Polk County News - Breakout

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By Emily Banks Wooten
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Rotary District Governor Demetress HarrellRotary District Governor Demetress Harrell recently served as guest speaker for the Rotary Club of Livingston. A resident of Lufkin and a professional in the healthcare field, Harrell was installed as the 2022-2023 District Governor for District 5910 on June 18, 2022. The Rotary Club of Livingston is just one of the 41 clubs she will visit this year.

“Rotary is a part of life,” Harrell said, referring to Rotarians’ work in continuing to fight polio, as well as to protect the environment.

“We want to live in a world of peace,” she said, mentioning the 180 countries that were represented at the Rotary International Convention in Houston this past summer. “For us, when we walk outside this door, we want peace. We work to serve, every single one of you.”

Harrell said she was first invited to Rotary in 1997 and then joined Rotary in 1998.

“We cannot grow Rotary if we don’t ask. Today we have over 1.4 million members around the world,” Harrell said.

“Service never stops. I’ve seen the growth and the impacts made. The story is how we evolve and share. What I want you all to understand is your commitment to Rotary and that we enjoy our service,” she said.

Harrell encouraged local Rotarians to download the “My Rotary” account, learn about the new polio plus society, use “Club Runner” and “Club Central.”

“We have to know what our goals are and these are essential for you to have,” she said.

In closing, Harrell shared her three initiatives. The first is to empower girls through literacy. “Do something that will enhance the quality of life for young women in your community,” she said. The second is to work to end Alzheimer’s disease and the third is to expand the polio plus society through $100 donations.

“Let’s grow Rotary. It’s all about collaboration. We want to grant the opportunity to show what you do – support, teamwork, motivation, success – to be innovative and creative. We believe there is good in the world. Thank you for being Rotarians who make a difference,” Harrell said.

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Andrew Boyce, president of the Rotary Club of Livingston, presents a donation to Brandon Reece and Steve Davidson for the Boys & Girls Club of Polk County. Reece serves as the program director for the Boys & Girls Club of Polk County’s facility on Liberty Avenue and Davidson serves as president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Deep East Texas. (l-r) Reece, Boyce and Davidson. Photo by Emily Banks Wooten

By Emily Banks Wooten
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The Rotary Club of Livingston learned more about Boys & Girls Club recently when Brandon Reece and Steven Davidson presented a program. Reece serves as the program director for the Boys & Girls Club of Polk County’s facility on Liberty Avenue and Davidson serves as president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Deep East Texas.

Locally, there is the original Boys & Girls Club at the facility on Liberty Avenue and there is also a Boys & Girls Club program at Livingston Junior High School that is funded through a 21st Century grant for underperforming students.

Reece explained that through the afterschool program at the facility, children are bused over from schools and that three days a week they are provided snacks and two days a week they are provided a meal.

“We help them with life skills. Kids have always been in my heart. They need to feel loved and cared for on this life journey,” Reece said.

“We were gracefully able to do toys for the kids at Christmas this year,” he said, relaying a story in which one student, after receiving the gift, said, “Thank you. This may be the only gift I get this Christmas.”

Commenting that he has been here all his life, Reece said, “Bring the kids. I love this program. I love Polk County.”

Davidson provided some more information regarding the program. He said the facility is open from 3-7 p.m. Monday through Friday during the school year and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the summer.“We provide meals during the summer months. We try to keep our fees considerably low so everyone can attend,” he said, noting that the cost is $75 during the school year and $75 during the summer.

Regarding the Boys & Girls Club program at the junior high school, Davidson said there are 375 youth that are being provided services through the program and that those students are seen almost on a daily basis. He said meals are provided from 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday for those students too.

Davidson said Livingston ISD Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins has been very supportive and that the school district provides transportation home for the participating students.

He said the students meet from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for six weeks during the summer and participate in a book nook program in which their reading level is determined and benchmarks are established. Tutoring services are provided with a ratio of three students to one teacher. Various enrichments programs are available as well, including a garden club, a yearbook club with newsletters, a theater club, robotics and STEM in the spring, a cooking club that ties in with social studies and field trips.

“We have a lot of things going on. We appreciate all your support of the club,” Davidson said.

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By Emily Banks Wooten
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For the 34th consecutive year, the City of Livingston has received a certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting, the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting. The certificate of achievement is from the Government Finance Officers Association and is based on the city’s annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2021.

The Livingston City Council approved membership in the Alliance for I-69 Texas, as well as payment of a membership fee in the amount of $1,265, during its Jan. 10 regular meeting.

Council also approved Brannon Corporation out of Tyler for engineering services for the General Land Office Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program. The city is seeking grant funding in the amount of $2.541 million which would go toward improving city streets if awarded.

