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San Jacinto County News - Breakout

County, Sheriff’s Office squabble over grant

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SanJacCountySealBy Tony Farkas
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COLDSPRING — While the San Jacinto County Commissioners Court approved a new deputy position for the Sheriff’s Office, a request to apply for a state grant became a point of contention.

At the regular county meeting on Wednesday, Chief Tim Kean told the court it was “getting on his last nerve” because commissioners questioned certain requirements of the grant.

The grant was approved by the Legislature this year, and $100 million has been set aside to combat the effects of the border crisis, such as deterring illegal immigration, smuggling of people, drugs and weapons, and human trafficking.

Kean told the court he was seeking a little more than $1.7 million to set the county up as the center of a seven-county task force to help reduce border-related criminal activity, which in the county included a mass shooting which led to five deaths, meth labs and marijuana grow houses and even cartel activity.

He told the court that the town of Plum Grove, which is in Liberty County near Cleveland, is believed to have 90,000 illegal immigrants there, and that soon illegal immigrants will outnumber citizens there.

The grant would fund six officers and an analyst, as well as necessary equipment. It would cover overtime for officers donated to the task force from the surrounding six counties.

Commissioner Laddie McAnally pointed out that since the county would be the hub of the task force, it would be liable for repaying grant funds, especially if funds are misused or grant requirements were not followed.

“There’s a lot in here to digest,” he said.

County Judge Fritz Faulkner reminded Kean that if questions regarding the grant funds arise, then he would be the one fielding calls from the state; Commissioner David Brandon said the resolution seeking the grant does not mention the judge.

Kean said the grant resolution was written by the state, and his office could not apply for the grant without a scanned resolution sent in.

“This takes me out of the loop, but I’m the one getting the calls when there’s auditing,” Faulkner said. “On any grant we’ve every applied for, I always have done that, but this is taking me over here and setting me on the bench. You’re trying to take the court out and setting the Sheriff ahead of that.

“I’ve backed the sheriff on everything he’s done, but you’re kicking me right in the teeth,” Faulkner said.

Kean said he’s just bringing to the court for permission to apply, but the court was now “trying my patience.

“If that’s how you want to do it, let’s do whatever we’re going to do here,” Kean said. “It’s free money, a 100 percent grant. Who turns that down? San Jacinto County, that’s who does. We’ll bring this to the people.”

Kean told McAnally that he felt the sheriff’s office would steal the funds; McAnally responded that there was more to the grant than was being presented, and Commissioners Mark Nettuno and Donnie Marrs agreed.

Faulkner reiterated that on the face of it, the grant bypassed the checks and balances of the commissioners’ court, and that needed to be addressed since it was unlike any other grant the county has received.

In the end, the court tabled the measure until its questions could be answered.

The court did, however, approved a new deputy to be attached to a multi-county stolen vehicle task force, which will be paid for by grant funds obtained by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

In other business, the commissioners:

•waived rental fees for SAAFE House for a bingo fundraiser to be held at the storm shelter on Aug. 26;

•designated David Brandon and Mark Nettuno as representatives on the DETCOG board of directors;

•approved a modified agreement with DETCOG for its services;

•approved Faulkner as representative to the Burk Center Board of Trustees, with Faulkner abstaining from the vote;

•approved seeking quotes from firms for the demolition of homes purchased in the county’s buyout program;

•approved the purchase of a 2023 Silverado pickup;

•declared 2 pieces of county equipment as surplus to be sold at auction;

•approved a lot split for Javid Johnson;

•approved a burn ban for the county for 30 days; and

•approved and ordinance allowing the county to designate areas that could not be used for landfills.

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San Jacinto County issues burn ban

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burn ban logo

SJNT staff

COLDSPRING — County Judge Fritz Faulkner has issued a burn ban for the county.

The proclamation, issued Friday afternoon, declares that “circumstances present in the unincorporated area of the county create a public safety hazard that would be exacerbated by outdoor burning.”

The order is to last 30 days unless the county removes the ban once conditions improve.

The order includes bans on burning trash, household items or other combustible materials, such as grass, hay, sticks or wood of any kind.

The order does not prohibit outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety like firefighter training; public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations; or planting or harvesting of agricultural crops; or activities conducted by a prescribed burn manager; burning related to commercial food establishments; or propane and cooking fires under safe and controlled conditions.

Additionally, the ban does not apply if a burn is conducted by personnel of a federal or state agency, or an institution of higher education on agency owned or managed properties, or for the purpose of research by federal or State agency, or institution of higher education.

Violation of this county ordinance is punishable by citation and fines of up to $500.

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Point Blank council begins budget process

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Point Blank City LogoBy Tony Farkas
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POINT BLANK — The new fiscal year budget for the city of Point Blank focuses on roads and history.

The council discussed proposed budget items at its regular meeting on July 10.

Mayor Mark Wood said the city will receive a new grant of $500,000 for specific projects in the city, and a second grant for $500,000 is a definite possibility.

He said they are looking to shore up roads and drainage throughout the city; for the current fiscal year, the budgeted funds were spent, and the council hopes to add additional monies for more street work.

