County Helps Pay DPS Secretary
The Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court agreed Aug. 8 to pay $500 per month to help pay a $2,000 monthly salary for a Howard County employee who serves as Department of Public Safety secretary for a four-county area. DPS trooper Weldon Jones said the Howard County office serves Howard, Glasscock, Reagan and Upton counties. He said Howard County is paying the current salary of $1,500, and providing office space and equipment, but Jones said a salary increase is needed. Reagan and Upton counties do not pay part of the salary, but provide the DPS office space, computers and cell phones, which Glasscock County does not provide.
Jones said the DPS plans to have a trooper on Highway 158 every Friday and Sunday afternoons/evenings.
Tax Values increase Over Last Year
Official tax appraisal roll information made available July 25 by chief appraiser Royce Pruit shows Glasscock County’s 2005 total appraised value to be $687,683,410, an increase of $17,648,288 over last year’s value. The total taxable value for 2005 is $548,726,630, an increase of $12,094,219.
The court adopted a county vehicle use policy. They had previously discussed the risk management organization’s rules regarding the use of county vehicles, and the county’s liability. All department heads will be asked to sign the policy.
Although the court agreed a year ago to provide $2,500 annually to help fund a victim rights organization out of Big Spring, it delayed renewing that funding until it has more information regarding how much the organization is used in Glasscock County. County Treasurer Alan Dierschke said the organization has sustained cuts in state funding. He said everyone should hope the group’s services are not needed here at all.
The commissioners’ court took no action on an inter-local agreement with Midland County that provides for mutual emergency medical service and fire department assistance in emergencies. County Judge Wilburn Bednar gave commissioners copies of the agreement and got their approval to have the county attorney review it.