Polk County News - Breakout

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From tax assessor-collector to county clerk

An order transferring voter registration duties from the tax assessor-collector to the county clerk will be discussed and considered for action during the regular meeting of the Polk County Commissioners Court at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

The Court will discuss and consider necessary action regarding fiscal year 2023 employee benefits, specifically, the annually determined contribution rate for the Texas County & District Retirement System and employee health coverage for major medical.

The status of the drought index in Polk County will be discussed and any necessary action will be taken regarding the regulation of the use of certain fireworks for the July 4th firework season.

A request for a capital purchase to be paid from the Precinct 1 Road & Bridge fund balance and included on the fiscal year 2022 reimbursement resolution for the year-end issuance of legally authorized debt, specifically, the purchase of a used excavator not to exceed $100,000.

Additionally, the Court will consider approval for capital improvements to be paid from the general fund balance and included on the fiscal year 2022 reimbursement resolution for the year-end issuance of legally authorized debt for the courthouse restoration, not to exceed $5,730,000.

The Court will consider approval to close the fiscal year 2022 reimbursement resolution, finalizing all expenditures to be included for issue of authorized debt in 2022 Series Tax Notes (including the auditor’s verification of those expenditures previously approved) and including those authorized and pending payment prior to Sept. 30, 2022 (open invoicing/bids), stating the total to be authorized.

The appointment of two Polk County elected officials to serve on the Deep East Texas Council of Governments Board of Directors for the 2022-2023 term will be considered.

The Court is expected to authorize Goodwin Lassiter & Strong to advertise for construction bids on 2017 GLO DR 4332 (Harvey) Program, GLO Contract No. 20-065-018-C064.

The following requests for variance from Polk County subdivision regulation design standards will be discussed and considered for approval:

Rocking R RV Park in Precinct 1 has provided an equitable alternative to the requirement that their streets be built to the standard required by Section 10.3(5)(d)(i) and Lagoon RV Park in Precinct 2 has provided an equitable alternative to the minimum required street width of 24 feet for all roads per Section 10.4(A)(8).

The Court will consider approval, approval upon conditions met, or rejection of infrastructure development plans for Rocking R RV Park in Precinct 1 and Lagoon RV Park in Precinct 2.

In personnel matters, the Court will review and consider personnel action form requests submitted since the last meeting and review any authorized emergency hirings; review and consider adding a temporary part-time position in the district clerk’s office to assist the temporary district court; and review and consider adding a fulltime maintenance worker to the Precinct 2 road and bridge department.

Fiscal Year 2022 budget revisions and amendments, as presented by the County Auditor’s Office, will be considered.

During informational reports, the Court will present the Polk County Commissioners Court Bobby Smith Memorial Scholarship which is sponsored by Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson and will also present the Law Enforcement Scholarship which is sponsored by Management & Training Corporation, the operators of the IAH Secure Adult Detention Facility.

A proclamation for elder abuse awareness will be presented to Adult Protective Services. This month’s “Spotlight on Polk County” will be on the AgriLife Extension Office. Additionally, a report will be presented regarding the construction of a fence around the community garden at the county annex.

In old business, the Court will discuss and consider changes to the distribution of the road and bridge portion of the tax rate in conformance with the revised precinct boundaries.

Items on the consent agenda include:

• Approval of the minutes of the May 24 regular meeting and the June 3 special called meeting;

• Approval of the schedule of bills;

• Approval of an order designating surplus property;

• Approval of the submittal of a request to the state comptroller for unclaimed rural electric cooperative capital credits;

• Approval of the Lake Livingston Water Supply Corporation’s request for sanitary control easement on Rodgers Street located in Wiggins Village No. 1 Subdivision in Precinct 2;

• Approval of the renewal of an interlocal agreement with Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool and an application for the provision of insurance coverages to include workers compensation, auto (physical damage and liability) and general, public officials, law enforcement liabilities;

