Union took a step towards upgrades in its water and street systems at the Board of Aldermen’s March meeting last Tuesday.
The city accepted a low bid of $378,258 from Thompson Brothers of Laurel for the drilling of a new water well.
The quote was $8,000 over the pre-bid estimates. The well will be put in behind the city’s water treatment plant on Bank Street.
The Aldermen also voted to begin adverting for bids to repave North Street from the South end North to the intersection with Industrial Circle.
Mayor Wayne Welch has said that he hopes to get the project done sometime this spring.
In other actions during the brief meeting, the Aldermen:
• Accepted the resignation of City Clerk Cheryl Chaney, who has been Union's record keeper for 32 years. She has served under the administrations of Mayors Larry Addy, Max Sessums and Welch.
She will continue to serve until June 30 and Welch said there were nine applicants seeking to succeed Chaney and that interviews would probably begin Monday.
• For the second month in a row, the Board took no action on a request from Tena Seals that the city help alleviate erosion on her property at 714 South Decatur St.
She says that the city should take the responsibility for eliminating flooding on the creek that runs adjacent to her family’s property.
She says that unfastened pipes associated with Union’s wastewater facility has caused raw sewage in the water.
Welch said he has investigated the issue and has passed the concerns on to the U.S. Corps of Engineers and said, “When we hear back from them, you’ll be the first to know.”
• Heard a presentation from Union schools Superintendent Tyler Hansford concerning the availability and use of e-cigs and vapor products by youths. He said the efforts of the school system to eliminate them would be easier and more effective if the city would work towards regulating and/or eliminating their sale.
“I think it is something we need to do,” said Welch.
• Had a brief discussion with Police Chief Billy Pat Walker about purchasing one or two used police cars from the city of Hernando. He said they were scraping all of their still serviceable patrol cars at one time, and felt that it may be possible to get some lower mileage vehicles at a savings for the city.
• Accepted Walker’s proposal that he hire two part time policemen for Union’s force. The men: Will Kennedy and Jackson Smith already carry their certification for the position and the city would not be responsible for any additional training.