Also, since the city has initiated an ordinance regarding short-term rentals, the fees that have been collected need to be spent. Wood said that in the next budget, those fees would be used for preservation of historical items and areas.

“There’s a lot of history in this area that needs to be accumulated,” he said. “I want to set up a committee to begin that process.”

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City deals with grant business

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coldspringcityBy Tony Farkas
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COLDSPRING — The Coldspring City Council dealt with several grant-related items at its July 10 meeting.

The council delayed approval for General Land Office Resilient Community Program resolutions for more information but discussed a $631,000 mitigation grant for which the city is waiting on a contract.

That money is to be used to extend a sewer line to the city limits on FM 2025.

Additionally, the council discussed using COVID recovery funds for repairs to lift station handle the load from the new line and will soon seek bids.

In other business, the council:

•approved a change order to put air conditioning and air movers in the new concession stand/restroom building at the baseball park at a cost of $40,000;

•modified its parade ordinance to add a Fire Department review for all requests. The council is encouraging early applications for parades;

•discussed nuisance complaints for addresses at 301 Highway 150 and 210 Slade, which should be taken care of by the property owners;

•approved an ordinance to participate in the Texas Municipal Retirement System;

•read a proclamation recognizing the efforts of Coldspring Quilts for Kids;

•discussed a review by the Texas Department of Transportation on speed limits on Highway 150, and will do an additional review near the junior high school; and

•discussed companies posting off-site signage, which must have city approval.

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County residents defend, decry sheriff

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Jenifer Jones displays a picture of her brother who was murdered, and accused the Sheriff’s Office of ignoring the case. Photo by Tony FarkasJenifer Jones displays a picture of her brother who was murdered, and accused the Sheriff’s Office of ignoring the case. Photo by Tony Farkas

By Tony Farkas
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COLDSPRING — San Jacinto County residents offered praise and criticism for their sheriff, but only criticism for the Commissioners Court, during heated public forum comments at a Wednesday meeting.

Taking up roughly half of the regular meeting of the San Jacinto County Commissioners Court, the comments came on the heels of a recent Associated Press/Yahoo News article alleging corruption at the Sheriff’s Office.

The article, which came out the weekend of July 8, claimed that Sheriff Greg Capers gave inaccurate figures regarding the office’s response to the mass shooting, and discussed a LION report alleging a “culture of corruption.”

Because of the information in the article, Dale Tiller demanded that the county investigate the department and called Capers unprofessional and a political joke; Annalisha Tiller said there are 1,700 people living in the Trails End area of the county who are scared to speak out because of repercussions.

Most of those in the audience, though, offered support, and condemned the commissioners for not fully supporting the department; Charissa Arizpe said that 40 percent of the court was biased against the sheriff.

Sheena Bass told the court that as a 40-year citizen of the country, she never thought that she would ever be ashamed of the people she voted for, but the character assassination of the sheriff is a shame and unacceptable, and it was time to vote the commissioners out of office.

“These are despicable means you are using … you are trying to destroy a man,” she said. “You are to do our bidding.”

George Garrett called the AP article a hit job and infuriating because it had nothing to do with the timeline of the deputies’ response, and even equated Capers to former Sheriff James “Humpy” Parker, who was convicted of torturing prisoners, illegally arresting motorists and extortion.

“Commissioner David Brandon’s comment (in the article) tied those two together,” Garrett said. “You could have taken the high road, but you didn’t.”

Garrett admonished the court to do their jobs and give the sheriff the items he needs to do the job.

“You guys need to take a look at yourselves and come together to support our county,” he said.

The comments were tied to a piece of business before the court where the Sheriff’s Office had requested to raise pay for jailers to around the $20 mark. Chief Tim Kean said that the jail was short 11 people, and because of low pay, they have not seen an application in months.

Kean said that other businesses in the area, such as Panda Express, hire people at higher wages that the county pays people to house criminal suspects, some of whom have attacked jailers.

He also said that if the problems that currently exist at the jail are not remedied, the state could take control of the situation, which could cost the county more.

Commissioners questioned the raises in relation to the banked comp time the jailers have and whether it would be paid out at the new rate or the rate when the time was accrued. The matter was settled when the court approved paying out all banked time prior to the raise, which amounts to $43,000, and then ending comp time in favor of paying overtime.

The court also approved the requested raises — $2.52 per hour for temporary-licensed jailers and $3.52 for licensed jailers.

In other business, the court:

•tabled an agreement with Lubbock County for capital case public defenders;

•extended an agreement with Tyler Technologies for software;

•approved the purchase of a pickup truck from Martin Chevrolet for $40,074, and from Covert Chevrolet-Oldsmobile for $40,916. The vehicles will be used by the permitting office;

•approved completion of the Texas election form;

•approved a change to the broker representing MASA and allowing that person to negotiate with county employees regarding helicopter and ambulance transport;

•approved seeking quotes for a copier for the maintenance department;

•declared 17 label makers as salvage; and

•approved a lot split for Eddie Ellisor pending the results of a drainage survey.

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