East Texas News Forum
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PCPC Editor created new article Groveton takes second at 20-2A district meet .
April 21 at 10:20 pm
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PCPC Editor created new article Lady Tigers advance 5 to regionals (VIDEO).
April 21 at 10:09 pm
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PCPC Editor created new article Lifter taking next step up the mountain .
April 21 at 10:02 pm
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PCPC Editor created new article Six file for two council seats .
April 21 at 9:56 pm
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PCPC Editor created new article Trinity County reverses stand .
April 21 at 9:51 pm
TONY FARKAS | TCNS County Judge Doug Page is surrounded by SAAFE House members Rana Wingo, Tracy Szymczak and Renee Murphy as the Trinity County Commissioners’ Court proclaimed April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month on April 23. By Tony Farkas GROVETON — With the exception of one commissioner, the Trinity County Commissioners’ Court approved personnel changes — including pay raises — at its Tuesday meeting. After a raucous meeting on March 23, the commission denied approval of any personnel action forms because they contained pay raises. Commissioner Mike Loftin said at the time that during the budget season last year, the court decided there would be no raises, as the county needed to be frugal. At the April 13 meeting, Loftin questioned the source of the raises, noting that none will increase the bottom line of department budgets. “As long as the budget’s not changing, it is OK,” Loftin said. “We face something we’ve never faced because of COVID — people lost their jobs — and that was the concern that I had. We didn’t know how much tax revenue we would be gaining, and we didn’t need to be eating up our savings.” He also said he found out that tax collections are very close to last year’s levels. Commissioner Neal Smith said that now is not the time to be giving raises. “Since I’ve been on the court, we’ve given raises ever year except last year,” he said. “Now, we’re jumping around and giving this one a little, and that one a little, and that’s not fair, and every month they’re coming in for more and more.” Smith said the requests will start coming in from all departments requesting raises, and while he is not against paying employees more, he is against approving raises at this time. Commissioner Tommy Park made the motion to approve, which was seconded by Loftin. Smith was the only commissioner voting against the measure. Commissioner Steven Truss said that regardless of the outcome of the vote, there needed to be some organization regarding pay raises across the board, suggesting there be a scale instituted, much like there is at the state level. Smith agreed, saying that he is aware that some starting employees are hired making more that people who have been with the county for 30 years or more, and that pay needs to be fair. “I’m not against people making more money, but we need to be equal about this,” he said. The court agreed, and approved the payment of $5,000 for an outside firm to conduct an employee compensation study, which will also provide suggestions for a scale as well as determine how employees’ salaries stack up to state averages. In other business, the county: proclaimed April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Trinity County; proclaimed April as Fair Housing Month; approved a budget amendment moving funds into vehicle maintenance after the city received insurance money to fix the wrecked Sheriff’s Department vehicle; approved a measure allowing the county to hire for a cleanup of phone and IT cables and the addition of three wifi access points in the County Annex; approved closing a bank account the county no longer used; approved hiring a part-time clerk to hand filing and processing of notices for nuisance abatements; approved the purchase of several used vehicles from the Texas Forest Service; approved a road use agreement for Precinct 1; and approved a replat of lots on Merrywood Drive -
PCPC Editor created new article COHS sending 14 entries to region meet.
April 21 at 9:42 pm
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PCPC Editor created new article Helping Hands (GALLERY).
April 21 at 9:37 pm
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PCPC Editor created new article Court holds special session on flood infrastructure .
April 21 at 9:23 pm
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PCPC Editor created new article Defending state champions swatting big flys .
April 21 at 12:08 am
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PCPC Editor created new article WISD discusses first step in long-range planning .
April 20 at 11:57 pm
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PCPC Editor created new article Hearing scheduled for Woodville motel .
April 20 at 11:54 pm
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PCPC Editor created new article Former PCSO Deputy arrested .
April 20 at 5:17 pm
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PCPC Editor created new article White bills address firearms, ballots, cannabis .
April 18 at 11:18 pm
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PCPC Editor created new article Centerville boys win 20-2A title, Groveton takes second .
April 16 at 2:01 pm
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PCPC Editor created new article A Healing Forest for Wolfdogs and Women Parolees .
April 16 at 1:55 pm
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PCPC Editor created new article Groveton girls nip Lovelady for district track crown .
April 15 at 2:26 pm
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PCPC Editor created new article Dogwood Festival: a look at its return in photos .
April 15 at 1:01 pm
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PCPC Editor created new article Councilman recognized for birthday and service .
April 14 at 7:28 pm
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PCPC Editor created new article Tyler County declared 2A sanctuary .
April 14 at 7:19 pm
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PCPC Editor created new article Students gather food .
April 14 at 7:04 pm
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