A public hearing was held to receive comments regarding the determination of unsafe and/or dilapidated building and cleanup of property, specifically, a residential structure and outbuildings owned by Joseph McCandless and Manda Kay McCandless, located at 106 N. East Ave., the property being described as: 1.262 acre of land in the M.L. Choate Survey, A-15, Polk County, Texas, called to be Lot 2 of Block 3 of the Meece Addition to the City of Livingston, and described in deed dated Nov. 14, 2019 from Annis Lee Crowley to Joseph McCandless and wife, Manda Kay McCandless, recorded in Volume 2234, Page 193 of the Official Public Records of Polk County, Texas.

City Attorney James W. Wright said the utilities at the location were disconnected July 13, 2020 and the taxes have been paid through 2021. He said the city’s code enforcement department sent a letter to the McCandlesses dated August 2022.

Josh Mohler, the city’s fire marshal and code enforcement officer, reported that he had met with Joseph McCandless who indicated that he had plans to rehabilitate the structure and bring it up to code.

The residence needs structural attention, Mohler said, adding that there are a lot of roof leaks, debris in the house, settling cracks, foundation issues, crackage and exposed electrical wiring. Following additional discussion, Council approved giving the McCandlesses 90 days, stressing that first and foremost, the property needs to be secured. Council will revisit the issue at its April 10 meeting and see what the status is at that time.

City Manager Bill S. Wiggins introduced John Tarver to the Council. Tarver is the new executive director of the Polk County Economic Development Group.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to have someone of John’s caliber and experience,” Wiggins said.

“You’re doing a lot of things right. I look forward to coming in and enhancing what you’re already doing,” Tarver said.

Wiggins apprised Council of the 87th Annual Awards Gala of the Livingston-Polk County Chamber of Commerce at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Polk County Commerce Center. He also updated Council on various current development projects, including five new homes under construction in The Retreat.

In other activity, Wiggins reported that he has been informed that the Livingston Youth Baseball Association has put in a bid to host the Dixie Regional Baseball Tournaments for 12U Division 1 and 2 that, if accepted, would be held locally July 1-3, bringing in 18-20 teams who would be booking local hotels, eating in local restaurants and shopping in local shops.

Although Council entered into an executive session to consult with the city attorney, no action was taken upon return to open session.

Other business included approval of the accounts over $500 and the minutes of the Dec. 13 meeting.

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By Emily Banks Wooten
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The Polk County Commissioners Court took action during its regular meeting Tuesday to facilitate the utilization of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for some of the local volunteer fire departments.

The action included: payment to Metro Fire for firefighting equipment for the South Polk County Volunteer Fire Department in the amount of $8,362; payment to Nalcom Wireless Communications for radio equipment for the South Polk County Volunteer Fire Department in the amount of $1,638; payment to Nalcom Wireless Communications for radio equipment for the Onalaska Volunteer Fire Department in the amount of $10,000; and payment to Kimco Services Inc. for self-contained breathing apparatuses for the Scenic Loop Volunteer Fire Department in the amount of $10,000.

Based on the recommendation of counsel, the Court approved rescinding the prepositioned contract for disaster debris removal services with DRC Emergency Services.

A request for capital purchases to be paid from the general fund balance and included on the fiscal year 2023 reimbursement resolution for the year-end issuance of legally authorized debt, specifically, roof replacement at the museum, not to exceed $65,000, was approved.

The Court approved rejecting the infrastructure development plan for The Pines at Lake Livingston RV Park located in Precinct 2.

The constable warrant service program quarterly report for the period ending Dec. 31, 2022 was received.

In personnel matters, the Court reviewed and approved personnel action forms submitted since the last meeting.

Additionally, the Court approved the fiscal year 2023 budget revisions and amendments as presented by the county auditor’s office.

In old business, the Court approved the minutes of the Dec. 13 meeting.

Items on the consent agenda included:

•Approval of the minutes of the Dec. 27 regular meeting;

•Approval of the schedules of bills;

•Approval of an order designating surplus property;

•Approval of enrollment in Texas Association of Counties cybersecurity training;

Ratifying the re-appointment of John Allen Slocomb to the Workforce Development Board for a three-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2023;

Ratifying the ebonds agreement with Deep East Texas Council of Governments for solid waste project;

Approval to file a claim with the state comptroller pursuant to Government Code Sec. 61.0015(B) for reimbursement of a portion of the juror fees paid by Polk County during the period of Oct. 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2022;

Receipt of the county treasurer’s monthly reports for September and October 2022;

Receipt and recording the district clerk’s plan to utilize $140,000 of ARPA funds for records preservation;

Receipt and recording the county clerk’s plan to utilize $60,000 of ARPA funds for records preservation;

Acceptance of a donation from the sheriff’s office for the purchase of law enforcement equipment; and

Acceptance of a donation from Sheriff Byron Lyons for asset forfeiture expenditure in the amount of $22,792.70 for the purchase of law enforcement equipment.

Rev. David Darden of New Beulah Baptist Church opened the meeting with prayer.