Public hearing on solar farm canceled

By Jan White
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CROCKETT – What looked to be a lively public hearing on the creation and designation of a Reinvestment Zone in Houston County for two solar farms has been tabled. According to Judge Jim Lovell some changes were made by the investors to the proposal, so the public hearing was canceled.

During the open comment section of the meeting, however, there was a discussion over the effect on land values and fire safety issues.

In other business, the court approved Jesse Johnson for a part-time custodian position at the Senior Citizens Center, Delman Orme as a Community Service Officer, Josh Bobbitt as a part-time advanced heavy equipment operator for Precinct 4, and the promotion of Matthew VanEgmond from Deputy to Patrol Sergeant Sheriff’s Office.   

The court also authorized the removal of the budget item for the Ratcliff Area Repeater, decrease in the budget item for the Lovelady Area Repeater, adding a budget item for a console for the Sheriff’s Office/Dispatch, and approved the purchase of a Grapeland Area Repeater, to be funded by the American Rescue Plan Act Grant Fund (ARPA).

After a lengthy discussion, the court voted to amend the Houston County Fixed Asset Policy to require transfers of fixed items of $500 or more between departments to have Commissioners Court approval.

Also approved was a policy that the purchase of any vehicle will be for the replacement of a current vehicle in inventory, except as authorized by the Commissioners Court.