Separating Sheriff/Tax-Assessor to be on November Ballot
With no public discussion, the Glasscock County Commissioners Court at its regular meeting Aug. 13, voted to put an item on the Nov. 6 election ballot that would separate the county sheriff’s position from that of county tax assessor-collector, effective Jan. 1, 2009. Both are elected positions.
Although Sheriff Royce “Booger” Pruit’s term doesn’t expire until Dec. 31, 2008, the action was said to be necessary now so that potential candidates could sign up in December 2007 for March 2008 primaries.
Commissioners say they do not think that separating the offices will cost the county more money than it currently spends on tax office and sheriff’s department personnel, and that the change shouldn’t require more office space. They say a more complete discussion of the matter will be forthcoming.
No Interest in Fire Buildings Construction/Renovation?
There were no bids for proposed work on the fire department buildings in Garden City. County Treasurer Alan Dierschke said he provided specifications to ABCO, Sturgeon, Steve Jansa, Lee George and Phillips Fabrications.
County Judge Wilburn Bednar told the court he would like to hand the job of Emergency Management Coordinator to someone else. He has been the coordinator for several years. The job entails being responsible for emergency planning and seeing that the county is in compliance with Homeland Security requirements. Bednar said Martin County pays their chief of police $1,000 per month to handle that extra job, and he said Deputy Keith Burnett is willing to take the job for that salary here. After some discussion, the matter was tabled with no action taken.
Dierschke said all elected officials are being required to take four courses related to disaster preparedness before Jan. 1.
Paving Bid Accepted
Commissioners on Aug. 14 accepted a $260,000 bid from Lipham Construction to seal coat 12.3 miles of roads and to rebuild approximately 1000 feet. The other bid was from Ronald R. Wagner and Co. for $261,529. The work will be done on County Road 125 (from CR 110 south to FM 2401) and on CR 170 (from CR125 east to FM 33), and is to be done in the next two months
The court again discussed whether to contribute to West Texas Rural Counties’ risk management pool, but made no decision in the matter. WTRC is hoping to raise at least $1.4 million in member contributions in an effort to save 12 percent on the cost of its reinsurance, As of Aug. 10, seven of WTRC’s 15 member counties had committed between $100,000 and $200,000 each, for a total of $950,000. Glasscock, Sterling and Reagan Counties have not yet decided on whether to contribute; and five others will not contribute. Member counties will be paid 10 percent interest on the money they contribute, with the funds secured by Wells Fargo, according to Dierschke. Commissioner Jimmy Strube reported that Dierschke is taking his place on the WTRC board.
The commissioners approved an insurance premium for county employees of $516.25 per person per month for the next year, which includes medical insurance and a $25,000 life and accidental death policy. Dierschke said even though this has been a bad year for the county in terms of claims, the premium is unchanged from the previous year.
The court accepted a contract with the same auditor, at a cost of $11,000 per year. They also approved a tax on “goods in transit” which they may not choose to collect. The information and discussion relating to this tax was vague, but related to State HB 621.