Polk County News - Breakout

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From Enterprise Staff

Polk County has launched an online web map available to the public that is updated nightly with current information. The development of the web map was an effort between the Deep East Texas Council of Governments GIS Department and Polk County Rural Addressing in the Office of Emergency Management.

The map is available on the Polk County Emergency Management website at http://polkcountyoem.com under county web map and is also available on the Polk County website at www://co.polk.tx.us under Quicklinks, County Maps.

The direct link to the Web Map is: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=d0bbf2dd4be343b98a46decb0173a868

The following map layers may be toggled on and off under the “open layer list” tab: school district boundaries, fire hydrant locations and Polk County GIS data such as address points, access points (addresses far from roadway), points of interest, emergency services such as fire departments, law enforcement and ambulances, road and bridge commissioner precincts, justice of the peace precincts, voting precincts, municipal boundaries, road centerlines, driveways and county boundaries.

Clicking anywhere on the web map opens a multi-page window that shows information for each layer that is toggled on and may provide quick links to county sites. Residential address points contain no personal information. Commercial address points may display a business name (if known) and can be searched by address or business name.

One item to note is that emergency management does not address the cities of Livingston and Corrigan. However, most city addresses are available on the county web map. For questions about a Livingston address, call Livingston City Hall at 936-327-4311. For questions about a Corrigan address, call Corrigan City Hall at 936-398-4126.

Polk County, its staff and its member governments assume no liability for the accuracy of the GIS data. This map is for information purposes only and is not suitable for legal, engineering or surveying purposes. It does not represent an on-the-ground survey and represents only the approximate relative location of points and boundaries.

Follow Polk County OEM on Facebook for notifications and updates. Visit the website www.PolkCountyOEM.com. Register with AlertMePolkCounty to receive emergency alerts from the Office of Emergency Management by visiting https://polk.genasys.com/portal/en.

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By Emily Banks Wooten
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Updates to numerous policies were on the agenda for the regular meeting of the Polk County Commissioners Court Tuesday. The Court approved a grant policies and procedure manual drafted by County Auditor Louis Ploth that will be submitted to the governor’s office for approval. Action on a new purchasing and credit card policy was tabled when a commissioner requested additional time to study it.

With the Department of Labor and the Texas Association of Counties both finding the county’s personnel management system “overly cumbersome and confusing,” the Court approved researching the matter and reviewing what other counties have in an attempt to streamline its own policies regarding time accrual and leave classifications.

The Court approved authorizing the sale of fireworks during the Texas Independence Day period of Feb. 25 through midnight March 2.

An amendment to the tax abatement agreement between Polk County and Lone Spur Solar Energy LLC was approved.

The Court approved an expenditure from the maintenance capital outlay buildings (budgeted funds) for replacement of a water circulating pump at the Dunbar Complex, not to exceed $15,000.

Resolutions for the Texas Department of Transportation off-system bridge replacement program were approved. The two bridge projects are Wilson Lake Estates Road at West Fort for Double Branch Creek and Andrew Jackson at Menard Creek, both in Precinct 4.

A request from the sheriff for two zero-turn lawnmowers was approved, with the Court accepting the bid from Livingston Lawn and Garden based on the sheriff’s recommendation.

The Court also approved the sheriff’s office using a $30,000 donation it received to purchase a flock system license plate reader.

A request from Precinct 2 for up to four additional reserve deputy constable positions was approved, at no cost to the county other than workers comp.

In personnel matters, the Court approved personnel management system updates and personnel action form requests submitted since the last meeting and learned of one authorized emergency hire in human resources.

Fiscal year 2024 budget revisions and amendments, as presented by the county auditor’s office, were approved.

Items on the consent agenda included:

Approval of the minutes of the Jan. 23 regular session;

Approval of the schedules of bills;

Approval of an order designating surplus property;

Approval of an agreement with Texas Association of Counties for email, web hosting and cybersecurity training;

Approval of an interlocal agreement between Polk County and the City of Onalaska for the county’s provision of election equipment and services for the May 4 election, as recommended by the county clerk;

Approval of the replacement of the camera system at Precinct 1 Road & Bridge Office in the amount of $5,980 to be paid from Precinct 1 and authorize initial payment of $3,580 for equipment;

Approval of a “no harm” agreement between Polk County and Blanchard Baptist Church (Voting Precinct 17);

Ratifying Amendment No. 4 to General Land Office Contract No. 20-066-018-C125;

Approval of an interlocal cooperation contract with Texas Department of Public Safety driver license division for the failure to appear program; and

Approval of an amended order authorizing the closure of former road known as Old Swartwout Road.

Pastor Sonny Hathaway of Central Baptist Church opened the meeting with prayer.

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The Goodrich City Council met in the community center last week to discuss the annual Easter egg hunt and a few purchases in their regular meeting for February.

The annual Goodrich Easter Egg Hunt has been set for March 30, 2-5 p.m. at the Goodrich ISD track facility. Refreshments including hot dogs, chips and drinks will be served.

Signs will be ordered for the community center, prohibiting smoking and alcohol.

Properties needing clean-up have been identified and letters will be sent starting this week.

In executive session, council members agreed to put the city hall and community center mowings out for bid. The bid will include mowing and weed eating of both city hall and the community center, blowing grass off the parking areas, and ant control (spreading ant poison).

During public forum, city council members discussed adjustments to sewer usage portion of customers’ bills. Alderman Bobby Wright also proposed purchasing a speaker with bluetooth compatibility to be used during city events. Council members were in favor of the purchase.

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Brad Butler of Livingston First Baptist Church snapped this action shot while on a mission trip in Ghana last week.