Polk County News - Breakout

Write a comment

“Hello, my name is John Whiteside. I am a husband of almost 22 years and a father of five children. I’ve been a member of Lighthouse Revival Center for the past 15 years and I’ve served as fulltime assistant pastor for the last two years.

“I’m running for your (Livingston ISD) school board. I believe that this district is on the uprise and we need to continue that fervency, not focused on our past but looking forward to a great future, learning to work together to keep our growing county free from negative input and people who would want to see us fail as we get bigger.

“I believe in our children and as parents, teachers and leaders in this district we cannot let our children down. I am running for my five kids and their futures. If you vote me into your school board it will be my goal to keep us on the rise, keeping us as strong as we can be as we continue to keep our focus on our future.”

Write a comment

By Emily Banks Wooten
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Polk County Commissioners Court discussed and approved making repairs to the animal shelter in Leggett during its regular meeting Tuesday, determining that funding for the repairs would come from the maintenance budget.

“The structure needs some pretty serious repairs. It’s about to fall in around them,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Milt Purvis said, commenting that all that’s needed is a restroom and an office for the staff and volunteers to do their paperwork.

Carl Feren addressed the Court regarding the animal shelter during the portion of the meeting designated for public comments. He said that he has been working with an organization for some time called Secondhand Pups and that the City of Livingston has a shelter. Feren suggested combining the two shelters instead of spending money to repair the one in Leggett.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Ronnie Vincent commented that occasionally space is needed for larger animals such as horses, cows or other livestock.

“The Court has said they would like to form an animal control committee again,” County Judge Sydney Murphy said.

Also discussed was the status of the Polk County Tax Office parking lot in Livingston in which the city owns 40% and the county owns 60%.

“The people in Livingston are wanting more parking and better parking. I talked to (Livingston City Manager) Billy Sol Wiggins. They want us to either deed them our part or else help pay for it,” Purvis said. Following some discussion, the Court approved deeding it to the city with the agreement that if the use changes, it would revert back to the county.

An order to establish new annual application procedures for enrolling charitable entities in the juror donation program was approved.

An agreement between Polk County and the Deep East Texas Council of Governments to participate in the regional emergency notification project was also approved.

A sheriff’s request to pay out FLSA and holiday hours accrued by the telecommunication operators in fiscal year 2022 utilizing funds remaining in the salaries line item was approved. In related activity, the Court also approved a sheriff’s request to pay out FLSA and equivalent comp hours accrued by jail staff in fiscal year 2022 utilizing funds remaining in the salaries line item.

The Court approved the annual bids for the purchase of: Precinct 1 road materials; Precinct 2 road materials; Precinct 3 road materials; Precinct 4 road materials; bulk purchase of limestone road base; tires; oil, grease, gasoline and diesel; pest control services; motor grader blades; and material hauling.

In personnel matters, the Court reviewed and approved personnel action from requests submitted since the last meeting and reviewed three authorized emergency hirings, two at the sheriff’s office and one in environmental enforcement. They also reviewed and approved the personnel management system update.

Fiscal year 2022 budget revisions and amendments, as presented by the county auditor’s office, were approved.

Items on the consent agenda included:

•Approval of the minutes of the Aug. 23 meeting;

•Approval of the schedules of bills;

•Approval of an order designating surplus property;

•Approval to add Kenneth Leon Burnley as a reserve deputy constable for the Precinct 2 constable’s office;

Approval of a resolution to submit an application to the office of the governor’s public safety office for fiscal year 2023 bullet-resistant shield grant program;

Ratification of a grant award and authorization of the county judge to execute contract number 2215184 with the office of the attorney general for sheriff’s victim coordinator and liaison grant program for 2022-2023;

Ratification of a grant award and authorization of the county judge to execute contract number 2215176 with the office of the attorney general for district attorney victim coordinator and liaison grant program for 2022-2023;

Approval of election judges and alternates for a one-year term beginning Aug. 1, 2022 as requested by the county clerk;

Acceptance of the 2023 retiree plan rates (TLIC medical and retiree Rxcare prescription coverages) from Texas Association of Counties, Silver Choice;

Approval of a renewal agreement with Integrated Data Services for county clerk’s imaging software maintenance for fiscal year 2023;

Approval of an agreement for professional appraisal services between Polk County and WT Appraisal Inc. for school land property;

Approval of an amendment to the contract between Polk County and Mitchell Funeral Home;

Approval of an agreement with the City of Livingston for firefighting services;

Approval of renewal of a memorandum of understanding with Deep East Texas Council of Governments Family and Youth Success Program;

Approval of the use of $1,406.40 from information technology capital outlay repair/replace IT equipment (budgeted funds) for firewall hardware; and

Ratification and recording of the corrected certificate of exemption to exempt from county subdivision regulations the development of Abstract 593 William White Survey (177.54 acres) located in Precinct 2 and consisting of 16 tracts all over 10 acres with individual access to existing public roads with no other common areas and/or streets.

