Polk County News - Breakout

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For eligible water supply corporations

By Emily Banks Wooten
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The Polk County Commissioners Court approved memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with eligible water supply corporations for the purchase of generators during its regular meeting Tuesday. The generators will be purchased and installed with hazard mitigation grant program funds that require a 10% match. The Court also approved MOUs for various water improvement and infrastructure projects that will be purchased with American Rescue Plan Act coronavirus local fiscal recover funds that require a 25% match.

“I want to thank the water committee. They did a fabulous job on this,” County Judge Sydney Murphy said.

The Court approved advertising for bids for the courthouse restoration project and appointed a scoring committee made up of Precinct 3 Commissioner Milt Purvis, Precinct 2 Commissioner Ronnie Vincent and Grants and Contracts Coordinator Jessica Hutchins.

Requests for capital purchases to be paid from the general fund balance and included on the FY2022 reimbursement resolution for the year-end issuance of legally authorized debt were approved by the Court. These include: the district attorney’s request for the purchase of three desktop scanners, not to exceed $1,339.50; the county court at law’s request for the purchase of a portable projector screen, not to exceed $399; the information technology’s request for the purchase of a central server (cloud backup), not to exceed $15,000; and the district clerk’s request for four printers and three desktop scanners, not to exceed $1,576.

The Court approved the acceptance of a 2021 Ford F250 and a 2021 Palomino Caper Camper awarded to the Precinct 1 Constable’s office and the method of funding the vehicle maintenance and operations.

A variance for Rocking R RV Park, located in Precinct 1, was rejected. “In light of our engineer Jed’s report, I’d like to recommend that we not approve the variance at this time,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Guylene Robertson said. Given the fact that the variance was not approved, the Court rejected the RV park.

Based on the request of Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Overstreet, the Court tabled action on Falcone Forest IV Subdivision, located in Precinct 4.

An offer to purchase tax foreclosure property, specifically, part of Lot 7 of Ella Woods in Precinct 4 (Cause No. 12-084) was approved.

Also approved was an order authorizing the sale of fireworks during the Memorial Day period of May 26 through midnight on May 31.

The Court approved personnel action form requests submitted since the last meeting and reviewed two authorized emergency hirings – one at the jail and one in security.

Items on the consent agenda were approved, including:

Minutes of April 26 regular meeting and special session;

Schedules of bills;

An order designating surplus property;

An order of special election to be held on May 24;

An order relocating sheriff’s/tax sales to Dunbar gym effective August 10 until completion of the courthouse renovation;

An update to master street address guide;

Sprinkler system removal in Health and Human Services and Greater East Texas Community in Action sections of regional health center, not to exceed $9,257, to be paid from maintenance capital outlay buildings (budgeted funds);

An update to Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace network equipment, not to exceed $2,000, to be paid from information technologies capital outlay repair/replace equipment (budgeted funds);

A sheriff’s request to submit application for participation in the Texas Law Enforcement Support Office “1033 program;”

An update to grant agreement with Department of Family and Protective Services;

A cooperative agreement with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service for the provision of educational programs;

The county treasurer’s amended FY2021 4th quarter report (July, August and September 2021);

The county treasurer’s amended FY2022 1st quarter report (October, November and December 2021); and

The county treasurer’s FY2022 2nd quarter report (January, February and March 2022).

Kevan Wood of First Baptist Church of Livingston opened the meeting with prayer.

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A number of volunteers from MannaFest Food Pantry, along with their children and grandchildren, delivered flowers to local senior citizens on the day before Easter. Courtesy photo

By Emily Banks Wooten
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Volunteers at the MannaFest Food Pantry served 416 families, or 1,063 individuals, during the month of April, an average of 46 families per day. In fact, April proved to be an exceptionally busy month for MannaFest volunteers.

“Looking back at our 2021 reports, these numbers have risen every month so far this year,” MannaFest Executive Director Marilyn Wise said.

Thirteen volunteers gathered April 27 to pack summer food boxes, packing 300 17-pound boxes in just under two hours, although hours of preparation occurred prior. Volunteer Marylee Westmoreland ordered and shopped for all the items to fill the boxes which include 21 different food items in each box. She also prepackaged many of the items like snack crackers. Boxes were purchased and taped together. Roy Norrell and friends set up the items in a line on the day before, to facilitate the packing.

“This is a massive undertaking, but well worth it. These boxes are so important to our families with school-age kids. They are given as an extra gift for three months while school is out, to help out while the kids are not getting breakfast and lunch at school,” Wise said, adding that the summer food box program will begin Monday and continue for 12 weeks.

On April 16, the day before Easter, 15 people including volunteers, their children and their grandchildren delivered flowers to the two low-income senior apartment complexes -- Hudman & Livingston Seniors Apartments.

“This is always a special time for both volunteers and residents. Many of the residents look forward to our yearly flower delivery. Others find it a delightful surprise as they are new to the apartments. One man told my five-year-old granddaughter that he was going to plant his flower in the little garden just outside his door, and every time he looked at it, he would remember the pretty little girl who gave it to him,” Wise said. “I know the other teams all have stories about their deliveries also. We had the opportunity to pray with some of our clients and to just chat with others. What a blessing it was.”

