Historic Union County went to press before the Union County commission meeting in September. Since the August meeting had no quorum, the business covered two agendas.
County Mayor Jason Bailey was elected chairman and Sidney Jessee Jr. from Luttrell District 2 was elected vice chairman. The mayor appointed new committees and reported that several grants were ready to have contracts signed.
The East Tennessee Development District will oversee funds for the ARP Grant, the LPRF 2020 Grant for the Luttrell Sports Complex. and ARC 2022 Grant for the improvements to Big Ridge Park at Blue Mud.
The commission also approved contracts with 5 Star Waste for trash service and UT Extension and Booker Enterprises to renovate a building for UT Extension Union County to occupy for the next four years at a monthly rent of $1500.
Commission held a workshop to discuss and gather information on the payment of bonuses to essential workers from the ARPA Grant. The constable association and the fire chiefs association volunteered to make regular reports to County Commission.
The Union County Highway Department will mow the road right of ways for the City of Maynardville for compensation of $125 per hour to the highway department. The sheriff voiced concerns regarding the new salary scale on behalf of his deputies who believe they are not being given enough credit for their years of experience.
Commission also recognized 4-H members and their adult sponsor for their work in helping the Kentucky flood victims. They cut trees, cleared debris, served food and did general cleanup for most of a week in September.
Discussion of the new salary schedule and the use of ARPA funds for bonuses continued in the October commission meeting. The sheriff offered a revision to the placement of several employees on the salary schedule. But the opinion of most commissioners was that the revisions should be reviewed for the 2024 fiscal budget rather than the current budget year.
Commission first agreed to move funding for the Luttrell Sports Complex from Capital Projects to the ARPA and the payment of bonuses to the Capital Projects Fund. This simplified the paperwork regarding defining and explaining essential workers. Finally after five failed motions, including one to postpone action to November, Ashley Mike of District 1 Maynardville moved to pay all 183 county employees a $1,000 bonus. Sidney Jessee Jr. provided the second, and the motion passed 9 For, 6 Against, and 1 Abstaining.
Then Eddie Simpson of District 5 Sharps Chapel, who had to abstain due to being a county employee made a motion to commit the remainder of the $500,000 to the renovation or construction of the EMS Center. Greg Dyer of District 5 Sharps Chapel provided a second and the motion passed with 10 For and 6 Against.
The commission is still seeking property in Speedwell to place a community center and a convenience center. Claiborne County agreed to collect the trash in Speedwell for a fee of $48,000. Superintendent of Roads David Cox also got approval for TDOT to replace a bridge on Luttrell-Corryton Road. The next commission meeting will be on November 28.