By Emily Banks Wooten
[email protected]
It was standing room only for Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Polk County Commissioners Court. The Court convened to a packed house in Suite A of the Polk County Regional Health Building, with the majority of the crowd there for a public hearing to discuss and consider abandoning the maintenance of county roads within the city limits of Onalaska.
“The wording abandoning is a legal term. The purpose of this meeting is to correct the map. The commissioner (Precinct 2) thinks these roads should revert to the city and that the county should not infringe on the city’s authority. The city limits are where the authorization of the city begins and where the authorization of the county ends and the map needs to reflect that,” Murphy said.
“It doesn’t mean we’re not going to enter into interlocal agreements or MOUs (memorandums of understanding). The map also does not reconcile with TxDOT. Who has jurisdiction? Who has ownership? We’re trying to clarify the map, and we have to delineate where one begins and where one stops. We’re out of compliance with the state and out of compliance with TxDOT,” Murphy said.
Nina McAfee, president of the Yaupon Cove Property Owners Association, addressed the Court regarding “the deplorable road conditions in Precinct 2,” adding that she is submitting a petition “to have the roads repaired immediately.” She touched on street signs that need repair and drainage ditches that no longer drain. She expressed her displeasure with the Court’s “pet projects,” specifically the museum and the historic renovation of the county courthouse. “Yaupon Cove has 500 homes and residents, and we vote and will be voting strongly in the next election.”
Angela Stutts, Onalaska’s city administrator, addressed the Court as well. “We were aware when Commissioner Dubose took office this was going to be a priority. He’s made it very clear that it’s not his responsibility to take care of city streets.”
“We’re more than happy to be part of the process but right now, we have to correct the map. We will work with you,” Murphy said.
Others addressing the Court regarding the matter included Gracie from Bridgeview Landing, Kay Ford, Michael Loftin, Carl Cruse, John Dannon, Rhoan from Impala Woods.
“It will not be instantaneous. This is going to be a long period. We are going to transition it over and it’s going to be a long process,” Murphy said.
Attorney Michael Matthews, a consultant for the county, agreed. “All it means is the county’s maintenance of it will cease. There will still be interlocal agreements and MOUs.”
The Court approved “abandoning” maintenance of the roads within the city limits.
A public hearing is slated during the regular meeting of the Polk County Commissioners Court at 10 a.m. Tuesday to discuss and consider abandoning the maintenance of county roads within the city limits of the City of Onalaska and will consider action on it following the public hearing.
In budget-related activity, the Court approved the proposed lease rate quotes to be included in the fiscal year 2025 budget and also approved the proposed budget for fiscal year 2025.
During the Court’s July 23 meeting, County Judge Sydney Murphy proposed salary increases for all countywide elected officials with the exception of herself, the sheriff and the county court at law judge. She commented that four positions (district clerk, county clerk, treasurer and tax assessor-collector) are the lowest paid in the area for their respective positions, adding that these four positions have countywide responsibilities, unlike the four JPs who only have precinct-wide responsibilities, and that the salaries should reflect that.
Murphy proposed increasing the salaries of those positions from $56,994.59 to $65,000 and increasing the salaries of the JPs from $56,994.59, with a travel allowance of $5,000, to $59,000, with a travel allowance of $5,000.
In keeping with the timelines in which the Court is statutorily bound, the Court is required to publish the proposed increases in salaries, allowances and other expenses of elected county and precinct officers in its newspaper of record which is the Polk County Enterprise. While the item was originally on the agenda for the July 30 court meeting, the item had to be tabled following receipt of a grievance lodged by the four justices of the peace. As a result, a grievance committee was appointed, and a hearing was held on Aug. 5.
Murphy reviewed the recommendations of the grievance committee in which eight members attended the hearing. As for the JPs’ salaries, two committee members thought it should be increased to $65,000, one thought it should be increased but didn’t specify an amount, and five thought there should be no increase. As for the JPs’ travel, one thought it should be increased to $7,500, one thought it should be increased to $10,000, two thought it should be increased but didn’t specify an amount, and four thought there should be no increase.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Cassity made a motion that the JPs’ salaries be increased to $65,000 and Precinct 2 Commissioner Mark Dubose seconded it. The vote failed, however, with Cassity and Dubose voting “for,” and Precinct 1 Commissioner Guylene Robertson, Precinct 3 Commissioner Milt Purvis and Murphy voting “against.”
