BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Union County commissioners unanimously approved $500 Christmas bonuses for all 59 full-time county employees during their December 15 meeting, with Commissioner Mac Johns making an impassioned plea for the gesture.
“It’s that time of year, morale is not at its highest, but yet these guys are still out there working,” Johns told his colleagues.
The District 4 commissioner, who represents western Union County south of Swift Creek, said he realized the plight of many county employees while attending Christmas toy giveaways.
“I’ve seen a few of our employees standing in line to get toys for their children,” he said, “and for the last two years, we’ve been trying to get them some more money.”
The commissioner said every family experiences financial struggles at times and that it is important that the county takes care of its employees.
“I think each and every one of us has been there at times. I think we’re all a little fortunate right now. I know I am, thank God,” he said.
Johns added that whenever he has called county departments about a problem, he has received a quick response.
“I’ll be the first one to make a phone call and ask to do this, do that, and these guys, they never let me down,” he said, “the work they do at the parks, all of them, the work they do in our districts, the ditches, the mowing, picking up trash.”
County Coordinator Jimmy Williams told commissioners he worked with all department heads to ensure money for the bonuses was available within already-approved budgets, largely from positions that have remained unfilled.
“The money is in each budget. It’s already approved by the board. There are some positions that have not been filled for some time. The money’s there,” Williams said.
Constitutional officers encouraged to follow suit
Clerk Kellie Hendricks Rhoades asked Johns whether the employees of constitutional officers would be included.
“This is for (board of) county (commissioners) employees,” Johns responded. “Constitutional officers have a responsibility to look after their own employees. If you have money in your budget, I suggest you do the same.”
Commissioner Donna Jackson said she hopes the clerk, sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser, and supervisor of elections will follow suit.
“I think that the tax collector possibly had some funds that we didn’t take out of her budget that maybe she could move around, and maybe you can do the same. I would hope so,” Jackson told Rhoades.
Jackson also said she regrets not being able to do more for county workers.
“I struggle with wanting our employees to know how very much we appreciate them,” she said. “And I jokingly, as I was driving to work this morning, was thinking to myself that most employees are probably like me, that they think to themselves, ‘If you want to show me how much you appreciate me, show me the money, because that’s what I really need.”
She said that while small gifts are nice, cash helps people buy for their children, pay bills, or put food on the table.
Several department heads who attended the meeting, including Solid Waste Director Lamar Griffis, Library Director Priti McNutt, EMS Director Brent Allen, and Extension Director Jim DeValerio, thanked commissioners for the gesture.
EMS receives $500,000 in opioid recovery funding
In other business, commissioners approved a budget amendment to accommodate $500,000 in state opioid recovery funding for county emergency medical services. The half-million-dollar grant will support a new community paramedicine program and a vehicle.
EMS Director Brent Allen said the county will receive about $55,000 per month through June.
“We’re going to be adding a community paramedicine program to the county. This is pretty much funding that,” Allen said. “It’s not just community paramedicine; that vehicle is fully stocked for (advanced life support) capabilities. The only thing it can’t do that the ambulances can do is transport a patient.”
The funding also covers training for the position and the public, as well as automated external defibrillators.
Allen also updated commissioners on state matters affecting rural EMS, including rural health transformation funding from Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration that doesn’t adequately include EMS input.
As part of the Federal Government’s July 4, 2025, One Big Beautiful Bill ACT, states can apply for grants to improve healthcare outcomes in rural communities.
In Florida, eligible counties include most in the panhandle between Okaloosa and Clay, as well as four counties in the Lake Okeechobee area.
Allen told commissioners that the state’s application to obtain part of the $50 billion to be allocated over five years does not include money to improve emergency medical services.
“Me and Chief Carter from Bradford County really have reached out to a lot of other rural county chiefs and gotten together on this,” Allen said.
He added that the rural EMS directors have held several town halls on the topic and hope to increase awareness about the omission in the application.
Allen also warned about House Bill 693, which would put Florida into an EMS compact, allowing paramedics licensed in other states to work in Florida without meeting the Sunshine State’s higher standards.
“Florida has the highest EMS standards in the country, and not everybody follows suit,” he said. “So, it’s kind of trying to nationalize EMS, and it’s really going to cause service to fall off.”
MLK Day meeting to go forward
Commissioners agreed to keep the January 19 board meeting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day after Pastor Patrick Maxwell asked to give a presentation to the board.
“He would like to come that Monday night, do the opening prayer and give a little history and speech on Martin Luther King Day and everything from the community,” Williams said.
County offices will be closed for the holiday, but the board meeting will proceed at 6 p.m. as scheduled.
Other business
Commissioners also:
– Approved a proclamation for National Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Week, January 18-24,
– Approved hiring Kimley-Horn to assist with design work for the Palestine Lake boat ramp FEMA project,
– Received updates on the Providence fire station construction, which should start framing within two weeks.
– Heard Solid Waste Director Griffis, who is also the Mayor of Raiford, commend firefighters for their quick response to a November fire in Raiford that could have destroyed seven houses.
Town hall announcement
Commissioner Melissa McNeal announced her District 3 town hall will be held January 5 at 6 p.m. at the UF/IFAS Union County Extension and Education Center, not the Worthington Springs Community Center as originally planned.
Christmas events
Johns reported that about 250 children attended the December 6 Christmas in the Park event in Providence, receiving free toys worth $3,000 to $4,000 despite rain cutting the event short. He praised organizer Kristi Morton for leading the effort.
Dobbs thanked Lamar and Benita Griffis for the Breakfast with Santa event, which served about 175 people over two hours in Raiford.
