The Union County Commission met on Monday, April 27, in a virtual meeting for some commissioners in order to observe the mandates under Covid-19.
According to Mayor Jason Bailey, work on the Union County FY 2021 Budget is on track to be ready for the Union County Commission meeting on Tuesday, May 26.
Last week, the Budget and Finance Committee reviewed the budget draft line by line. Overall, the budget needs less than $500,000 to balance. But for the first time in over 10 years, there are numerous options to balance the budget.
A tax increase during the previous administration, along with the sound financial practices of Central Finance and all departments has allowed a healthy fund balance or “rainy day fund” to accrue. Also, the high school debt will retire and free up about $500,000.
Budget and Finance also approved a motion to give 80% of the yearly hotel/motel tax revenue to the Chamber of Commerce and remove the $9,000 current contribution from the general fund which will be put in the FY 2021 proposed budget. The new budget is scheduled to also include cost of living (COLA) wage increases. As Bailey stated to the commission, “We have options and that's a good thing.”
In the announcements, Bailey clarified that Union County has a state-run health department, so Union County must abide by the Governor Lee's order and open businesses according to the governor's time line, and the commission can take no action inconsistent with the governor's executive orders.
Continuing with his report, the Mayor also related that the roof projects at the senior citizens building and the courthouse are complete. Paving and painting at the courthouse are progressing. The Access to Health grant to provide play equipment in Sharps Chapel Park is nearing completion due to the efforts of the maintenance department and David Cox's road crew. The health department renovation will probably be finished by the end of May, and grading has begun on the farmers market. Union County is due to receive $652,000 for road and building upgrades from the Governor's Local Government Grant. When Commissioner Keck requested that the mayor investigate resources for additional broadband connection, Bailey replied that he would follow up but some new options may soon be available for the Sharps Chapel area.
Finally, a TVA Telework Technology Grant will allow for the purchase of Chromebooks or other technology for future meetings. Commissioner Flatford noted that the Union County Pantry has received a $5,000 grant to use for food insecurity. Commissioner Meltabarger is progressing and receiving therapy.
TDOT has sent a letter to confirm that the Highway 33 resolution was received. The letter also commented that the Highway 33 project was to be included in the FY 2021 state budget.
Finance Director Ann Dyer navigated the commission through two months and thirteen pages of budget transfers and amendments. The commission approved changes for the jail, medical support, security and the health department renovation in the county budget and cleared a clerical error that would have caused a shortfall in the highway budget. In the school budget, the commission approved moving funds for the match for the SCES sewer project, for the textbooks for English/Language Arts, for roof repairs for the high school and for the bid purchase of two new buses.
Bailey brought a resolution originally passed in 2007 to reimburse mileage for constables for discussion to determine if this policy should continue into the new budget. The original resolution had expired. After some discussion, the mayor asked commissioners to study the resolution and let him know if anyone wanted to place it on a future agenda. Commission approved two other resolutions: one to allow future meetings by electronic means and another passed by the Tennessee Assembly as Private Act No. 43 to pay road commissioners a $250 stipend per meeting including COLA to begin with FY 2021.
In other business, Commission appointed Elmer Eugene Munsey to fill the 7th District Road Commissioner vacancy. Myra Hall and Amanda Oliver were approved as notaries.
With hopes of returning to a regular meeting on May 26, the commission adjourned its first virtual meeting.