A special thank you to Chantay Collins for videoing the December 10th Commission meeting.

At the December 10th Union County Commission Regular Meeting, Bob Bass from Tennessee Corrections Institute informed Commissioners that the jail was in danger of losing its certification not only because of overcrowding but also because of an outdated facility. Mr. Bass and his staff help jails in Tennessee meet the standards for certification by asking County Commissions to establish a County Correction Partnership Committee (CCPC) comprised of commissioners, judges, district attorneys, public defenders, and police officers. The CCPC studies all aspects of the jail while they rely on Mr. Bass to provide the technical support to gather data and reports. Most of the current inmates are being jailed for misdemeanors related to probation issues, mostly the inability to pay fines ranging from $25 to $75. So the CCPC will look at probation practices and providers, alternatives to jail such as ankle bracelets, educational programs for prisoners. In addition the CCPC will study the jail to determine options and plans for upgrading the current facility and perhaps building a new jail. Mr. Bass noted that there is no secure area for admitting a prisoner to the jail, no room devoted to family visitation, and no modern cells with steel doors instead of bars. The Commission voted to set up the CCPC in January and to notify Mr. Bass to set a meeting in February. The public can read the Tennessee Department of Correction Jail Summary Report for Union and all counties at https://www.tn.gov/correction/statistics-and-information/jail-summary-r….

Sheriff Breeding reported the following for November, 2018,: 708 calls, 5 wrecks with injury, 26 wrecks without injury, 126 prisoners booked into jail, current jail population 85. The jail's current bed capacity is 76 so the jail is continuously at over 100% capacity. Many months the jail was 121% to 131% over capacity.

On a positive note, the UCHS Agricultural Issues Committee demonstrated a mock county commission meeting to discuss the pros and cons of Union County establishing a Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT). Students pointed out the job opportunity, potential for population growth, possible reduction in poverty, increased potential for revenue from out of county patrons and visitors, and the convenience of attending college in our own community. Some of the negatives were the possible increase in traffic that would necessitate a traffic light at Durham Drive and Hwy 33, funding that may cause an increase in taxes, and young people leaving the family farm for higher paying jobs outside Union County. The student commissioners sent the motion to establish the TCAT to the Education Committee for further discussion and to return with a funding proposal. Mayor Jason Bailey and Wanda Cox Byerley complimented the students on their research and leadership. Several commissioners asked questions and all applauded the efforts of the students to research such a timely issue.

Mayor Bailey updated the status of various grants. The cost of fencing will most likely exceed the $25,000 for the dog park from the Boyd Foundation. The playground equipment will be finished this winter for the Access to Health Grant in Wilson Park. The ambulances have been purchased to complete the Community Block Development Grant. A new CBGD application due February 1 is being revamped to possibly provide equipment for the volunteer fire departments since not enough patrons applied to connect to a waterline in the Big Ridge area. Another grant will provide $120,000 to renovate the lobby of the Health Department at no cost to our taxpayers. Finally, Union County will cooperate with the state to connect bike trails in Union, Anderson, and Campbell Counties at the state's expense.

Tim Long from Sunset Digital reported that the Broadband Grant had been submitted and had a very strong possibility of being approved. He noted that the grant could only be implemented where Tennessee had identified areas of extreme need. In Union County these areas are mostly in Sharps Chapel, just north of Maynardville, and in Big Ridge.

In other reports, Oak Grove School has now been placed on the Tennessee Registry of Historic Places due to the efforts of Betty Bullen and Preservation Union County.

Beginning in January, the County Commission will move the regular meeting to the 4th Monday of each month. The Budget and Finance Committee will be meeting on the 3rd Tuesday and Commissioner Larry lay will be the chairman. The Road Commission will continue to meet on the 1st Monday. The School Board will return to the 2nd Thursday. These changes are to enable commissioners to receive the financial report and budget amendments and transfers prior to the meeting. January Meetings are the following: January 7-Road Commission, January 10-School Board, January 15-Budget & Finance Committee, January 28-County Commission.