San Jacinto County News - Breakout

Write a comment

Sheriff Greg Capers congratulates Charles Dougherty, who was promoted from detective sergeant to lieutenant of the Criminal Investigation Division. Courtesy photo

Special to the News-Times

COLDSPRING — San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers made moves within the office to help promote his vision of growth within his staff.

Capers said it is his policy to provide the opportunity for advancement within his office, and the promotion of a highly qualified and motivated 35-year-old professional is evidence of that.

Lt. Charles Dougherty joined the force in 2018 from a neighboring Texas Police Department to expand his horizons in law enforcement, and has made a rapid progression into a senior command staff position at a young age.

Capers said that there are numerous issues facing law enforcement, making it crucial to for his office to attract and keep talented professionals like Dougherty, all to provide for the safety and security of San Jacinto County residents.

“According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, some 58,000 arrests were made of illegals during the month of April, and even more alarming was the reported 234,000 ‘got-aways’ during the same period,” Capers said. “This increases the need for good people.”

Dougherty said law enforcement always has been a lifelong ambition.

“I feel blessed to have the opportunity to supervise the dedicated detectives of this Division and to serve the citizens of San Jacinto County where I know my services will be appreciated,” he said.

1 Comment

By Tony Farkas
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SHEPHERD — The Shepherd City Council tended to all the details to start the process of replacing all water meters with automatic read meters at its regular meeting on June 13. City Secretary Debra Hagler said the replacement has not started since the meters are backordered, and it could be up to 6 months before meters start hitting the ground.

The council approved a purchasing agreement through The Interlocal Purchasing System, approved a contract with Bee Engineering to report on estimated revenue benefits, contracted with AMI Water Meters and approved a lease-purchase agreement with First Security Finance.

Hagler said the benefit to city will be more accurate readings, which is guaranteed for 20 years; based on that, it will increase revenues for the city. She also said the public will benefit as there will be an app to monitor daily usage.

The city also will catch leaks quicker, and since the meters are read automatically, it will free up manhours for Public Works personnel since they won’t be tasked with reading meters.

The city has no plans to raise rates, as AMI has guaranteed that the increased revenue will pay for the meters, Hagler said

In other business, the council:

• approved a division of property on Finger and Seal streets for Mike Rose, making six sections out of three;

• tabled a lot split request for Nahum Soto for more information;

• tabled a discussion regarding RV parks as the concerned party was not there;

• tabled action on roadside trees as the concerned party was not there;

• amended an RV ordinance based on recommendations from engineers; and

• approved sending letters to property owners regarding two structures that have been deemed unsafe and substandard.

Write a comment

By Tony Farkas
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

COLDSPRING — San Jacinto County looks to shore up storm runoff with Hazard Mitigation Program grant funds.

At its regular meeting on Wednesday, Jennifer Boyd of Langford Community Management Services told the County Commissioners Court, absent Laddie McAnnally and David Brandon, that there currently are three applications in the works.

The grants deal with soil stabilization in three of the four county precincts, and the deadline to submit is June 30. It will require a 10 percent match from the county; the county would find out about the grant status around the beginning of 2023.

Additionally, Boyd said the grants work on a reimbursement basis, meaning the county will do the work and then submit requests through Langford for the funds.

In other business, the commissioners:

• approved the abandonment of a portion of Bishop Road in Outlaw Ridge Estates;

• approved merging two lots in the Bay Hill subdivision;

• renewed the county’s liability coverage with the Texas Association of Counties;

• renewed the county’s health benefits with the Texas Association of Counties;

• named Tanya Matthews as wellness coordinator;

• approved a bond renewal for Jaclyn Williams; and

• approved an exception to the county rehire policy to allow the hiring of Jailer James Bour.

Write a comment

The city plans to use an alternate repair process, which involves scraping the existing asphalt, crushing it and mixing it with concrete, and then relaying the mixture and flattening it.

By Tony Farkas
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

POINT BLANK — City leaders plan to try a new method for road repair in the city of Point Blank.

Mayor Mark Wood said that the council discussed projects that will start this week, which are the next step in the city’s repair plan.

Wood said the city has spent $40,000 of the roadwork budget of $70,000.

The city plans to use an alternate repair process, which involves scraping the existing asphalt, crushing it and mixing it with concrete, and then relaying the mixture and flattening it.

“It at least makes a good road base,” he said. “We’ll check on its longevity.”

He said the city plans to try the method on a portion of White Oak Street in the Northwood Subdivision.

The city also discussed its finances; Wood said that as of this month the city is in the black overall, even though some large roadwork bills came due.

Wood said that sales tax revenue for the city is holding up, and that biggest source of that tax money is Amazon, which is averaging $8,800 per month. He also said internet companies represent about 60 percent of all tax revenue for the city.

“It’s phenomenal how the market has changed in the last 10 years,” he said.

In other business, the council:

• discussed a regional mitigation program grant the city will receive, which amounts to about $500,000; and
• discussed fee collection from the city’s new short term lease ordinance.