Polk County News - Breakout

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By Brian Besch
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The Goodrich ISD School Board approved a lower tax rate and a few purchases during September’s regular meeting Thursday in the administration building.

The tax rate was approved at $0.83899, which is a decrease from the year before. It consists of a maintenance and operation rate of $0.7575, and interest and syncing of $0.08149. Property values are up, which is causing the decline in tax rate.

Goodrich Business Manager Sarah Fulcher said that though the district would collect less money in taxes, the state will fund the difference.

Reports from STAAR testing have returned, and Goodrich is improving. However, the district is behind the state average in the “approaches,” “meets” and “masters” categories. Principal Aubrey Vaughan said students have been impacted by the time in class missed during Covid.

Vaughan also showed where the district is seeing an improvement in many subjects over the previous few years. Schools were supposed to receive accountability ratings on Sept. 26, but that has been bumped a month.

The district made over $57,000 in investments for the quarter. Fulcher said the district has not budgeted for that much in the past because interest rates haven’t been that high.

The school hopes to apply for the Andrew Lloyd Webber grant that would benefit the theater department for lighting and sound. That is expected to go out at the end of the month.

Fencing is still going up around the campus. There have been a few issues with air conditioning units that will need to be repaired.

There were also plumbing issues, where the city had a line that broke on a Friday. The following Monday, the school district’s backflow preventer valve began dumping water. Dirt in the lines got into the school equipment, and maintenance has worked to get it under control. The district is looking into a new check valve. As of now, Goodrich superintendent Daniel Barton says the plumbing is good.

Goodrich ISD will purchasing a truck that will be utilized for the agriculture program, as well as the district. It is a four-wheel drive 2500 Chevrolet four-door pickup.

Also purchased will be 145 Dell Chromebooks and the amount of $42,208. Barton said some computers on campus are aging and are PCs instead of Chromebooks.

“Usually, about every five years, we are going to be purchasing Chromebooks. That is just the way it goes,” Barton said.

The superintendent said the old Chromebooks go into public surplus, where they are bid upon.

Finally, the school will purchase an activity bus for $127,000. Barton said he contacted several businesses to request quotes on a 30-passenger bus. The buses are said to be in high demand at the moment, with most having to wait a year to purchase. Barton has been informed the price will increase a significant amount over the next year, making a budgeted purchase now the better option.

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During a special called meeting of the Polk County Commissioners Court Thursday, the Court approved extending the burn ban in the unincorporated areas of the county, based on the recommendations of County Fire Marshal John Fugate and Emergency Management Coordinator Courtney Comstock.

“I’ve received information from the forest service, and it shows that we are making some improvements, but we’re still at a high risk,” Fugate said.

In other business, the Court approved procuring an administrator to prepare the application for the USDA Forest Service, Private and Tribal Forestry Fiscal Year 2023 Wildfire Defense Grant and to administer the grant if awarded. The Court appointed Comstock, Precinct 1 Commissioner Guylene Robertson and Grants and Contracts Coordinator Jessica Hutchins to a selection/rating committee to review and score all eligible proposals and make a recommendation for the selection of a grant administrator.

Action regarding the agreement between Polk County and Union Pacific Railroad Company for the closure and removal of public crossings on McCarty Road (Frank Drive) and Glover Road, located in Precinct 3, will be considered when the Court convenes for its regular meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

The Court will consider a request for a capital purchase 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, specifically, an STS360 upgrade of the video surveillance and access control at the judicial center, not to exceed $229,800.

A request from Precinct 3 Commissioner Milt Purvis for agreement and conditions of employment for new employees of the Polk County Road and Bridge offices to enroll in a commercial driver training course, to be funded by the road and bridge travel/training budget, will be discussed and considered.

The Court will consider approval of an interlocal agreement with Trinity River Authority for law enforcement services.

Prepositioned contracts for emergency disaster debris removal, reduction, disposal and other debris-related services will be considered for approval.

