Polk County News - Breakout

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By Emily Banks Wooten
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The Polk County Commissioners Court approved an amended agreement with Goodwin Lassiter & Strong for engineering services for the water infrastructure projects to be funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) during its regular meeting Tuesday.

“We had the original agreement, but we need to amend it now that the scope of work has been determined,” County Judge Sydney Murphy. The county is using its ARPA funds to provide interconnectivity and water infrastructure in the unincorporated areas of the county.

A request from the county clerk to utilize the judicial center break room to temporarily house voter registration records was approved. Previously, the tax assessor-collector served as the voter registrar and was responsible for disseminating the voter registration cards and the county clerk and her staff were responsible for running the elections. However, the Court approved an order transferring voter registration duty from the tax assessor-collector to the county clerk on June 14. The change is effective Jan. 1, 2023.

Proposed revisions to the Polk County subdivision regulations were discussed and a public hearing on the revisions was scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 13. “We adopted the subdivision regulations basically a year ago and we knew it was going to be a work in progress,” Murphy said. The revisions primarily affect RV/tiny house parks and mobile home rental communities.

The Court approved a resolution supporting additional measures to secure the U.S.-Mexico border against criminal activity. “We received several requests from Dr. Babin and other legislators. Previously, we weren’t being impacted. Now we are, with fentanyl, drug trafficking and human trafficking on 59 and our law enforcement at the border,” Murphy said.

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 were approved, specifically, a request from the Precinct 1 justice of the peace for the purchase a desktop scanner not to exceed $1,000 and a request from information technology for the purchase of computers for the annual technology rotation not to exceed $30,180.

An offer to purchase Lot 19 of Block 12 of Section 1 of Impala Woods, tax foreclosed property in Precinct 2, was approved. An amendment to the SAAFE House lease agreement was also approved.

In personnel matters, the Court reviewed personnel action form requests submitted since the last meeting and review two authorized emergency hirings, one at the jail and one at the sheriff’s office. Additionally, the Court approved fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2023 budget revisions and amendments as presented by the county auditor’s office.

During informational reports, the Court received updated landfill and collection station rate sheets from Republic Services.

Items on the consent agenda include:

Approval of the minutes of the Oct. 25 regular meeting;

Approval of the schedules of bills;

Approval of an order designating surplus property;

Approval of enrollment in Texas Association of Counties cybersecurity training;

An update to the master street address guide; and

Approval of an order assigning space in county-owned buildings.

Rev. David Darden of New Beulah Baptist Church opened the meeting with prayer.

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By Emily Banks Wooten
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“Up Until Now: Inspired Stories from Real People on How to Embrace Your Fear, Move Forward and Transform Your Life” is the newly published book by Laura K. Walker of Keller and Ellen Moseley May of Livingston and the Up Until Now book tour is coming to Livingston.

Laura and Ellen will be guests on the Drummer Don radio show from 10 a.m. to noon Friday on 102.3 The Eagle. Book signings are slated for 12:30-2 p.m. Saturday at Alma’s Whistlestop Cafe and from 4-6 p.m. Sunday at The Wet Deck Bar and Grill on Lake Livingston.

Forty real people from all around the world share their true stories of pain, heartache, grief and loss in the book, including their moments of overcoming and creating a renewed hope and reality after the storm settles. The stories of transformation run the gamut from job loss to navigating a messy divorce to surviving the death of a loved one to being financially devastated and more – all facing circumstances that seem overwhelming and insurmountable.

According to Amazon, “The resounding theme of overcoming is captured in these emotionally charged stories and this book serves as a collective voice to anyone who is struggling, stuck, scared, depressed or looking for something bigger while praying for

some glimmer of hope.”

The book launched last weekend in South Lake with a weekend celebration that included a book signing at Barnes and Noble with 33 of the 40 authors present. Other festivities included an author champagne bash, afternoon luncheon and celebration party at Billy Bobs in the Fort Worth Stockyards. It has already hit Amazon #1 Best Seller status in seven categories in both digital and in paperback.

A life mastery consultant certified by the Brave Thinking Institute, Laura is a transformational coach and the owner of Laura Walker Coaching. A gymnastics coach and artist, Ellen is the owner of Moseley Gymnastics.

 

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From Enterprise Staff

Mandi Murphy Pipes, Incumbent Kevin Wooten, Andrew Boyce and Kevin Grimm were elected to the Board of Trustees of the Livingston Independent School District following Tuesday’s general election.

Eight people were seeking election to four at-large seats on the board. Wooten and Marty Drake were the incumbents seeking reelection to the board. The two other seats were open. Following numerous terms on the board, Ben Ogletree III did not seek reelection. Krissa Bass Humphries resigned from the board in August and Alex Garcia was appointed to fill the unexpired term but did not opt to run for election to the board.

Pipes received 3,608 votes, Wooten received 2,595 votes, Boyce received 2,483 votes and Grimm received 2,376 votes. Drake received 2,372 votes, Cynthia Thomas received 2,234 votes, Christopher Moehlmann received 2,036 votes and John Whiteside received 964 votes.

Voters in the Corrigan-Camden ISD went to the polls to vote “for” or “against” two propositions in a bond issue election.

Proposition A is “The issuance of $21,490,700 of bonds by the Corrigan-Camden Independent School District for school facilities (and any necessary or related removal of existing facilities), and the purchase of any necessary sites for school facilities, and the levying of a tax in payment thereof. Required statement for all school district bond propositions pursuant to Section 45.003, Texas Education Code: This is a property tax increase.”

Proposition A passed with 611 voting “for” and 559 voting “against.”

Proposition B is “The issuance of $3,675,200 of bonds by the Corrigan-Camden Independent School Distric65t for stadium facilities, and the levying of a tax in payment thereof. Required statement for all school district bond propositions pursuant to Section 45.003, Texas Education Code: This is a property tax increase.”

Proposition B failed with 545 voting “for” and 621 voting “against.”

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RVOS Farm Mutual Insurance Lodge 199 held its annual meeting at Catfish King on Oct. 20 with members and volunteer fire departments in attendance. Everyone received dinner and door prizes. Onalaska, Livingston, Goodrich and Point Blank Volunteer Fire Departments each received $500 in appreciation for their services to the community. (l-r) RVOS District Director Julius Dubcek, Onalaska Firefighter Charles Hodge, Livingston Firefighter Craig Jones, Secretary/Agent Mary Michalec Lima, Goodrich Fire Chief Kenneth Hambrick, Point Blank Firefighters Tim McGrath and Jim Corley and RVOS Lodge President Charles Fuller. Courtesy photo