Union County Board hears Bald Knob project update

An update on renovation and repair of a local landmark was shared at this week's regular meeting of the Union County Board of Commissioners.

The meeting was Monday afternoon at the Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro.

The commissioners heard about progress on work being done at the Cross of Peace atop Bald Knob Mountain near Alto Pass.

Representatives of the Friends of the Cross organization attended  Monday's county board meeting and reported on the work being done at the Union County landmark.

The update was presented in conjunction with a request for county hotel/motel tourism tax money to help with the renovation project.

Friends of the Cross representative Debbie Nash said the organization has raised about $220,000 for the renovation and repair work. She noted that work now is well underway on the repair of the cross.

"They're repairing the structure. Progress has started," Nash said.

Nash told the commissioners that $56,000 has been paid for work on the structure. That bill was paid with state grant money and funds from the Friends of the Cross.

Bids are to be taken on new panels for the cross.

Nash noted that many people have offered a wide range of free services to help with the project.

"We feel like we've been very fortunate," Nash said about the support which has been received.

After hearing the update, the commissioners approved a $5,000 allocation from the county's hotel/motel tourism tax fund to the Friends of the Cross for the project.

The commissioners approved two other hotel/motel tourism tax funding requests at Monday's meeting.

A $2,500 allocation to the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail was approved. The funds will be used to promote the wine trail in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

The commissioners also approved a $700 funding request from organizers of the Union County ColorFest biathlon.

In discussing the tourism fund allocations, the commissioners agreed that they want to continue to ensure that as many projects as possible can be funded.

In other business at Monday's meeting:

The county continues to review plans for the senior citizen services program offered at the Sunshine Inn Community Center in Anna.

The county is reviewing possible uses for a 1999 ambulance. The vehicle is being retired by the Union County Ambulance Service.

It was reported that no bids had been received for installation of an ATM machine at the courthouse.