Nine volunteers gathered April 19-20 to clean up both the pantry and the grounds. This included sweeping, organizing, weeding, mowing, planting and other tasks. “Our pantry is always clean, but we were able to clear up some clutter and make sure things looked extra nice for our open house,” Wise said.

An open house was held on April 21 to honor volunteers and donors, and to celebrate 20 years of service at the facility, as well as show off the addition and renovations that were recently completed.

“We were honored to have a number of guests tour the pantry and enjoy cookies and punch. Several signed up to volunteer and/or receive our monthly newsletter,” Wise said.

“We are blessed to have so many faithful volunteers. In a month where we had many

opportunities on the calendar, all of our endeavors were successful. I want to offer a special thank you to each of you who purchased, packaged and delivered flowers, cleaned, mowed,

planted and weeded, prepared for and packed summer food boxes, baked cookies or made punch for the open house, helped host the open house … and, on top of everything, kept the regular activities of the pantry running smoothly. You are a wonderful team,” Wise said.

She mentioned that volunteers are still needed for Eaglefest from 1-7 p.m. on May 28. “This is the first time since the pandemic began that the Eagle has hosted this concert, and we are very excited to be participating again, as we always receive many wonderful food items from the concertgoers.”

MannaFest Food Pantry is located at 803 Feagin St. in Livingston and the telephone number is 936-327-9555.  It is open from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays and Fridays and from 9-11 a.m. the first Saturday of each month. However, on Monday May 30 the pantry will be closed for Memorial Day.

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The Onalaska City Council will canvass Saturday’s general and special city elections and approve a resolution declaring the results of the elections during its regular meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The newly elected officials will be seated following the administering of the statement of elected officers and the oaths of office and the presentation of the election certificates. A mayor pro-tem will be elected.

Council is expected to reappoint David Johnson as municipal judge, Greg Magee as associate municipal judge and Chris Thompson as city prosecutor/city attorney.

Resolution 2022-004, designating signatories for all city bank accounts, will be reviewed and considered for approval.

Council is also expected to review and consider approval of Resolution 2022-005, accepting a proposal from Raymond K. Vann & Associates to provide administrative services for the 2022 TXCDBG fire, ambulance and service truck fund competition.

Monthly departmental reports will be presented on behalf of the police department, the fire department, the fire marshal/building inspector, the library and the city administrator.

Other items on the agenda include approval of the minutes, payment of vouchers and acceptance of the financial reports.

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Memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with eligible water supply corporations for water improvement projects will be considered by the Polk County Commissioners Court during its regular meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The MOUs will specifically address the purchase and installation of generators utilizing hazard mitigation grant program funds, requiring a 10% match, and infrastructure projects utilizing American Rescue Plan Act coronavirus local fiscal recovery funds, requiring a 25% match.

The advertisement of bids for the courthouse restoration project will be discussed and considered for action.

Commissioners will consider requests for capital purchases to be paid from the general fund balance and included on the FY2022 reimbursement resolution for the year-end issuance of legally authorized debt, as follows: the district attorney’s request for the purchase of three desktop scanners, not to exceed $1,339.50; the county court at law’s request for the purchase of a portable projector screen, not to exceed $399; the information technology’s request for the purchase of a central server (cloud backup), not to exceed $15,000; and the district clerk’s request for four printers and three desktop scanners, not to exceed $1,576.

The acceptance of a 2021 Ford F250 and a 2021 Palomino Caper awarded to the Precinct 1 Constable’s office will be considered, as will the determination for the method of funding vehicle maintenance and operations.

Commissioners will consider approval, approval upon conditions met, or rejection of Rocking R RV Park, located in Precinct 1, and Falcone Forest IV Subdivision, located in Precinct 4.

An offer to purchase tax foreclosure property, specifically, part of Lot 7 of Ella Woods in Precinct 4 (Cause No. 12-084) will be considered.

A variance for Rocking R RV Park, located in Precinct 1, will be considered, as will an order authorizing the sale of fireworks during the Memorial Day period of May 26 through midnight on May 31.

Commissioners will review and consider personnel action form requests submitted since the last meeting and will review any authorized emergency hirings.

Items on the consent agenda include:

• Approve minutes of April 26 regular meeting and special session;

• Approve schedules of bills;

• Approve order designating surplus property;

• Approve order of special election to be held on May 24;

• Approve order relocating sheriff’s/tax sales to Dunbar gym effective August 10 until completion of the courthouse renovation;

• Approve update to master street address guide;

• Approve sprinkler system removal in Health and Human Services and Greater East Texas Community in Action sections of regional health center, not to exceed $9,257, to be paid from maintenance capital outlay buildings (budgeted funds);

• Approve update to Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace network equipment, not to exceed $2,000, to be paid from information technologies capital outlay repair/replace equipment (budgeted funds);

• Approve sheriff’s request to submit application for participation in the Texas Law Enforcement Support Office “1033 program;”

• Approve update to grant agreement with Department of Family and Protective Services;

• Approve cooperative agreement with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service for the provision of educational programs;

• Receive county treasurer’s amended FY2021 4th quarter report (July, August and September 2021);

• Receive county treasurer’s amended FY2022 1st quarter report (October, November and December 2021); and

• Receive county treasurer’s FY2022 2nd quarter report (January, February and March 2022).