Cassity then moved to increase the JPs’ travel to $7,500, with Dubose seconding the motion. In a mirror image of the salary vote, the travel vote failed as well, with Cassity and Dubose voting “for” and Robertson, Purvis and Murphy voting “against.”
A memorandum of agreement with The Burke Center for a mental health deputy program was approved. Through the program, four deputies – one for each shift – will undergo training to become certified mental health officers. The county’s match for the program is 25%, which will be funded through the sheriff’s office’s asset forfeiture funds.
The Court approved advertising a request for bids for the restoration of the creek bank on Kimball Creek at County Line Road in Precinct 4, to be funded from the Precinct 4 operation budget.
A request for the purchase of audio/video equipment and software for the Emergency Operations Center, as included on the fiscal year 2024 capital purchase projections, was approved. Although $150,000 was allotted, the total will be $134,260.29, which includes a three-year maintenance agreement and a little extra for contingencies.
The Court approved the sheriff’s and constables’ fees effective Jan. 1, 2025, and direct notification to state comptroller, pursuant to Texas Local Government Code 118.131.
The Court entered into an executive session to consult with an attorney on a matter subject to attorney-client confidentiality relating to the volunteer fire department funding. Upon return to open session, the Court approved moving forward with the contract and adjusting the coverage territories, specifically, part of the coverage area previously served by Goodrich Volunteer Fire Department will now be moved to other departments.
In personnel matters, the Court reviewed and approved personnel action form requests submitted since the last meeting and reviewed three emergency hires – one in human resources, one in emergency management and one in maintenance. Additionally, the Court approved the appointment of Jay Diehl, the candidate recommended by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, to the vacant position of Polk County Extension Agent/Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Fiscal year 2024 budget revisions and amendments, as presented by the county auditor’s office, were approved.
In old business, the Court approved the minutes of the July 11 regular meeting that was rescheduled from July 9.
Items on the consent agenda included:
Approval of the minutes of the July 23 regular meeting and July 30 special called meeting;
Approval of the corrected minutes of the June 11 regular session;
Approval of the schedules of bills;
Approval of an order designating surplus property;
Receipt and recording of personnel action forms submitted by elected officials since the last meeting;
Approval of the adoption of the Texas Health & Human Service Commission indigent health care eligibility standards, documentation and verification procedures according to the act with the addition of the following provision of optional services as allowed under V.T.C.A. Health & Safety Code, Section 61.0285;
Approval of the sheriff’s request for application to Texas Association of Property and Evidence Inventory Technician grant;
Approval of a “no change” in county road and bridge fee ($10) and child safety fee ($1.50) authorized by the Texas Transportation Code, Sec. 502.401-502.403;
Acceptance of payments in lieu of taxes in the amount of $63,838;
Acceptance of fiscal year 2024 indigent defense formula grant No. 212-24-187;
Receipt and recording of district judges’ orders setting fiscal year 2025 compensation for the county auditor, assistant auditors and 258th and 411th district court reporters, court coordinators and bailiffs pursuant to Local Government Code;
Approval of joint contracts for election services with Livingston ISD and Big Sandy ISD for the county’s provision of election equipment and services for the Nov. 5 general election, as recommended by the county clerk;
Receipt and recording of an agreement between the district attorney’s office and the Texas Department of Public Safety, state administrator of the Texas Enforcement Telecommunications System;
Receipt and recording of non-twenty-four hour terminal agency agreement between the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Polk County District Attorney’s Office;
Ratifying a memorandum of understanding between Polk County and Deep East Texas Council of Governments for participation in the Community Development Block Grant Mitigation Method of Distribution for Regional Interoperable Radio Communications Project;
Receipt of the third quarter hotel occupancy tax funds reports from the Livingston-Polk County Chamber of Commerce and the Polk County Higher Education and Technology Foundation;
Approval of the 2024 hotel/motel occupancy tax contribution tourism budget from the Livingston-Polk County Chamber of Commerce;
Receipt of the treasurer’s monthly report for June 2024;
Receipt of the treasurer’s fiscal year 2024 third quarter report for April through June of 2024;
Approval of an addendum to agreement with Network Communications International Corporation for inmate tablet services at the Polk County Jail; and
Authorizing the foremen of each road and bridge precinct to be an “authorized designee” to assist the Office of Emergency Management as needed with evaluating identified trees, limbs or stumps to determine if they are hazardous and should be removed according to State/FEMA debris removal guidance and debris removal contracts.
Lindell Mitchell of the Livingston Church of Christ opened the meeting with prayer.
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