Because of Memorial Day, the May Union County Commission Meeting will be on Tuesday, May 26, at 7 p.m. and workshop with the UC Farmers Market board at 6 p.m. The FY 27 Budget Workshop will be Tuesday, May 19, at 5 p.m. with a financial committee meeting to follow at 6.

At the Union County Commission meeting in April, Luttrell Mayor Jerry Lawson again appeared before commission to request that the Luttrell Industrial Park be given to the City of Luttrell to be developed as a sports complex. After many comments and at least one withdrawn motion, Commissioner Eddie Simpson moved to to sell the 38.6 acres of Luttrell Industrial Park property to the City of Luttrell for $150,000. Luttrell has one year to pay for the property. The motion was approved on a vote of 9 For and 5 Opposed.

County Mayor Jason Bailey requested and received the commission’s approval of the application for a congressional grant to fund an after school program hosted by the Boys and Girls Club at Luttrell Elementary. He reported that the ARPA Fund 127 will be transferred to Fund 171 Capital Projects with approval of the budget amendments. He announced that the first class graduated from the Tech Goes Home grant to provide training and Chromebooks for senior citizens.

The contract renewal with the farmers market board was postponed until after the workshop on May 26 when several commissioners voiced concerns. Commissioner Larry Lay said that the county should write the contract and that he never heard of a group using the building including utilities and not paying for some of the cost. Bailey responded that the contract has been the same for the past six years without complaint. Commissioner Gerald Simmons stated that he was not in favor of a ten-year contract but he might vote in favor of one that lasted four years. Commissioner Jessee said that the county might investigate the cost of purchasing the kitchen equipment owned by the farmers market. After the discussion Bailey set the workshop.

Commissioner Sidney Jessee, Jr., chair of the jail committee, reported that the architect for the jail was willing to hold the fee for the updated plans until the bid was secured. He would then base the cost on a percentage of the bid. Jessee then proposed sending out a request for quotes from construction managers interested in overseeing the project. His motion was approved by a vote of 11 in favor to 3 against.

In 2025, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a law to give supplemental benefits to officers in the amount of 0.0375 times the years of service. The local Financial Committee limited participants to those with 20 or more years of service and that future bonuses would be at a rate of 0.025 times the years of service. Commissioner Jessee moved to pay the total of $118, 544 and distribute to officers who qualify. The motion was approved.

Greg Clay updated commissioners regarding the new HMMS which has no-wax floors and will be ready to be occupied by July 7.

Other actions included approving all budget amendments and transfers, passing a grant application for Judge Patterson, and accepting the plans identified in a safety planning grant to install three traffic lights and a turn lane on Highway 33.