The Court will consider approval to advertise a request for qualifications for demolition

services for the General Land Office Hurricane Harvey buyout/acquisition program.

A resolution in support of Operation Green Light for veterans will be considered for approval.

Action regarding the re-bid for #2024-02.01 - 02.09, Precinct 2 annual bids, will be considered.

The Court will consider a request to cancel a portion of Falcone Forest Subdivision Section 1, Lot 9 (removing lot), located in Precinct 4, and re-plat the same as Falcone Forest, Section 1, Lots 9A and 9B.

Offers to purchase the following tax foreclosed properties will be considered: Lots 35 thru 38, Block 2, Thunder Mountain, Cause #T21-0223 in Precinct 1 and JNO Dickerson Survey, Abstract 211, .139 acre, Cause #T10-163 in Precinct 3.

An executive session is on the agenda, pursuant to section 551.074 of the Open Meetings Act with authorizes certain deliberations about officers and employees regarding the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public officer or employee; or to hear a complaint or a charge against an officer or employee. Any action, however, will be taken upon return to open session.

In personnel matters, the Court will consider approval of a personnel management system update; review and consider personnel action form requests submitted since the last meeting and review any authorized emergency hirings; and select the county sick leave pool committee by random drawing.

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

In old business, the Court will consider nominations, by resolution, for the Polk Central Appraisal District board members for the 2024-2025 term.

Items on the consent agenda include:

Approve minutes of the previous meeting;

Approve schedules of bills;

Approve order designating surplus property;

Receive county auditor’s monthly report, pursuant to local government code

Sec. 114.025;

Approve order designating regular terms of commissioners court for fiscal year 2024;

Approve order setting terms of the constitutional county court;

Adopt resolution expressing intent to reimburse certain fiscal year 2024 expenditures

(capital purchases) to be incurred by Polk County, Texas (reimbursement resolution);

Approve resolution in support of fiscal year 2024 indigent defense formula grant

Application;

Receive county treasurer’s monthly report for August 2023; and

Approve agreement with certified payments for credit card processing in the county treasurer’s office

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The Homecoming Game is Friday, Sept 22, 7:30 pm kickoff. Livingston vs. Madisonville Lion Stadium Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 adults and $5 children Cash only, no bills over $20 The Homecoming Court will be introduced during halftime, and the King and Queen will be announced. Left to right: Bailey Goodson, Kylie Bland, Annabel Rasberry, Estefania Saucedo, Cole Gann, Justice Fryar, Johnathan McNeal, Jayden Vickery, Jayden Randolph, Ytzel Davalos, Arissa Cuesta and Luisa Perez-Montes. courtesy photo

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From Enterprise Staff

The nomination process for the Polk County Enterprise’s 2023 Best of Polk County Reader’s Choice Awards will end on Sept. 30. The nomination period began Sept. 1 and since that time, over 42,000 nominations have been received.

The annual awards process provides an opportunity to recognize local businesses, professionals and non-profits.

This fourth year of the annual contest has seen changes. All nominations and voting are being conducted online and no paper ballots are being accepted. To participate, go to the website easttexasnews.com and click on the Contests tab. To register only involves using an email address.

If a specific category is not listed, please email the information to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If a person or business does not belong in the category in which it has been nominated, it will be weeded out before going into the voting phase.

The 2023 Best of Polk County Readers’ Choice Awards is occurring in three distinct phases this year. The first phase is the nomination process and individuals may nominate their favorite local businesses up to once a day per email address. The month-long nomination process will determine the finalists who will be eligible for Best of Polk County.

The top eight nominees in each category will enter the second phase which will run from Oct. 1-31. During this phase voters will have the opportunity to select their favorite among the top eight in each category and will be allowed to vote up to once a day per email address.

The third phase is the culmination of the annual readers’ choice awards when the winners of each category are recognized in a special section that will be included in the Dec. 3 issue of the Polk County Enterprise.