County Commission completed the purchase of the Hubbs property lower parcel at the October meeting. The core borings on the lower 10-acre parcel of the Hubbs property showed no issues. No sonar services were needed. With the upper tract of 10 acres at a cost of $300K plus 2 acres donated for a drug rehabilitation facility and the lower 10 acres for $250K, the total property would be 22 acres at a cost of $550K. The new jail and rehab center would be on the upper parcel with no immediate plans for the lower parcel.

In a vote of 10 For and 1 Against, the Union County commission voted to purchase ten acres of the Hubbs property on Prospect Road in Maynardville for $300K. Absent were Commissioners Lynn Beeler, Greg Dyer, Linda Effler, Larry Lay, and Eddie Simpson. Commissioner Gerald Simmons voted against the purchase. The purchase includes an additional two acres donated by the seller to be used to build a drug rehabilitation facility. The rehabilitation facility can be built by using opioid abatement money at no cost to the property taxpayers.