County Raises Caliche, Hauling Fees
Glasscock County Commissioners, at their regular meeting Feb. 14 (Mark Halfmann absent), raised the prices it charges others for various materials and services, including those for caliche, equipment use and hauling. Commissioner Marck Schafer introduced the matter, saying the county should try to accommodate people, but shouldn’t lose money on the services it provides. He said the fees haven’t been changed since 1991, and cited increased costs to the county for fuel, equipment and labor.
In the future, the county will continue to charge others only what it pays for various road-building materials (including $1 per yard for caliche), and will increase the cost of hauling from $2 per yard to $3 per yard. The cost for use of equipment (such as maintainers) will rise from $30 per hour to $45 per hour. Water will be sold by the truckload, and will go up from the current $45 to $54 per load in the large transport truck and from $20 to $36 per load in the smaller water truck. The price the county pays for water will also increase, to $22 per load in the large truck and $9 per load in the smaller, up from $15 and $6, respectively.
Loss of Unused Indigent Health Care Dollars Possible
The county court voted to spend $300 per year to join the Association of Rural Communities in Texas (ARCIT). That group is fighting bills before the Texas legislature which would redefine how counties may use the 8 percent of local tax dollars which each county is required to earmark for indigent health care each year. Currently, unspent monies in these funds may be spent at the discretion of county government. In Glasscock County, almost none of the funds are ever spent, and the total amount ($164,000 in the last fiscal year) is rolled into the county’s general operating fund at year’s end.
According to Glasscock County Treasurer Alan Dierschke, one bill before the legislature would require that unspent indigent health care funds go to a state fund to support trauma centers in various hospitals. Another bill would require that at least six percent of each county’s fund be spent on indigent health care or the county would have to relax the criteria for qualifying for use of the funds in the next year. Schafer referred to the plans as “another Robin Hood.”
On Jan. 18, the court voted to buy a used haul trailer in Odessa for $23,000. They plan to sell the existing trailer (after some repair) and other used county equipment. Commissioners agreed to compile a list of such equipment by the March meeting and to advertise for bids.
The court passed a resolution recognizing the West Texas Centers for Mental Health and Mental Retardation as the dominant local authority and provider of services for mental health and mental retardation. The resolution asks the state to support the organization and to expand its role in the area. It also asks that House Bill 470 and Senate Bill 194 be given “intense scrutiny” with regard to their detrimental impact on rural counties.
Historical Commission Appointed
The commissioners appointed a county historical commission consisting of Randy Sanders, Janie Branham, Helen Wilkerson, Alan Dierschke and Pam Hughes. The court appointed Dierschke to chair that commission. They also appointed Hugh Schafer and Michael Hoch to the county tax appraisal board and suggested that group put Mitchell Jansa on its agricultural advisory board. Rick Harston was again appointed to the Region F Water Planning Group as a non-voting member.
Dierschke reported that an attorney has not completed a review of proposed changes to the county’s employee handbook, but hopefully will have done so by next month’s meeting. (See related article, County Manual Changes
Courthouse Custodian Diane Havlak got permission to hire David Lorea of San Angelo to lower sprinklers in the courthouse lawn to ground level so mowers won’t hit them. The estimated cost was $400. Havlak said she wants to refinish the floors in the community center to improve their looks and durability. She intends to put four or five coats of wax on them and said she would need some help with the polisher, which she will borrow from the school.
March 1 Deadline for Fire Truck
Bednar reported that progress is being made toward getting a fire truck, which was donated by the U.S. Forest Service, into working order by a March 1 deadline. After that date, the Forest Service will reclaim the truck if it is not ready for use. Marck Schafer said that since few people know how to operate the truck, more need to be trained in its use, possibly including some school employees. Jimmy Strube asked if the school might be able to provide storage for the truck. Bednar said he would discuss the matter with School Superintendent Steve Long.
After a closed session to discuss personnel matters, County Judge Wilburn Bednar said that county employees would be required to pay for any overuse of cell phones, and that the county dump/landfill would be open during all posted hours (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday).
The commissioners approved a contract with Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins and Mott, LLP for collection of justice of the peace fines. The company will get 20 percent of collected fines that were dated before June 19, 1983. For those since that date, the company will add 30 percent to the fine for its collection, with the county getting the entire original fine.