Robert Murphy, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Providence, opened the meeting with prayer.

Write a comment

The Goodrich City Council’s September meeting Thursday in the community center was highlighted by discussions of a new tax rate and Halloween celebration.

Last month, the Goodrich City Council set a tax rate at 0.3806, which represents a drop from 2021. The rate for the past year has been 0.4182. The maintenance and operation was set at 0.1406, a drop from 0.1982 in 2021. The interest and sinking now stands at 0.2400, which is a bit higher than the 0.2200 over the past 12 months. 

Steady growth and rising property values have allowed the tax rate to fall for a few years. The rate in 2020 was 0.4281, and 0.4329 in 2019. In Thursday’s meeting, the tax rate of 0.4182 was adopted, and the council expressed content in the number descending.

Plans have been set for a Halloween celebration on Saturday, Oct. 29. Families can drive through at city hall to pick up Halloween treats and take part in a costume contest for children in junior high and younger.

Last year, the city council and a few businesses set up tables where vehicles could drive through to pick up items. The same is planned for this year. On The Road and the Boys & Girls Club were a few of the businesses taking part in the 2021 event. Goodrich Mayor Kelly Nelson said those wishing to take part can call city hall in advance for a table to give away items.

“We started this when there was Covid and it turned out good,” Nelson said. “It is safe and you don’t have to worry about getting out of the vehicle or anyone getting hurt.”

The time to drive through will be 5-7 p.m. at Goodrich City Hall.

Write a comment

The Livingston City Council will hold a public hearing on the budget for the fiscal year that runs Oct. 1, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2023 during its regular meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Following the public hearing, Council will consider approval of a proposed ordinance adopting the budget. Council will also consider approval of budget adjustments for the fiscal year that ran from Oct. 1, 2021 through Sept. 30, 2022.

The annual firefighting agreement between the City of Livingston and Polk County for fiscal year Oct. 1, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2023 will be considered for approval.

Council is slated to discuss and consider action on a petition to vacate, abandon and close an unnamed and undeveloped street containing 0.196 acre between Blocks 18 and 19 of the South Livingston Addition. In related activity, Council will consider action on a proposed ordinance vacating, abandoning and closing said property.

A proposed resolution designating the official newspaper of the City of Livingston for the upcoming fiscal year will be discussed and considered for possible action.

Council will consider action on a proposed resolution rescinding Resolution No. 597 which authorized the sale of a 1987 Ranger Femfab walk-in heavy rescue fire truck.

Council is also expected to review bids and consider action on awarding a bid for the US 59 crossing underground electric installation, an upcoming project in which existing overhead electric lines will be relocated underground.

Public hearings on the determination of unsafe and/or dilapidated buildings will be called and set for two properties:

A residential structure owned by Texas Specialty Homes, L.P. located at 302 Leopard St., as an unsafe and/or dilapidated building, the property being described as: Lot One (1), Block Fourteen (14) of the Dunbar Addition, an addition to the City of Livingston, in Polk County, Texas, according to the map or plat thereof recorded in Volume 1, Page 107 of the Plat Records of Polk County, Texas, also known as 302 Leopard St., Livingston, Texas; and

A residential structure owned by Gregory John located at 204 Younger Street, as an unsafe and/or dilapidated building, the property being described as: Lots Three (3) and Four (4), Block Seven (7) of the Pinecrest Addition to the City of Livingston, as shown by the map or plat thereof recorded in Volume 1, Page 21 of the Plat Records of Polk County, Texas, as described in deed dated September 7, 2008 from Elissie B. John to Gregory Wayne John, recorded in Volume 1663, Page 256 of the Official Public Records of Polk County, Texas.

An executive session is on the agenda at which time Council is expected to consult with the city attorney and review the proposed salary schedule for the fiscal year Oct. 1, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2023. However, any action will be taken upon return to open session.

Other items on the agenda include the city manager’s monthly report, accounts over $500 and minutes of the August 9 meeting.