With three new faces at the table, the Brad Capps administration began a four-year term setting policy for Union.
Capps said “I’m new at this. This is my first elected office and I might make some mistakes, but we’ll work at it.”
Holdover aldermen Harvey Hickman, Billy McCune and Paul Lowery were joined at the table by newcomers Ricky Sistrunk and Robert Blount.
Blount set the tone early, saying, “I know it won’t always be easy and we won’t always agree on everything. That’s why we have members. But, if we can agree to disagree, we can do what needs to be done for our city.”
Most of the night’s meeting was spent with a series of perfunctory votes on filling various administrative positions.
• City Clerk Tammy Ferguson will begin her first full term after succeeding Cheryl Chaney in 2020;
• Reappointed Billy Pat Walker to Chief of Police, a position he has held since 2007;
• Re-appointed Doug Smith as City Attorney and City Prosecutor;
• Joan Mulford will continue to serve as Deputy City Clerk, a job she has held for 22 years;
• In the only non-unanimous vote of the night Billy McCune was elected Mayor Pro Temp. He got the support of Hickman and Sistrunk, but Blount and Lowery voted no;
• Rehired as city employees. Will Motley is the new Street Superintendent, succeeding Mike Smith who retired in June. Johnathan Ferguson will continue at Water and Sewer Superintendent;
• Beverly Hart, Don Thomas and Marie Thompson were appointed Election Commissioners;
• Billy Price of Forest will continue as the city’s auditor;
In other action, the Aldermen
• Heard a presentation from Hal Totten about the progress and their plans for future growth of the Free-N-Deed Ministries, which provides free meals to children in distressed circumstances.
• Agreed to provide some relief to Kimmie Hunter, 100 Craven St., who says she has problems with a driveway culvert.
• Heard a request, but took no action, on a request from Water Superintendent Johnathan Ferguson for hiring another employee. “You know we have three water associations (Union, County Line and New Ireland) that we have to repair and maintain, and it getting more and more difficult for two people to handle.:
Capps said he recognized the problems, but they would have to see if there's room in the budget for another person.
• Voted to advertise for bids for contracting he lawn care and cleaning of the city’s cemetery
• Voted to make a $250 contribution to Care Lodge of Meridian.
