Polk County News - Breakout

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From Enterprise Staff

The Goodrich ISD Board of Trustees acknowledged extracurricular excellence, swore in a new member and heard an update on the preparations for the 2022-23 year in Thursday’s meeting for May. 

Newly elected board members for Positions 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were sworn in. Rigoberto Reyes, Rosalie Blackstock, Thomas Finger and Brenda Bennett all retain their seats. Finger and Blackstock both took over existing terms. Finger’s was contested, winning a 36-20 decision over Berenice Merino. Bobby Bridwell, a new member, won a 34-25 decision over Lidia Merino. All board members were reminded that the date for requirements for continuing education has been reset with the election. 

Among those receiving recognition Thursday for extracurriculars was the bi-district finalist volleyball team and cross country, which had both the boys and girls finish as state qualifiers. Basketball was also acknowledged, with the girls bi-district finalists. Tennis girls were district champions this year, while the boys finished second.

In FFA, two girls received participation for meat rabbits at the Trinity-Neches show, one girl made sale with her meat rabbit and another entered the showmanship for meat rabbits.

The board’s District Investment Policy and Strategies received its scheduled yearly review. 

Preparations for the 2022-23 school year are well underway, with new textbooks ordered and professional development already on the schedule.

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Precinct boundary lines will be discussed by the Polk County Commissioners Court during its regular meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

A request from Precinct 2 Commissioner Ronnie Vincent to utilize disaster recovery/mitigation funds in the amount of $194,000 for the partial rebuild and repair of county roads and culverts impacted by the April 2020 tornado will be considered.

The Court will consider a request for a capital purchase to be paid from the general fund balance and included on the FY2022 reimbursement resolution for the year-end issuance of legally authorized debt (tax notes), specifically, the repair of floors at the sheriff’s office, pursuant to Local Government Code Sec. 252.022, less the amount to be paid by insurance, not to exceed $53,200.

A budget workshop is on the agenda at which time the Court will receive an informational report from U.S. Capital Advisors and discuss options for the issuance of debt to fund all or a portion of the courthouse restoration project. During the workshop, the Court will also discuss and consider changes to the distribution of the road and bridge portion of the tax rate in conformance with the revised precinct boundaries.

Changes to the personnel management system regarding retiree health benefits, the merit pool and longevity will be discussed and considered.

Offers to purchase the following tax foreclosure properties will be considered for approval: Lot 20 of Block 6 of Kickapoo Forest (Cause #T14-075) in Precinct 2; Lots 85 and 86 of Snow Hill (Cause #T15-170) in Precinct 3; and 9.35 acres of the AJ Wilcox Survey, Abstract 623 (Cause #T11-135).

The Court will review and consider personnel action form requests submitted since the last meeting, review any authorized emergency hirings and consider approval of FY2022 budget revisions and amendments as presented by the county auditor’s office.

In old business, the Court is expected to consider action on the Falcone Forest Section IV Subdivision application, located in Precinct 4, specifically approval, approval upon conditions met or rejection.

Items on the consent agenda include:

Approval of the minutes of the May 10 and May 17 meetings;

Approval of the schedules of bills;

Approval of an order designating surplus property;

Receipt of the county auditor’s monthly report, pursuant to Local Government Code Sec. 114.025;

Receipt of donation from Polk County Higher Education & Technology Foundation equivalent to Polk County Commerce Center property insurance renewal;

Approval of amendment and renewal of facility operation and management services agreement with Management & Training Corporation relating to the IAH Secure Adult Detention Facility;

Approval of change orders to update price sheets for road base materials from CCC Blacktopping and East Texas Asphalt;

Approval of order accepting Bridgewood, located in Bridgeview Subdivision in Precinct 2, as a county road and add to the master street address guide;

Approval of request from the district attorney for asset forfeiture expenditure of seized property not to exceed $1,462.64 for the purchase of office furnishings;

Approval of the removal of Billy Duke as a reserve deputy constable and the appointment of Toni B. Currie to reserve deputy constable in Precinct 3;

Approval of sponsorship from long term recovery for the Office of Emergency Management 2022 hurricane party, not to exceed $1,500; and

Approval of purchase of a battery backup for the judicial center, not to exceed $2,490, to be paid from the information technology department’s capital outlay repair/replace equipment (budgeted funds).

