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UNION — The Union County Council held a special meeting this week to discuss several matters, the first of which was an addition to the narrowbanding project with Motorolla.

Council voted to add another channel at a cost of around $60,000. The tactical channel — known as Fire Two Channel — will keep an administrative channel available to departments and an operational channel available to fire fighters in the case of a fire.

Bonham Fire Department

Other business at Monday’s meeting was related to one local fire department.

The Bonham Fire Department is a post-home-rule department, it is controlled by local government. The department asked council for permission to buy a piece of property for potential future use.

“It’s a preventive move,” said County Supervisor Tommy Sinclair, explaining that the department’s current property on S.C. 18 is now surrounded.

Sinclair dispelled rumors that the department has already sold its current property.

Equipment Upgrades

Council also discussed an upgrade of some county equipment.

The county owns three public service trucks used to haul trash, each of which have at least a half-million miles on them. The purchase of a new truck was approved, but Sinclair pointed out that the purchase will not come from the county’s general funds. The truck will be purchased from funds collected from recycling.

The council also approved the purchase of a mid-sized motor grader.

“The one we have now is on its third engine,” Sinclair said. “The parts now have to come from Canada; that’s how old it is.”

The motor grader the county is looking to purchase will be mid-sized, allowing for hauling from one end of the county to the other.

Monarch Lights

One of the final pieces of business discussed at Monday’s meeting involved street lights in the Monarch community.

Currently, Milliken pays the power bill for the street lights at the ball park in Monarch. However, since Monarch Mill has been sold, Milliken will no longer pay the bill.

The county council had to decide whether or not to take up the power bill and decided against it.

Sinclair pointed out that the county does not light any other community. He said the community of Monarch will have to come together and form a plan if residents want to continue some type of street light situation.

Staff Writer Derik Vanderford can be reached at 864-427-1234, ext. 29, or by email at dvanderford@heartlandpublications.com.