Polk County News - Breakout

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For annual chamber awards banquet

From Enterprise Staff

Break out the big hats and bowties for the Kentucky Derby Gala, the theme of the Livingston-Polk County Chamber of Commerce’s 86th Annual Awards Banquet slated for Jan. 27 at the Polk County Commerce Center.

The event will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner, remarks, awards and live entertainment. The culmination of the annual banquet is the presentation of the Small Business of the Year, the Large Business of the Year and the Polk Countian of the Year.

The Large Business of the Year recognizes a business with 21 or more employees that has been operational for at least three years in Polk County and has demonstrated professional integrity, financial stability, excellence in customer services, success through innovation and a commitment to the community. The business must be a current member of the chamber.

The Small Business of the Year recognizes a business with 20 or fewer employees that has been operational for at least three years in Polk County and has demonstrated professional integrity, financial stability, excellence in customer services, success through innovation and a commitment to the community. The business must be a current member of the chamber.

The Polk Countian of the Year recognizes a person who has made significant contributions to Polk County through time, actions, talents, dedication, leadership and striving to make Polk County a better place, as well as a passion for helping others in the community in a way that can be felt throughout.

Tickets are $30 apiece and may be purchased from the chamber office located at 1001 Hwy. 59 Loop North in Livingston. For additional information contact the chamber office at 936-327-4929.

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The Polk County Fire Marshal’s Office spent a recent morning at the Polk County Senior Citizens Center in Corrigan playing fire marshal bingo which is like regular bingo but it emphasizes fire and life safety. The numbers are replaced with pictures of fire and life safety items. When the picture is drawn, staff from the Polk County Fire Marshal’s Office discuss the importance of each picture. Winners received prize baskets filled with items donated by local merchants. Courtesy photo

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From Enterprise Staff

Operating hours for the county’s new recycling center are changing this week. Effective Tuesday, the recycling center will be open Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Located at 10311 Hwy. 146 in Livingston, the recycling center is operated by a group called Polk County Recycling & Beautification which is presently in search of volunteers for two to three-hour shifts every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Volunteers will greet every customer, assist with their sorting questions, help customers unload and lift their recyclables and help keep the center clean.

“Volunteering at the recycling center is rewarding, meaningful and fun. Live your commitment to Polk County Recycling & Beautification by signing up at the recycling center or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,” Kari Miller said.

Miller, assistant to Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy, serves as the county’s liaison to the Polk County Recycling & Beautification group.

Items the center can accept include:

#1 Plastics. These include beverage bottles (rinsed and without lids) and various other clear food containers. You know it’s a #1 if it has a triangle stamped in the plastic with a “1” inside it.

#2 Plastics. These are thicker containers, like milk jugs and detergent bottles (rinsed and without lids). You know it’s a #2 if it has a triangle stamped in the plastic with a “2” inside it.

Corrugated Cardboard (clean and dry)

Aluminum Cans (empty)

Mixed Paper (envelopes, magazines, newspapers, colored paper, paper-back books, etc.) Paper should be sorted separately from all other materials.

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By Emily Banks Wooten
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A local donor will match donations to Polk County’s new recycling center—up to $20,000—County Judge Sydney Murphy announced during the informational report section of the regular meeting of the Polk County Commissioners Court Dec. 28.

The Court received the rating and recommendations from the court-appointed scoring committee regarding the selection of a grant administrator and engineer for the use of funds allocated to Polk County by the American Rescue Plan Act. “We did the procurement process on Nov. 9 and the committee scored on Dec. 16,” Murphy said. Commissioners approved the recommendation of Langford Community Management Services as administrator and Goodwin Lassiter Strong as engineer.

Regarding the land use agreement of county property located at 1200 FM 62 and 1411 FM 62 in Moscow, Commissioners approved moving forward with discussing a general contract.

Although the Court discussed a policy regarding the use of county buildings, grounds and facilities, the item was tabled so that additional research may be conducted.

Commissioners approved an order to conform election precincts following the redistricting of the commissioners court precincts pursuant to Chapter 42, Texas Election Code, and any resulting changes that may have an impact upon the justice of the peace/constable precincts.

A memorandum of understanding with Piney Wood Lakes Texas Chapter Master Naturalists, the East Texas Electric Cooperative Inc. and Polk County for the beneficial management of natural resources at the East Texas Electric Cooperative Hydroelectric Plant Gazebo was approved.

Commissioners approved a proposal to extend the concrete pad for the recycling center, to be paid for from the waste management fund, accepting the $6,500 bid from Luis Don Juan.

The plats for Rolling Pines Section 2 Subdivision located in Precinct 2 and Caney Pines Subdivision located in Precinct 3 were approved.

A memorandum of understanding with the Precinct 1 constable regarding the monthly salary of Mario Rosario, to be funded solely from the Precinct 1 constable asset seizures as long as funds are available, was approved. “This is basically a replacement MOU for the prior MOU that we had in place,” Murphy said.

Action on an agreement with Questica for budget management software was tabled.

Commissioners reviewed and considered personnel action form requests submitted since the last meeting and reviewed three authorized emergency hirings – one at the tax office, one at the auditor’s office and one at the county clerk’s office.

Commissioners approved everything on the consent agenda which included:

Schedules of bills;

An order designating surplus property;

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

The reappointment of Garvey Jackson to the Workforce Development Board for a three-year term beginning Jan. 1; and

Acknowledgement of the addition of the City of Corrigan’s Flood Mitigation Project No. 22 on page 166 of the Polk County Multi-Jurisdiction Mitigation Plan.

Rev. Jim Mayland of Trinity Lutheran Church opened the meeting with prayer.