Polk County News - Breakout

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By Emily Banks Wooten
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During its regular meeting Tuesday, the Polk County Commissioners Court approved authorization to begin the procurement process for disaster debris by issuing a request for proposals and qualifications for a grant administrator and engineering services.

“This is in the event we should have a hurricane or a tornado or any other event,” County Judge Sydney Murphy said. In related activity, Commissioners also appointed a scoring committee for the purpose of reviewing and rating the proposals and qualifications received. Those appointed to the committee include Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Overstreet, Emergency Management Coordinator Courtney Comstock and Grants and Contracts Coordinator Jessica Hutchins.

Based on the recommendation of Maintenance Superintendent Jay Burks, Commissioners approved the proposal from Z Design for architectural/engineering services at the Corrigan Sub-Courthouse. “It is in dire need of renovation. The space is poorly designed and inefficient,” Murphy said.

A public hearing was held to receive public comment on the request to cancel a portion of Southland Plantation Subdivision Section 9, Lot 200-D-1 (removing lot) and re-plat the same as Southland Plantation Subdivision, Section 9, Lots 200-D-1, 200-D-1-B, 200-D-1-A and 200-D-1-C. Tim Martin went on record as being for it. Following the public hearing, Commissioners approved the request.

Commissioners approved an agreement with Langford Community Management Services for administration/professional services relating to water infrastructure projects to be funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

“On Feb. 18 the Court approved beginning the procurement process to select an administrator and an engineer for pre-award and post-award consulting services to prepare the FEMA hazard mitigation grant application DR-4485 for a hazard mitigation project to purchase generators for the water supply companies in the unincorporated areas of the county,” Murphy said. In related activity, Commissioners approved Hutchins’ recommendation of Langford Community Management Services for grant administrator and GLS for engineer.

The adoption of revised nuisance abatement procedures (policy) for the unincorporated areas of Polk County, pursuant to Chapter 343 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, as amended, was approved.

Commissioners approved an order regarding the statewide settlement matter of Texas opioid multi-district litigation for the county in the matter of County of Polk vs. Purdue Pharma Inc., et al.

A request for approval of discretionary exemption to exempt from county subdivision regulations the development of Abst 650 I&GN RR Survey (5.36) located in Precinct 4 and consisting of three tracts with individual access to existing public roads with no other common areas and/or streets was approved.

Commissioners approved the following road and bridge equipment lease/purchase through interlocal purchasing systems (TIPS), thereby satisfying competitive bidding requirements, pursuant to East Texas Mack Sales LLC quotations for:

The purchase of eight new 2022 Mack GR64F cab and chassis units (with M-drive, ox dumpbodies and pintle hitches) at $141,000 each with a 12-month trade allowance of $126,000 each unit, assuming each trade-in unit meets all trade terms, to be paid from road and bridge capital leases fund;

The trade/buyback of eight 2021 Mack GR64F trucks at $122,000 each for units currently leased by each road and bridge precinct, assuming each trade-in unit meets all trade terms; and

A resolution authorizing execution of an agreement with Bancorp South Equipment Finance, a division of Bancorp South Bank relating to the estimated March purchase of road and bridge equipment eight new 2022 Mack GR64FR cab and chassis units equipped with dump bed (to include trade-in of eight 2021 units) and authorizing the county judge to execute said agreement/s on behalf of the county.

Based on the recommendation of Precinct 2 Commissioner Ronnie Vincent who said the project is “just not far enough along,” Commissioners approved the rejection of Sunrise Subdivision. Also based on Vincent’s recommendation, Commissioners approved upon conditions met of Lagoon RV Park. Both are located in Precinct 2.

Commissioners approved the personnel action form requests submitted since the last meeting and reviewed two authorized emergency hirings.

  They also approved the FY2022 budget revisions and amendments, as presented by the county auditor’s office.

The following items are on the consent agenda were approved:

Minutes of the Feb. 18 meeting;

Schedules of bills;

An order designating surplus property;

Updates to the master street address guide;

An order accepting Crown Point, located in Lake Livingston Estates 4&5 Subdivision, Precinct 2, as a county road and adding it to the master street address guide;

A drainage easement extension at Brushy Creek located in Precinct 2;

The 2022 renewal of Affordable Care Act Reporting and Tracking Service (ARTS) Program with Texas Association of Counties;

Application for renewal of property insurance coverage through Texas Association of Counties, Risk Management Pool;

An interlocal agreement between Polk County and Purchasing Solutions Alliance for cooperative purchasing;

Renewal of a memorandum of understanding with Precinct 1 Constable regarding the monthly salary of Beau Price, to be funded solely from Precinct 1 Constable asset seizures;

A proposal from Kofile, not to exceed $135,000, for the preservation, imaging and indexing of 37 books for the Polk County District Clerk’s Office, to be paid from the district clerk’s records management fund;

Acceptance of the American Rescue Plans Act (ARPA) funds as lost revenue, effective April 1, 2022 (date of final rule) and report that information to the U.S. Treasury;

The addition of Action Item #17 on page 164 of the Polk County Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan: update the Polk County Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan every five years;

A letter of engagement with Belt Harris Pechacek LLP for services relating to the audit of county financial statements for fiscal years ending Sept. 30, 2022 and 2023;

The county treasurer’s FY2021 fourth quarter report; and

The county treasurer’s FY 2022 first quarter report.

Lindell Mitchell, minister of the Livingston Church of Christ, opened the meeting with prayer.

