Sound System Approved for Community Center
The Glasscock County Commissioners' Court approved purchase and installation of a public address system for the community center at its meeting Dec. 9. Steve Sturtz said the system will cost around $5,000, with $1,500 apiece being donated by the local 4-H Club's Billy Goat Bingo fund raiser and by the Community Center Foundation. The county will pay the balance. The equipment will be bought from and installed by Electronic Specialties of San Angelo. The system will initially serve what is called the community room and possible the large meeting room, with other rooms being tied in later, as funds are available. Whether the system can be functional by the January 2003 stock show is not known at this time.
Commissioners Squabble Over Maintainers; Buy New One
An item put on the agenda by Precinct Four Commissioner Michael Hoch to discuss advertising for bids to sell the Precinct Two (Mark Halfmann's) maintainer prompted spirited discussion. Hoch said he wanted to find out what Halfmann's John Deere maintainer was worth now, since Halfmann declined to take the guaranteed buyback on the machine and buy a new one two years ago. Halfmann said he was willing to take the buyback then, and would sell his machine now, if the commissioners would agree to operate with only three maintainers.
A debate ensued regarding how many maintainers the county should operate. Halfmann has long contended that the county should gradually reduce the number of maintainers it operates, since he says each year, more roads are paved and should require less maintainer work. However, the other three commissioners and the county judge say they don't think having four bosses (commissioners) and three machines is workable. Hoch said that arrangement would require a road foreman.
Hoch said Halfmann has never presented a plan as to how three maintainers would be shared. Halfmann replied that he thinks a method could be worked out, but it would require that all commissioners agree to do it, and then sit down and decide on a rotation.
Hoch said there was a time when the county operated only two sets of equipment, and two commissioners shared a set. He said two maintainers are easier to manage than three, and it might be possible to get back to two sets at some point in the future.
Precinct One Commissioner Jimmy Strube and Hoch again stated their views that buying a new maintainer for one of the precincts each year saves the county money in the long run because the trade-in value is greater and all the machines are fully covered by warranties. They also think Caterpillar machines are better and bring more money as trade-ins than John Deeres. Halfmann said his Deere maintainer is just fine.
Later, the commissioners voted 3 to 1 (Halfmann opposed) to accept the only bid for a new maintainer for Precinct Three (Hugh Schafer's). The bid, from Warren CAT, was $159,000, less a trade-in of $117,000, for a total of $42,000. The machine comes with a guaranteed repurchase of $107,000. The repurchase agreement can be exercised when the machine is three to five years old.
New FCS Agent Introduced
Charlene Belew was introduced to the court, which formally accepted her as the county's Family and Consumer Science Agent. The county will pay $11,500 of her salary (most of which is paid by the Texas Cooperative Extension Service) and $1,500 for her travel allowance. Belew will be working with 4-H and senior citizens as well as other projects. Belew is a Glasscock County native, the daughter of Dennis and Debbie Schraeder.
County Judge Wilburn Bednar reported that, according to attorney Glenna Mouton, no clear title is available to the three lots the county has been considering buying immediately east of the post office. She advised that if the county purchased the lots, it build no permanent structures on them. Hoch said there had to be a way to gain clear title; Bednar is to discuss it further with Mouton.
The court, with no discussion, declined to approve a resolution requested by the Mental Health and Mental Retardation office in Big Spring. The resolution would have asked that the state continue funding for MHMR.
The court decided to have an employee Christmas party Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. The meal of brisket and sausage with trimmings will be catered by Mrs. Martinez, at a cost to the county of $6 per plate.
County Employees Eligible for Cash Prizes
County Treasurer Alan Dierschke reported that, beginning this month, all county employees who have not qualified for a workmen's compensation insurance claim will be eligible for cash prizes from drawings. The prizes will be as low as $100 for a month's time, and go upward to as much as $1,000 for quarterly prizes. He said the program is sponsored and fully funded by the risk management insurance pool to which the county belongs, and is an attempt to reduce the number of frivolous workmen's comp claims. Bednar said, only half joking, that if an elected official wins one of the prizes, " he had better turn it back in."
Each member of the county court agreed to individually donate $20 to Project Graduation 2003.