UC council votes to buy sound system

By DONNA RYDER
Associate Editor
Union City will be getting a new, better sound system for the Municipal Building courtroom.
The Union City city council Tuesday night approved the purchase of a new system from Lowrance Sound Co. in Union City for $20,500.
City manager Kathy Dillon said the sound system is a budgeted item and one that has been talked about by the council for “some time.” She suggested the council agree to the contract, which has increased by $700 from the estimate which was given to the city in May 2012. The balance of the cost will come from fund balance, she noted.
Ms. Dillon said she wanted to explore a better price, but was informed a less expensive system would not produce the results the council would be hoping for.
Mayor Terry Hailey said he believes the system included in the contract has individual speakers at each station so all councilmen will be able to hear what is being said.
Councilman Bill “Rat” Harrison said it is something that has been needed and that he has heard lots of complaints.
In other business, after the meeting was opened in prayer by Police Chief Perry Barfield, the council:
• Read into the record a World Autism Awareness Day proclamation. The council encouraged residents to learn more about autism and how to support people who have autism, as well as their families.
• Awarded a bid for soil testing at the industrial park water tank to PSI for $4,345. Other bids came form Geotech at $5,800 and CML at $4,600.
• Discussed work to be done on Church Street. Ms. Dillon said everything is ready and they may just be waiting on better weather.
• Heard the city is wanting on approval from the state on a certificate in order to move forward with the issuance of bonds.
• Learned Ms. Dillon has found many mistakes with the proposed website and she does not want it to be activated until all are correct.
Hailey said once the website is up, city residents will be able to pay their taxes and utility bills online.
• Heard the city already has an ordinance that covers pilfering through garbage — an issue which was addressed at a previous council meeting.
• Addressed the issue again about residents leaving their trash bins curbside. Ms. Dillon said it has been posted in the newspaper, on the water bills and through phone calls. “I don’t know the answer,” she said, adding residents should be respectful of their neighbors and remove the bins after garbage has been picked up.
She said the city could have an ordinance, but then they would spend more time being “garbage police.”
Habitual offenders would be cited into court if such an ordinance existed, the mayor noted.
Councilman Judy Robinson was absent.
Associate Editor Donna Ryder can be contacted by email at dryder@ucmessenger.com.

Published in The Messenger 4.3.13