Several announcements are expected to be made during informational reports. These include: recognizing the winner of the Pine Ridge Healthcare and Rehabilitation art contest for his depiction of the Polk County Courthouse square; presentation of the Government Finance Officers Association distinguished budget award for FY2022; spotlight on Polk County/informational technology department; and an update on the coronavirus aid, relief and economic security act.

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By Emily Banks Wooten
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The Livingston City Council approved an amendment to the city’s code of ordinances during a special called meeting Tuesday, providing for the granting of variances to provisions of the sign code.

Following that action, Council approved a request from Coast 2 Coast Signs for a variance from the sign code for a sign permit for an off-premise sign for Panda Express and Starbucks at 1620 W. Church St. 

The request for the sign permit had been made previously but was denied by Council as the city’s ordinance only allowed for on-premise signage, prohibiting putting signage elsewhere. Coast 2 Coast Signs was wanting to erect a large sign on the Hwy. 59 feeder road near the side entrance to the Walmart parking lot. Although the company had received permission from Walmart, such sign would have been in violation of the city’s ordinance.

“With the growth we’re experiencing, we’re going to have to revisit our ordinance. It just doesn’t apply as it did when initially adopted,” City Manager Bill S. Wiggins previously said. Tuesday’s action by Council will now allow companies to seek a variance from the sign code.

In other activity, Council administered the oath of office to Mayor Judy B. Cochran and Aldermen Alan Cook and Marion A. “Bid” Smith. All three were up for reelection but having drawn no challengers, the city was able to cancel the election and declare the incumbents reelected. Following the administering of the oath of office, certificates of election were presented to the city officials and Cook was reelected mayor pro-tem for the 2022-2023 term.

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By Emily Banks Wooten
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Early voting for the May 24 runoff elections ended at 5 p.m. Friday. As of 4:20 p.m. Friday, a total of 1,088 ballots had been cast – 767 at the Polk County Judicial Center, 243 at the Onalaska Sub-Courthouse and 78 at the Sechrest Webster Community Center in Corrigan.

Voting Tuesday will be available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 12 different locations. Through an agreement with the Texas Secretary of State’s Office, the Polk County Clerk’s Office has been approved to conduct elections at countywide polling places. What this means, basically, is that Polk County voters may cast their ballot at any of the 12 polling places available Tuesday, regardless of whether or not they reside in the precinct in which the polling place is located.

Polling places open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday include:

Escapees Clubhouse at 100 Rainbow Dr. in Livingston;

Trinity Lutheran Church at 221 Pan American Dr. in Livingston;

Scenic Loop Fire Department at 1406 FM 3277 in Livingston;

Onalaska Sub-Courthouse at 14111 U.S. Hwy. 190 West in Onalaska;

Blanchard Baptist Church at 2450 FM 2457 in Livingston;

St. Joseph Catholic Church Family Center at 2590 Hwy. 190 West in Livingston;

Dunbar Community Center at 1102 Martin Luther King Dr. in Livingston;

Sechrest Webster Community Center at 100 W. Front St. in Corrigan;

Alabama-Coushatta Administration Building at 571 State Park Rd. #56 in Livingston;

Schwab City Baptist Church at 10998 State Hwy. 146 South in Livingston;

Soda Baptist Church at 8135 U.S. Hwy. 190 East in Livingston; and

First United Pentecostal Church at 404 E. Church St. in Livingston.

Local races that will be on the Republican ballot include the race for Precinct 4 Commissioner between Jason Richardson and Jerry Cassity and the race for precinct chair, Precinct 1, between Traci Barham and Monica Richardson. There are no local races on the Democratic ballot.

Statewide races on the Republican ballot include the races for attorney general, commissioner of the General Land Office and railroad commissioner. Ken Paxton and George P. Bush are vying for attorney general; Tim Westley and Dawn Buckingham are vying for commissioner of the General Land Office; and Wayne Christian and Sarah Stogner are vying for railroad commissioner.

Statewide races on the Democratic ballot include the races for lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller of public accounts and commissioner of the General Land Office. Michelle Beckley and Mike Collier are vying for lieutenant governor; Joe Jaworski and Rochelle Mercedes Garza are vying for attorney general; Janet T. Dudding and Angel Luis Vega are vying for comptroller of public accounts; and Sandragrace Martinez and Jay Kleberg are vying for commissioner of the General Land Office.