The Union County Commission will have a workshop on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 7:00 to discuss the developments with the jail site with the architects. Commission also scheduled a workshop to discuss the implementation of the salary schedule passed in 2023 on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 5:00. Elected officials and county employees are encouraged to attend the salary workshop. Both workshops will be in the large courtroom, and the public is welcome.

Two sites on property owned by Lois Hubbs are under review. One is called a northern site and the other is labeled a southern site. Each site is 10 to 12 acres. Spirit Architects sent a letter to summarize the possible agenda for the workshop on the jail site. Among the items for information or discussion would be the following: 1) The civil engineer evaluation of the northern jail site, 2) The connection to Prospect Road, 3) The survey results for each site, 4) The location of adjacent property lines, 5) The test boring results for rock, 6) The test borings for soil compaction, and 7) Preliminary results of the sonar tests. According to Jim Langford's letter, the cost of the borings on the northern parcel is
$20,700. The cost of sonar on the northern site is $3500. The proposal for borings on the southern parcel is $20,350 and would produce results in around three weeks.

The second workshop on the salary scale was the result of discussion regarding a new employee to fill a vacancy caused by a resignation in the office of the Union County Clerk and Master. This office works with Chancery and Probate Court. Sandra Edmondson, Clerk and Master, asked for approval to pay a new employee with over 20 years experience in banking and several years in local government $0.92 per hour above the $15 starting scale. Commission refused to approve the request. But because the department's budget had been approved with the higher amount for FY26, some commissioners noted the dilemma of telling an elected official she could not spend money in her budget. Apparently the pay scale is only one lane with no additional lanes for training or experience. Also commissioners had agreed to follow the scale without regard to training and experience, meaning a new employee would be defined as a new employee to county government and would start at $15 per hour. Vice Mayor Sidney Jessee, Jr. presided for Mayor Jason Bailey, who was at a mayor's conference. Jessee recognized the dilemma. He suggested to discuss solutions at the workshop on September 16 at 5:00, and the commissioners agreed

In other business, Dwight Dyer was reappointed as the Union County Planner. Two motions by Greg Dyer and Eddie Simpson to set aside more money for the Big Ridge and Speedwell Community Centers and the Sharps Chapel EMS Building failed. Commissioners commented that the action was premature since bids had not been let, nor had solid evidence regarding estimated costs by an architect been made available to commissioners.

The Commission will hold workshops on September 9 at 7:00 and September 16 at 5:00 in preparation for the next regular meeting on September 22 at 7:00. All will be in the large courtroom upstairs.