Union City, Tenn.–At a busy meeting of the Union City City Council Tuesday evening, council honored Robin Francis for his 21 years of service to the city. He retired at the end of January as Director of Sports Turf.
Fire Chief Karl Ullrich displayed the safety helmet worn by one of our firefighters last week that had been damaged with a screw embedded in it as the result of the explosion of a metal oxygen tank at a fire near South Fulton. The firefighter sustained injuries as a result of the explosion.
The shield on the protective equipment was shattered. The screw penetrated the side of the helmet. The firefighter was evaluated at the emergency room. All three of the firefighters are back on the job today. Mayor Terry Hailey said, “We are thankful. Chief Ullrich wanted us to see the safety equipment that we use to keep our people as safe as possible. The manufacturer of the helmet is replacing the damaged helmet free of charge.”
The Council authorized the purchase of government surplus equipment through the general service warehousing and distribution department. The city has to pay for the paperwork and then pick up whatever military surplus equipment they might need. Council passed a resolution authorizing matching funds should they get an $800,000 CDBG grant. They’ve applied for $800,000. That match would be $104,000 if they were to get the full amount. They could award a lesser amount or none at all.
Councilman Patrick Smith inquired into whether anyone has heard about a business that could occupy the Save A Lot store which recently closed. He said people in the area need a store there since many have no transportation. No one has heard anything but City Manager Johnny McTurner said he would inquire into it.
The Council made appointments to Boards and Commissions: Barry Adams and John Miles to the Regional Planning Commission. Shea Riley and Sam Nailling Jr. to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Andy Gibson to the Beer Permit Board. Rita Clemons to the Perpetual Care Cemetery Board. Teresa Murphy to the Housing Authority Board. Sacchi Doss to the Auditorium Board. Thomas Appleton, Johnny Bacon and Shirley Carter to the Board of Housing Appeals. Jerry Ward, Emily Sparks and Dan Boykin to the Parks and Conservation Board and Jim Harris, Steve Rice and Wilma Payne to the Health, Education and Housing Facilities Board.