Administration - Historical Notes

County Legislative Body

The following acts once applied to the quarterly court or the county legislative body of Union County and are included herein for historical purposes. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Private Acts of 1919, Chapter 400, increased the per diem pay for justices of the peace in Union County from $1.50 per day to $2.50 a day for attendance at regular meetings of the county court.
2. Private Acts of 1961, Chapter 46, would have raised the per diem pay for every justice of the peace in Union County to $7.50 per day for each days attendance at regular or called meetings of the county court. However, this act was disapproved by the quarterly county court and therefore did not become a law.

County Mayor

The references below are of acts which once applied to the office of county judge, or county executive in Union County. They are included herein for historical purposes only. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 253, created the office of county judge for every county in the state requiring him to be learned in the law and elected by the people to a four year term, and to meet other qualifications as written. The quorum courts were abolished and all their obligations given to the judge. The sessions of the court, the jurisdiction and power of the court, the responsibilities of the clerk, who would be the circuit court clerk, and the judge's duties as financial officer are all specified in detail. This act was repealed by Public Acts of 1857-58, Chapter 5, and the courts were returned to their former status.
2. Private Acts of 1901, Chapter 201, created and regulated the office of county judge for Union County. This act was amended by Acts of 1905, Chapter 84, which added $150 per year compensation for the county judge for his doing the work of financial agent for the county, this being in addition to his salary as county judge. Private Acts of 1913, Chapter 105 also amended Private Acts of 1901, Chapter 201, Section 5, by increasing the salary of the county judge at $150 per annum; and $350 per year as financial agent to Union County. Private Acts of 1901, Chapter 201, was repealed by Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 767.
3. Private Acts of 1923, Chapter 561, as amended by Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 252, Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 222, and Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 118, provided for the election of a county judge in Union County held in August 1924 who would serve until the regular elections in 1926 and thereafter the county judge would serve a term of eight (8) years with a salary of $500 per annum.
4. Private Acts of 1935 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 93, provided that the county judge of Union County for his services as county judge and financial agent would be paid $750 annually in monthly installments from the county treasury. The purpose of the legislature was declared to be to increase the salary as financial agent so that the total sum of $750 annually would be paid. This act was amended by Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 418, by increasing the combined salaries of the county judge, as specified in the amended act, from $150 to $900 annually. Chapter 418 was amended by Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 119, which increased the salary of the Union County Judge to $1,200 per annum. Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 418 was repealed by Private Acts of 1947, Chapter 118.
5. Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 482, authorized the Union County Judge to issue fiats for injunctions, attachments and supersedeas.

    

General References

The following private or local acts constitute part of the administrative and political history of Union County but are today no longer operative because they have either been superseded, repealed, or failed to receive local approval. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Acts of 1861 (Ex. Sess.), Chapter 24, declared that Union County would form one regiment to be known as the one hundred-sixty second regiment and be attached to the fourth brigade of the state militia. The militia officers holding the highest rank and command in Union County shall at a predetermined time and place call all officers together and hold elections as the law requires for battalions and companies as these officers may lay off for Union County.
2. Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 643, recited that the state was suing John B. Sharp and his sureties, a former trustee of Union County, for balances due Union County on various accounts; that the county court had authorized a settlement of these account with the current trustee which all had mutually agreed upon; and, because the said John B. Sharp did not keep accurate records of disbursements, a significant injustice could be done to his sureties. Therefore, the action of the county court in directing and authorizing a settlement to be made and the affair closed is ratified and confirmed in all things if the said conditions of the same as directed therein are met in full by all parties.