No reason was announced for Commissioner Lay's absence.
The next Union County Commission Meeting will be on Monday, September 28, at 7p.m. and will be live-streamed by Historic Union County.