Union City, Tenn.–At Tuesday’s Union City City Council meeting, council renamed the city’s Nash Street Park to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park.
It was a busy meeting for the council, which also heard from Bedford Dunavant, President of the Union City Industrial Board, that Institutional Casework on Reelfoot Avenue has been sold. The new owner is American Casework. They make metal desks, etc. for the medical field. The company presently employs about 180 people. The new owners plan to add 100 jobs. The City agreed to a 50% tax abatement program for 5 years, then a 25% tax abatement for 5 additional years.
Mayor Terry Hailey said, “That’s about standard for what the City does for industry that add a significant number of jobs.”
Council heard a couple of reports from Department Heads. First up was Jason Moss, who heads Water, Sewer & Public Works. He reported that all water department parameters are good. All water towers inspected during the last year, one with issues which were corrected. All water department operators are certified and there have been no compliance issues during the last year. He reported that the Waste Water Treatment Plant is running well. All upgrades have been completed. New EPA Permits have been issued that show compliance that we are able to put treated water into the Obion River. There have been no violations or permit issues in the last year.
As for public works, Jason reported that the city hauled 2300 tons of junk to the landfill last year. 673 loads of limbs were picked up. 1.7 miles of streets were paved. The 5th Street project which TDOT is doing should be completed soon. 42 new water taps issued last year. All flooding paperwork has been submitted in hopes that FEMA will finally pay us for work done.
Hunter Wilbanks, Parks and Cemeteries said they had added a foreman and two new workers for Parks and Cemeteries.
Adams Park and Martin Luther King Jr. Park (formerly Nash Street Park) have been rennovated. A pad has been poured for playground equipment at Veterans Park. At Eastview Cemetery there were 66 burials last year. Eastview has 179 lots remaininig at which time the City will have to look elsewhere for land for a new Cemetery. At the old cemetery just off Taylor Street, some of the headstones have been cleaned.
Hunter also reported that we had 450 kids attend the city’s summer sports camps last year. Hailey said, “We hope for as many or more this year and are adding a Theatre Camp as well.”
City Wide Field Day drew about 200 people. New bathrooms at Kiwanis Park and the Tennis Courts were completed.
As for the Turf Department which will be folded into the Parks Department with the retirement of Robin Francis on January 31st, 22 tournaments were scheduled last year. Improvements were made to three pressboxes. L. H. Ladd field got a new irrigation system. All in all, Parks had a good year last year and looks to have a better one this year.