Polk County News - Breakout

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Newly elected 8th District Representative Marcus Luttrell was in Livingston Wednesday for a town hall meeting at the VFW Post 8568. Approximately 100 local citizens attended the meeting, including local officials, members of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, Escapees, Polk County Republican Club members, San Jacinto County Republicans and numerous veterans. Among the subjects discussed were congressional spending, consideration of a long-term capital gains rate increase, border issues and term limits. Luttrell said will be back in a few months to visit with residents again. Luttrell was recently appointed to serve on the House Armed Services Committee, the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “I’m honored to have been selected to serve on the House Armed Services Committee, Committee on Homeland Security and Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. As a Navy veteran and former DOE advisor, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges our country and servicemembers face at home and abroad. I’ll continue to do everything in my power to defend our nation from increasing adversarial threats, secure our borders, and support our servicemembers who have put it all on the line for our country,” he said. Luttrell may be followed on his Facebook page or at luttrell.house.gov. Courtesy photo

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From Enterprise Staff

If you own tangible personal property that is used to produce income, you must file a rendition with the Polk Central Appraisal District by April 15.

A rendition is a report that lists all the taxable property you owned or controlled on Jan. 1 of this year. Property includes inventory and equipment used by a business. Owners do not have to render exempt property, such as church property or an agriculture producer’s equipment used for farming.

“The appraisal district may use the information submitted in the rendition to set property values,” Chief Appraiser Chad Hill said.

You can also file a report of decreased value to notify the appraisal district of significant depreciation of your property. “For example, if your property was damaged by a storm, flood or fire last year, you should file a report of decreased value. The appraisal district will look at your property before assigning a value,” Hill said.

For most property types, renditions must be filed after Jan. 1 and no later than April 15. Different deadlines apply in certain appraisal districts. A property owner may apply, in writing, for a mandatory extension to May 15.

Different deadlines apply for regulated properties.

A 10%-50% penalty may be imposed if a rendition is filed late, incomplete or not at all. Property owners who need more time to file their renditions may file a written request with the chief appraiser on or before the rendition deadline to receive an automatic extension.

The chief appraiser may extend the deadline another 15 days for good cause shown in writing by the property owner for each type of property.

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From Enterprise Staff

Tickets are on sale for the 87th annual Awards Gala of the Livingston-Polk County Chamber of Commerce slated for Jan. 26 at the Polk County Commerce Center.

The chamber will recognize and present awards for a large business, a small business, community service and an outstanding Polk County citizen.

The large and small business of the year awards will recognize two businesses (one with 21 or more employees and one with 20 or less employees) that have been operational for at least three years in Polk County and have demonstrated professional integrity, financial stability, excellence in customer service, success through innovation and a commitment to the community.

A community service award will be presented to someone who has made a positive investment in the lives and education of local students.

The outstanding Polk County citizen will be someone who has made a significant contribution to Polk County through time, actions, talents, dedication, leadership and striving to make Polk County a better place, someone who has a passion for helping others in the community.

To purchase tickets for the annual awards gala, go to polkchamber.com or visit the chamber office at 1001 U.S. 59 Loop North in Livingston. For additional information, call 936-327-4929 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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The Polk County Commissioners Court will consider approval of a resolution in opposition to unfunded mandates during its regular meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

The Court is expected to receive a nuisance abatement hearing determination for Cause No. A00522 and consider action on an order to abate the nuisance.

Two requests for exemption from the county subdivision regulations will be considered – one is the development of Abst. 77 of the A. Viesca Survey (154.381 acres) located in Precinct 1 and consisting of one tract with access to existing public road with no other common areas and/or streets and the other is the development of Abst. 77 of the A. Viesca Survey (two acres) located in Precinct 1 and consisting of one tract with access to existing public roads with no other common areas and/or streets.

The Court will consider requests for capital purchases to be paid from the general fund balance and included on the fiscal year 2023 reimbursement resolution for the year-end issuance of legally authorized debt, specifically, after market equipment on a leased vehicle for the fire marshal, in the amount of $7,055 and an upgrade to the jail camera system, not to exceed $211,552.18.

The appointment of Rachel Slocomb Drake to the Burke Center Board of Trustees to fill the unexpired portion of Col. Howard Daniel’s two-year term that began Sept. 1, 2021 will be considered for approval.

A resolution for the restructuring of the adult sexual assault response team will also be considered for approval.

Several items related to some of the local volunteer fire departments’ utilization of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are also on the agenda, including the following:

•Payment to Wanco for generator/light tower equipment for the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Nation VFD, in the amount of $10,000;

•Payment to Lone Star Emergency Group to replace fire pump and pump motor for the brush truck for the Corrigan VFD, in the amount of $10,000;

Payment to South Polk County VFD Inc. for a brush truck for the Holiday Lake Estates VFD, in the amount of $10,000;

Payment to Dalmatian Fire Equipment LLC for 10 self-contained breathing apparatus packs for the Livingston VFD, in the amount of $10,000;

Payment to Nalcom Wireless Communications for radio equipment for the Segno VFD, in the amount of $7,557.50;

Payment to Red Barn for materials to replace the roof and rafters for the Segno VFD, in the amount of $2,442.50;

Payment to W.S. Darley & Co. for firefighting equipment for the Goodrich VFD, in the amount of $10,000; and

Payments to Thomas Supply, Lowes Home Centers, Tejas Paint & Flooring and General Wire & Electric Supply for materials to renovate the Indian Springs VFD station, not to exceed $10,000 in total.

In personnel matters, the Court will review and consider action on personnel action form requests submitted since the last meeting and review any authorized emergency hirings and will also consider approval of an update to the personnel management system.

The Court will consider fiscal year 2023 budget revisions and amendments as presented by the county auditor’s office.

During informational reports, Precinct 1 Constable Scott Hughes will present a report to the Court.

Items on the consent agenda include:

Approve minutes of the Jan. 10 regular meeting;

Approve schedules of bills;

Approve order designating surplus property;

Receive county auditor’s monthly report, pursuant to local government code Sec.114.025;

Receive county treasurer’s fiscal year 2022 fourth quarter report;

Receive sheriff’s department 2022 racial profiling report;

Approve sheriff’s request to submit application to the office of the governor for the fiscal year 2023 criminal justice grant program for a special victims officer;

Approve sheriff’s request to submit application to the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance for an evidence/procurement manager position;

Approval to construct wall at Precinct 2 Road & Bridge in the amount of $1,000 to be funded out of the Precinct 2 Road & Bridge operating expenses fund; and

Approve purchase of a 2019 truck with trade-in for Precinct 1 Road & Bridge in the amount of $41,700.