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Union County commissioners approve EMS pay raise, budget amendments and several contract actions
Summary
The Union County Board of County Commissioners on April 6 approved a set of routine finance actions including a prorated, annualized pay increase for the EMS director, budget amendments tied to a pump replacement and FEMA reimbursements, awarded a school generator contract, and retained Brown and Brown as insurance broker.
Union County commissioners approved a series of finance and personnel actions at their April 6 regular meeting, including a pay increase for the county’s EMS director and several budget moves tied to maintenance and grant reimbursements.
Commissioner Jackson told the board he had reviewed comparable counties and found the EMS director’s pay lagged behind subordinate staff; he moved to increase the director’s budgeted salary to $89,000 annually, to be prorated and made effective on the director’s one‑year anniversary. The board approved the motion unanimously. Commissioner Jackson said the change would reduce instances of supervisors earning less than their direct reports and comes from reverted funds in the general fund, rather than newly raised taxes.
On finance items, commissioners approved the regular finance report and agreed that addendum or special action items should be handled separately from the core finance report. The board authorized staff to proceed with a reimbursement/budget-amendment plan tied to roof repairs for the BOCC facility: staff said most costs are expected to be reimbursed by FEMA once an extension is approved, and the board authorized a future budget amendment to appropriate FEMA reimbursement and to cover any minimal shortfall from contingency or the general fund.
The board also approved a budget amendment to pay for a submersible pump at OJ Phillips and directed staff to decrease the ending fund balance and increase repairs and maintenance funding to cover the cost. Staff told commissioners they solicited multiple quotes and concluded the purchase was necessary to restore water service for park operations.
Votes at a glance - Adopt agenda with addendum — approved unanimously (motion to adopt agenda with addendum). - Approve finance report — approved unanimously. - Authorize FEMA-related reimbursement and future budget amendment for BOCC roof — approved unanimously. - Approve payment and budget amendment for OJ Phillips pump (approx. $7,700) — approved unanimously; staff authorized to release payment. - Award school generator contract to Zabbath Power Systems (contractor name varies in the record) — approved unanimously. - Retain Brown and Brown as insurance broker (3‑year broker agreement to be presented for signature at next meeting) — approved unanimously. - Adopt Resolution 2026‑04 (Local Mitigation Strategy) — approved unanimously. - Approve budgeted EMS director salary increase to $89,000 (prorated; effective on anniversary) — approved unanimously. - Approve an extension request for the ag facility grant — approved unanimously.
What the board did not decide tonight Commissioners authorized staff to inspect surplus apparatus from Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and to prepare a conditional offer letter, but final purchase approval and funding sources remain to be determined pending inspection and mechanic review.
The meeting closed with several updates on active grants, fire-station planning and a plan to certify road and solid-waste employees in maintenance-of-traffic work.
