Union City, Tenn.–The Union City City Council met in special session Thursday afternoon and approved a memorandum of understanding with the UC Board of Education regarding a new storm safe room building to be built on the UCHS Campus.
According to Mayor Terry Hailey, the school board will pay for the building with money from TEMA. It’s a 95% grant with 5% local match which the school board will pay on the $12 or $13 million project. Not covered by the grant is a new basketball court for UCHS plus bleachers, scoreboards, dressing rooms , etc.
“The project also includes football stadium improvements and new classroom in areas of the present gym. The extras not covered by the grant are estimated at $3 Million. Again, the school board is responsible for payment of all of this. For the $3 million, the school board needs a 20 year bond issue. In order for that to happen it has to run through the City. Again the school board, not taxpayers, are responsible for payment of all of it. And if the TEMA (FEMA) grant doesn’t come through, the whole project is off. And yes, if the school were not be able to pay, then the city would be responsible,” Hailey said.
It passed the Council 5 to 1 with Mayor Pro Tem Randy Barnes voting no. Councilwoman Katie Keathley was not present.