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Council advances budget and incentive readings, approves FEMA consulting and generator planning; proposed permit-fee update fails to move forward
Summary
Union County Council approved payment to a FEMA-reporting consultant, authorized a generator planning contract, advanced second readings of a FILOT agreement and the FY2026 budget, and adopted a boards-and-commissions ordinance; a proposed update to building-permit fees failed on a 2–3 vote.
Union County Council handled multiple consent and deliberative items at its May 13 meeting, approving consultant payments and planning work tied to disaster-recovery and resilience, advancing fiscal and economic items by second reading, and adopting an ordinance on boards and commissions.
Consultant and FEMA-related matters: Council approved payment of $20,209 to KCF/ICF for administrative assistance on FEMA reporting, funded from the Council contingency account, and authorized contingency funding of up to an additional $67,571 for the remainder of the contract period through Jan. 23, 2026; Chairman Russell said some costs may be reimbursable by FEMA. Council also authorized the county supervisor to enter an agreement with KCG/ICF to perform planning and engineering to determine generator-installation requirements at 29 county locations at a cost of $63,350 to be funded from the Capital Account; potential reimbursement was noted if awarded a FEMA State Mitigation Grant. Both actions passed unanimously.
Budget and economic-development readings: Council gave second reading to an ordinance adopting the county’s operating and capital budgets for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and accepted second reading of an ordinance authorizing a FILOT agreement with "Project Spring," both by unanimous vote after motions to dispense with committee referral. Council also adopted on third and final reading an ordinance amending Chapter 2 Article XI of the county code regarding boards and commissions.
Building-permit fee proposal fails to proceed: Chairman Russell proposed having county attorneys draft an updated building-permit fee schedule to replace rates last revised in 2009; the county estimates it has been undercharging and losing roughly $30,000 annually. Councilperson Annie Smith moved to proceed and Vice Chair David Sinclair seconded. Councilman Danny Bright and Councilman John Glenn opposed raising fees on principle and questioned equity for small builders; the motion to refer the draft ordinance to attorneys failed 2–3 (Smith and Sinclair in favor; Bright, Glenn and Rutherford opposed). Chairman Russell said the shortfall had been budgeted for FY 2025–26 and would require adjustments if not realized.
The meeting also included routine items such as employee recognitions, a scholarship presentation and the supervisor’s written report covering departmental updates. No committee reports were offered during the meeting.
