There are more recognition days, weeks, or months than you can shake a stick at. Some highlight worthy causes, such National Arbor Day (April 26), and National Girl Scout Day (March 12). Some you scratch your head at, like National Cheese Doodle Day (March 5) and National Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19, aaarrr!). One you probably haven’t heard of, but that I personally think is worth pondering is National Invasive Species Awareness Week (February 26 to March 1).

The annual Girl Scout Cookie sale has started and the Union County troops are ready to take your order. This year the nine flavors to choose from are Thin Mints, S’mores, Adventurefuls, Samoas, Do-si-dos, Tagalongs, Toffee-tastic, Trefoils and Lemon-Ups. The cookies are sold for $6.00 a box. When you purchase cookies, you are creating opportunities for the young girls of Union County to thrive and grow by learning life and leadership skills. This opportunity was the hope and vision of the founder of the Girls Scouts, Juliette Gorgon Low from Savannah, GA. In 1912

The new year brought Mayor Bailey’s first tiebreaker of his tenure at the Union County Commission meeting last month.
Sheriff Billy Breeding requested a mid-year budget amendment of new money to fund a correctional grade camera system. Prior to the commission meeting, the sheriff brought his proposal to the budget committee where it did not receive any action, therefore the proposal could be brought to the commission without a recommendation.

Jim Hart, Interim Manager and Jail Management Consultant for County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), reviewed the Union County Jail Needs Assessment for the joint meeting of the UC Jail Committee and the UC Commission on Thursday, February 1.
Hart noted several challenges in the current jail. The jail is an aging facility that regularly exceeds its maximum capacity of 76 inmates. He explained that the jail is considered overcrowded at 85% capacity or 64 inmates.

All Union County teachers will see an increase in their pay this school year. The Union County Board of Education approved a revised teacher salary scale at its meeting on January 11.
Missy Brown, finance director, explained that the additional increase is necessary to put the salary schedule on track to meet the $50,000 state mandated beginning salary in 2028. She further noted that the additional funding will come from the state TISA Growth monies and the pay increases do keep us competitive with surrounding counties.

The Union County Budget Committee considered several items on January 29, 2024. The recent snow.caused the regular meeting to be rescheduled and held prior to the Union County Commission Meeting. The committee approved the purchase of ankle monitors for work release inmates to comply with a new state law at a cost of approximately $10,000. The committee took no action on the sheriff's proposal to spend $97,000 for a new camera system. Discussion centered around the cost and the fact that the request was not in the current budget nor did the sheriff have surplus money to fund the system.

Commissioner Sidney Jessee, Jr., who is chairman of the Union County Jail Committee, spoke to Union County Business & Professional Association at its January meeting on the locations for the new jail and the pros and cons of each location. Locating the jail on the existing middle school football field would possibly cost less.
But citizens have voiced that commission should not take away the field, especially before the new middle school field is available. Also, using the football field would still require prisoners to be transported to the courtroom for trial.

The City of Plainview Board of Aldermen discussed how to clear the roads of snow and ice at its December and January meetings. Becky Munsey made the request during a public forum.
Vice Mayor Richard Phillips chaired the meeting on January 9, and reported that negotiations were ongoing to contract with Luttrell City to brine or clear the Plainview Roads. Phillips is also exploring other methods to address the issue of snow and ice.

Leadership Union County is seeking people who want to learn more about Union County or want to get involved in the many organizations that strive to improve the quality of life in Union County. LUC is currently enrolling participants in the Class of 2024.

The Plainview Police Department will have better radio communication this year. Plainview Maintenance Department installed a new antenna at the Plainview City Hall last Tuesday, January 30, 2024. According to Vice Mayor Richard Phillips, the antenna was a planned upgrade included in the current city budget.