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Volunteers are being sought to participate in a Polk County Community Garden which will provide fresh and healthy vegetables to volunteers and Polk County senior citizens. The project is being spearheaded by the AgriLife Extension Office.

A spring planting kick-off is slated for noon March 18 at the AgriLife Extension Office located at 602 E. Church St.

For more information, or to volunteer to sign up, contact County Extension Agent Matthew March at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 936-327-6828.

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A Fat Tuesday bingo supper was held as a scholarship fundraiser at the Onalaska First United Methodist Church. Courtesy photo

By Emily Banks Wooten
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A Fat Tuesday bingo supper featuring authentic Cajun gumbo and king cake was the perfect combination for a successful scholarship fundraiser for the Onalaska First United Methodist Church. A $25 ticket entitled the holder to supper, two bingo cards and numerous chances to win prizes.

About $5,000 was raised through the event and all proceeds will go toward scholarships for seniors graduating from Onalaska Junior/Senior High School. 

The fundraiser was the brainchild of Mary Helen Wolf, a member of Onalaska FUMC. Wolf’s mother, Nita Barker Regan, funded scholarships for graduating seniors in her community for many years and derived great joy from it. Wolf decided to do it in her community of Onalaska in her mother’s honor. In 2019 she put on a style show and luncheon for the ladies which raised about $1,000. Although she’d planned to have her mother present the scholarship, her mother passed away about a month prior to the fundraiser. It was then that Wolf decided to name the scholarship after her mother.

Then COVID came and everything kind of shut down.

Wolf said a new couple from Louisiana, Roger and Brandi Malaison, moved to town and joined Onalaska FUMC. She said the church hosts a fellowship supper once a month and one month Roger made gumbo and everyone had a fit over it.

That was when Wolf hatched the idea of having a gumbo/bingo fundraiser. She said she approached the pastor about it and he thought it was a good idea and then she approached Roger and he graciously agreed to it as well.

Wolf said she started working on it in November and December but really turned it up in January. She went door to door throughout the community seeking prizes from the merchants of Onalaska. She was so successful in her mission that 27 gifts were given out between bingo games and drawings.

A hundred tickets were sold and she said that while she probably could have sold more, she didn’t because she didn’t know where they’d put them because the fellowship hall was so packed with people.

She and her committee spent numerous days decorating the fellowship hall in a Mardi Gras theme and she said everyone really enjoyed the event which will now be held annually. With the funds raised, she said they’ll be able to give either four or five $1,000 Nita Barker Regan Scholarships to Onalaska students this spring.

In fact, she’s already dropped off the scholarship applications with the school counselor. The selection criteria will be based on financial need, academic record, extra-curricular school and/or community activities and a personal interview.

The scholarship applications must be postmarked no later than April 1.

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From Enterprise Staff

Livingston High School Senior Ashley Moore was crowned 2022 Miss Polk County in the 45th annual pageant held Feb. 26, resumed after a hiatus due to the pandemic. In the history of the pageant there have been three years that the pageant was not held – 2021 due to the pandemic and 2012 and 2013 due to LISD’s remodeling of the Florence Crosby Auditorium.

Twelve juniors and seniors from schools throughout the county vied for the title. The scholarships and awards that may be won through the pageant have increased dramatically since the first pageant in 1975 when the winner received a $250 scholarship.

As 2022 Miss Polk County, Moore will will receive a $2,000 scholarship, along with the satin monogrammed sash, trophy, crown and bouquet of roses. Moore also won the interview portion of the pageant. For that, she will receive a $500 scholarship and a trophy.

Ja’Nayah Pickens, a senior at Livingston High School, was named first runner-up, in addition to winning the talent competition and being named people’s choice. As first runner-up, she will receive a $1,500 scholarship and trophy. As winner of the talent competition, she will receive a $500 scholarship and a trophy. She will also receive a $100 scholarship and a trophy for being named people’s choice.

Addison Hinson, a senior at Leggett High School, was named second runner-up and will receive a $1,000 scholarship and a trophy.

Chloe Cox, a senior at Big Sandy High School, won the evening gown competition and was also named Miss Photogenic. As evening gown winner, she will receive a $500 scholarship and a trophy. For being named Miss Photogenic, she will receive a $400 scholarship and a trophy.

Kaitlyn Livingston, a senior at Livingston High School, was named Miss Congeniality and also the Kenny Holsberry Spirit of Polk County Award. For being named Miss Congeniality she will receive a $500 scholarship and a trophy. For winning the Kenny Holsberry Spirit of Polk County Award she will receive a $250 scholarship and a trophy.

Arabella Letien, a junior at Livingston High School, was the ad sales winner and will receive a scholarship based on a percentage of all ad sales not to exceed $500 and a trophy.

Seven freshmen and sophomores from high schools throughout the county were vying for Junior Miss Polk County which is in its sixth year of existence.

Madalyn Green, a sophomore at Onalaska Junior/Senior High School, was crowned 2022 Junior Miss Polk County. She received a $250 cash award, along with a crown, satin monogrammed sash, trophy and bouquet of roses.

Rylee Taylor, a freshman at Onalaska Junior/Senior High School, was named first runner-up and received a $150 cash award and a trophy.

Kayleigh Wilson, a sophomore at Onalaska Junior/Senior High School, was named second runner-up and received a $100 cash award and a trophy.

Faith Geller, a sophomore at Big Sandy High School, was named Miss Photogenic and Miss Congeniality. She received a trophy and a gift card for each.