BY TRACY LEE TATE
Special to the Times
The regular December meeting of the Union County Board of Commissioners had a short agenda but featured several local residents, either during the public comments section of the meeting or later as agenda items.
The first to speak was Gina Norman, a resident of County Road 796. She spoke to the board about her gratitude for the Union County Fire Department members and their work dealing with a fire near her home.
The blaze, assisted by dry conditions and wind, spread rapidly over several properties, at one time reaching the outer edge of the property next to hers. She tearfully told the commissioners that she stood outside, spraying bushes with a water hose to prevent them from catching fire should the flames come closer. She said that Union County firefighters arrived on the scene and began dealing with the situation, and then other county residents began to arrive, bringing containers of water and tools and battling the blaze as well. With the combined effort of the firefighters and members of the Union County community the fire was put out.
“I have never been so frightened and never felt more protected,” Norman said. “I had never really thought about the fact that all our county firefighters are volunteers before, but they came and handled the problem with efficiency. But through their quick action and bravery the problem was dealt with. The same with the community members who came to help. It shows the type of place we live in here in Union County – if someone needs help, they get it. Everyone works to take care of each other.”
Norman said she felt the deepest gratitude to all who assisted but singled out the Union County Fire Department for their quick response, professionalism, and dedication.
Students against tobacco
Ezekial Baker, representing Union County High School’s Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) gave a short presentation requesting that the board do more to keep public areas, such as the parks, tobacco-free. Baker said that 32,000 lives were lost each year, just in the state of Florida, to tobacco-related issues and that SWAT members were dedicated to reducing this number. He also thanked commissioners for their support of the SWAT program.
Board Chairman Channing Dobbs, who had recently visited with SWAT members at UCHS, asked the board to have a resolution drafted to make all Union County parks tobacco-free, as the City of Lake Butler had done. There was some discussion as to whether such a document already existed, but County Attorney Russ Wade found none. Clerk of Court and Comptroller Kellie Hendricks Rhoades said she would check with her office’s recording clerk to see if a resolution existed.
Commissioner Donna Jackson moved that Wade draft a resolution, pending the clerk’s search, and the motion passed unanimously.
Dobbs complimented Baker on his presentation and invited him to return for the January meeting, bringing some of the other SWAT members with him.
Wants more jobs in Union County
Bob Congreave was on the agenda and spoke to the board on the subject of bringing manufacturing back to rural America. Congreave had spoken to the board last month about his concerns that there were not enough jobs in the county and not enough funds coming into county coffers. He told commissioners about a program that incoming President Donald Trump planned on implementing to offer businesses locating in rural areas tax and other incentives to stimulate growth and create jobs.
Congreave suggested that the county develop a business plan outlining what types of businesses they would like to see locate in the county – manufacturing and related businesses – and them actively solicit businesses to consider Union County as location. He said this would allow growth to be planned, including where these businesses would locate and means to reduce the impact on residents by choosing area with no residences nearby and using wooden areas and other ways to reduce visibility. He said such a plan would serve the dual purpose of managing and capping growth.
“When West Fraser closed, the county lost 130 jobs,” Congreave said. “And the severance packages for these workers ended last week. We need to do something right now. This county offers very few good opportunities to our young people. I want my kids to be able to stay here when they finish school.”
County Coordinator Jimmy Williams said he has been looking into possibilities, as has the county’s Economic Development Committee and suggested to the board that Congreave be added to it. Commissioner Melissa McNeal warned that growth was a touchy subject in the county, to which Congreave responded that what was needed was “smart growth.”
The board agreed to add Congreave to the committee and to consider the matter further, citing the obstacles to being a desirable location for businesses, such as the lack of full-time fire protection and water service. McNeal said she was open to exploring whatever options were available.
“I just don’t want to change our way of life in Union County,” McNeal said.
