County approves capital purchases

By Emily Banks Wooten
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The Polk County Commissioners Court approved requests for capital purchases to be paid from the general fund balance and included on the fiscal year 2024 reimbursement resolution for the year-end issuance of legally authorized debt during its regular meeting Tuesday. Both requests were for software and service agreements with Tyler Technologies. One is for land and vital records software for the county clerk’s office in the amount of $37,500 annually and one-time fees in the amount of $65,000 and the other is for enterprise justice module for the county court at law in the amount of $4,100 annually and one-time fees in the amount of $15,200. While the annual costs have been factored into the budget, the one-time fees will be financed.

The Court also approved requests from the Office of Emergency Management for software purchase agreements. One is a software license agreement with ARRO for real-time personnel and equipment tracking during emergencies in the amount of $3,000 annually and the other is a master services agreement with Veoci for virtual emergency operations center software in the amount of $10,395 annually. Both of these items have been factored into the budget.

Replacement of the roof at county-owned property located at 321 N. Beatty Ave. and paying for it from the fund balance was approved. “The maintenance department has been battling leaks and we knew those leaks were there when we bought it,” County Judge Sydney Murphy said.

Although the Court was slated to canvass the Nov. 7 election results, the item was deleted from Tuesday’s agenda and will be considered during a special called meeting at 2 p.m. Friday.

Murphy apprised the Court that Angelina College is no longer under contact with the Polk County Higher Education & Technology Foundation for the Polk County College-Commerce Center and that the foundation is going to sublease a portion of the facility to Lamar. She added that signage on the building will need to be changed and bids sought for some renovation and landscaping projects but that the foundation has agreed to participate in the cost.

The Court cast ballots for the election of the Polk Central Appraisal District Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 term. Polk County has 1,804 votes so the Court opted to give 834 to the county’s representative, Polk County Tax Assessor-Collector Steven Hullihen; 280 to Tom Curran, Onalaska ISD’s representative; 453 to Paul David Evans, Corrigan-Camden ISD’s representative; 120 to Pam Pierce; and 119 to Mike Nettles.

Action regarding the request to the Texas Department of Transportation for surplus materials was approved, with $23,446 being the amount allocated to Polk County.

The Court approved the purchase of two vehicles for Precinct 4 Road & Bridge, utilizing Precinct 4’s remaining available American Rescue Plan Act funds in the amount of $34,297.93 and the Precinct 4 fund balance.

Regarding Magnolia Creek Ranch located in Precinct 2, the Court approved releasing the developer from the construction bond requirement and also approved the plat.

Action regarding the Langford contract for wildfire defense grant administration was approved.

The Court heard a proposal from representatives of Republic Services regarding the citizen collection stations, specifically, modification of the hours of operation and a request for changes. However, action on the matter was tabled until more information may be received.

In personnel matters, the Court approved personnel action form requests submitted by department heads since the last meeting and approved an update to the personnel management system.

Fiscal year 2023 and fiscal year 2024 budget revisions and amendments as presented by the county auditor’s office were approved.

The Court approved a proclamation recognizing Nov. 12-18 as Polk County Recycles Week.

Items on the consent agenda included:

Approval of the minutes of the Oct. 24 and Nov. 1 meetings;

Approval of the schedules of bills;

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Approval of an order designating surplus property;

Receipt of and recording personnel action forms submitted by elected officials since the last meeting;

Approval of total loss offer for 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe;

Approval of total loss offer for 2011 Crown Victoria;

Approval of the Lower Trinity Groundwater Conservation District request for the appointment of John Sexton as presiding officer for the term of Jan. 1, 2024 through Dec. 31, 2026 and Scott Saxe as a board member for the partial term of Jan. 1, 2024 through Dec. 31, 2024;

Approval of a one-year maintenance agreement with Chester Moore and Sons for the animal control center septic system;

Approval of payment in the amount of $5,394 to Texas Department of Criminal Justice Manufacture and Logistics Division for the repair of six stainless steel toilet fixtures at the IAH Secure Adult Detention Facility to be reimbursed by the operator (Management Training Corporation);

Ratifying an offer from a property owner for the donation of a right of way along Darden Road as related to the bridge replacement at Bluff Creek in Precinct 4;

Approval of the purchase of rights of way along Kennedy Road and Carmona Road as related to the off-system bridge replacement at Piney Creek and tributary of McManus Creek in Precinct 3;

Approval of a resolution designating County Judge Sydney Murphy as the authorized signatory for USDA-FS-2023-CWDG-SGSF Program;

Approval of a revised order authorizing and assigning space in county-owned buildings; and

Approval of a request from Precinct 1 Constable Scott Hughes for an asset forfeiture expenditure of seized property in the amount of $1,266.97 for furnished transportation.

Chris Borden of First Assembly of God opened the meeting with prayer.