Commission hears citizen requests

The Union County Commission heard two requests from citizens during its Oct. 26 meeting.

A resident of Timber Creek 2 Subdivision asked the county to finish the road in the development. The planning commissioner told Attorney David Myers that the road is private and possibly owned by Commercial Bank following the foreclosure of the developer, Bobby Brown. The road lacks a topcoat, which David Cox, superintendent of roads, estimates would cost about $30,000. The resident said 16 houses are on the road.

Union County closes on the new jail property

At the Union County Commission Meeting on August 24, 2026, Mayor Jason Bailey commended Commissioner Sidney Jessee, Jr., the Jail Committee, and all Commissioners for all of their work to secure the property for the new jail. As of August 7, 2026, Union County owns the Hubbs Property. Commissioner Jessee and the Jail Committee worked diligently for over three years to secure the property and to propose a plan for the construction of a new jail.

Rescue Squad to get added funding

Representatives from the Union County Rescue Squad addressed the regular meeting of the Union County Commission on Monday, June 22, 2026, and asked for the same amount of contribution that the fire departments were receiving in the budget for 2026-2027 (FY 27). Dennis Nicely spoke while Brad Harrell distributed a report on the Squad's finances and needs. According to Nicely, the squad has not been able to have the bass tournament fundraiser and tools and equipment need to be upgraded or replaced.

Commission approves option on new EMS building

At the November meeting, the Union County Commission approved an option on a current building and 4.5 acres rather than build a new building with the CDBG Grant for an EMS building in Maynardville. The grant would pay $761,850 with a $153,00 local match. Andrew Reed suggested the purchase of the medical building that is for sale behind Kay's Market on Oakland Road at a sale price of $589,000 and use the remainder to construct the ambulance bays on the property.

Commission purchases Hubbs property, voices concerns over SSP

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.

Prospect Road property approved for jail site

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.

Commission sets workshops on jail site and county pay scale

The Union County Commission will have a workshop on Tuesday, September 9, at 7 p.m. to discuss 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, at 5 p.m. Elected officials and county employees are encouraged to attend the salary workshop.