Growth was the theme of Mayor Jason Bailey in his report to Union County Commission at the regular August meeting.
Union County has grown by more than 500 according to the 2020 US Census. The growth of internet or broadband service will be the focus of the American Rescue Plan money in the amount of $1.9M.
Bailey is partnering with the Ayers Foundation, a non-profit, to work with Clinton Utility Board and LaFollette Utilities Board to provide broadband in Big Ridge and Speedwell with the goal of providing fiber based internet throughout Union County.
A partnership to include Tennessee Education Department, Walter's State Community College, Union County Schools, and Union County will build a wing on the current Union County High School for a Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) through a $5M grant.
The GIVE Grant will provide equipment to expand the Union County workforce of welders and linemen. The Good Jobs Challenge may also train workers.
The Travel, Tourism, and Recreation Grant will evaluate a growth plan for expanding the facilities at Big Ridge Park. All reimbursements for the Farmer's Market commercial kitchen have been submitted so that facility can soon be growing small businesses.
Shannon DeWitt, Union County Agriculture Extension Agent, noted that the UT Extension Office Union County, will expand this fall to include an agent devoted full time to 4H and youth education. This new position will allow DeWitt and Alyshia Victoria, Food and Consumer Science Agent, to expand the adult programs.
In contrast, one area of Union County that is not growing is the jail population, which is, perhaps, a good situation. The current population at the end of July was 52. The officers answered 795 calls, worked six accidents with injury and 25 without injury. Officers booked 141 into jail and saw 149 released for various reasons.
But officer pay is not growing either. Sheriff Breeding commented that officers continue to leave for higher paying jobs, which results in officers having to work overtime. Several commissioners seemed confused about the officer’s comp time and when officers would receive comp time or overtime pay.
The sheriff explained that officers can work 86 hours in two weeks before they are eligible for overtime pay or comp time. If an officer has more than 200 hours of comp time accrued, the officer would be paid overtime. The officer would also be expected to use the comp time to eventually reduce the comp time below 200 hours.
When an officer's comp time is below 200 hours, the officer receives comp time instead of overtime pay until the number of comp time hours reaches 200 hours. Any time over 200 hours is paid in overtime.
The sheriff and the mayor agreed to prepare some examples for the commissioners and officers to further explain the policy. The policy was implemented in FY22 to lessen the liability for the county. When an officer resigns to work elsewhere, the county must pay the officer for accrued comp time. Large hours of comp time pose a financial hardship for the county budget.
Melissa Brown, Director of Finance, welcomed Stacy Skeen Warwick to the position of Deputy Director of Finance. Brown also explained that the budget amendments and transfers had grown due to mostly the receiving of grants and other revenues for the beginning of the fiscal year. Commission approved all budget amendments, transfers, and the list of surplus items.
Gail Corum of Corum Bookkeeping delivered the Audit Committee Report to commission. The audit is done by an independent accounting firm, not the Audit Committee. Rather, the Audit Committee reads the audit and makes commissioners aware of any findings.
The only finding was due to the payment of bonuses to officers by POST for re-certification because the money flows through the 101 General Fund to the sheriff's budget. Since the officers who used answer keys on the re-certification test were denied the bonus after the money had been paid, the finding noted an inappropriate payment. The money did not have to be returned but officers involved are not eligible for the bonus for two years.
The commission approved several appointments and three notaries. Commission re-appointed Dwight Dyer to the position of county planner and postponed the Union County Planning Report to September since Dyer was absent. The commission also approved the appointment of Danny Cooke, Phil Ruth, and Jim George to serve on the Solid Waste Authority.
The next Union County Commission meeting will be September 27 at 7 p.m. at the courthouse.