• Approval of a memorandum of understanding between Polk County Fire Marshal Department and the City of Livingston for dual use of fire prevention equipment;

• Approval of updates to the master street address guide;

• Approval of a change order to update the price sheets for road materials from East Texas Asphalt;

• Ratifying the appointment of a court coordinator and bailiff for the temporary district judge appointee;

• Approval of a request from the county treasurer to terminate the contract with Openedge;

• Approval of a request from the county treasurer to access online banking at Citizens State Bank in Corrigan;

• Approval of a lease agreement renewing the supplemental county parking at 321 N. Beatty Ave.;

• Approval of the removal of Deryl Oates as reserve deputy constable for Precinct 3;

• Approval of the removal of Anthony Brugnone as reserve deputy fire marshal;

• Approval of the addition of Robert “Bob” Wright and Jose Cruz as reserve deputy constables for Precinct 2; and

• Approval of an amended resolution expressing the intent to reimburse expenditures to be incurred by Polk County, Texas (reimbursement resolution).

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A presentation of water and electric meter replacement project and automatic metering infrastructure implementation will be made by Ameresco to the Livingston City Council during its regular meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Following the presentation, Council will consider approval of the implementation.

Council is expected to ratify participation in the Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) Regional Mitigation Program to acknowledge and accept potential funding allocated by the Texas General Land Office in the amount of $2,541,000.

Council will also appoint someone to serve on the DETCOG Board of Directors for the term that begins July 1 and ends June 30, 2023.
City Manager Bill S. Wiggins will present his monthly report with an update on projects and events.

An executive session is on the agenda in the event Council needs to consult with its attorney. Any action, however, will be taken upon return to open session.

Other items on the agenda include approval of the minutes of the May 10 regular meeting and the May 17 special called meeting and the accounts over $500.

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The Republican Club of Polk County, along with State Representative James White, presented four $1,500 scholarships – two Nancy Palm academic scholarships and two James White trade school scholarships – during its regular meeting Monday at the VFW Post 8568. (l-r) Charles Brooks, White, Lane Richardson, Jerry Bowman and Mattie Adams. Courtesy photos

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Several generations of the Thompson family gathered recently to celebrate the 94th birthday of James H. Thompson who owned and operated Thompson Pulpwood and Logging Company. Thompson worked in the timber industry from 1943 until his retirement in 2007. Courtesy photo

Special to the Enterprise

James H. Thompson, of Thompson Pulpwood and Logging Company, recently celebrated his 94th birthday with family and friends.

Born a sharecropper, his mother died during childbirth. He was raised by his grandparents as their own child, introduced to church and given family values. James’ grandmother nursed a daughter and son at the

same time, with the two born two months apart. He is the only child remaining from a family of 14.

James was taught sharecropping duties early in life by his Papa. Following Papa's death in 1941, James and his older brother, Johnnie, worked their final crop and paid sharecropper debt in 1942. James was gifted with strength and endurance, which proved to be his value as a sharecropper, pulpwood hauler, log cutter and laborer.

James and Johnnie secured family housing away from sharecropping by working odd jobs. Following Papa's death, the financial responsibility of caring for the family was on the shoulders of James and Johnnie. They had been taught the value of hard work and family. James worked odd jobs until his work habits and skills were noticed by Mr. H.E. McClendon. Known to all as Mr. Mc. H.E. McClendon, at that time he was a wood scaler and businessman. McClendon asked James if he would come to Texas and work for him. Of course, the answer was yes, with the stipulation that he purchase James a truck.

James got the truck, and operated up to five trucks through the years, employing up to 10- or 15-man crews in peak seasons. James started his pulpwood turned logging business and worked in the timber industry, harvesting East Texas timber from 1943 until his retirement in 2007.

To his credit, he was one of few minority businesses in the early years to be awarded East Texas timber harvesting contracts with Southland Paper Company, Champion Paper Company and Georgia Pacific. It was not without hard work, commitment and never accepting defeat.