North & East Texas
Denton County is now a partner with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Regional Transportation Council for $90 million in improvements to FM2499. Commissioners also approved issuing $50.6 million in bonds and
$10.5 million in tax notes to fund several county projects, including a new jail and juvenile probation facility.
Ellis County Judge Carol Bush is one of five appointments recently made by Governor Rick Perry to the board that oversees the Texas Department of Juvenile Justice.
Fannin County Commissioners Court voted to name the county’s new AgriLife extension office in honor of former County Judge Derrell Hall.
Franklin County Commissioners Court approved the purchase of eight new security cameras and related equipment from Network Technologies for $3,300.
Grayson County Commissioners Court honored longtime county resident Patsy Sims, a nurse who retired after working the midnight shift for 50 years at a nursing home in Whitesboro.
Gregg County Commissioners Court accepted a donation of $2,848 from Quantum Resources Management to continue a subscription for the sheriff’s office to LeadsOnline, an online pawn shop and law enforcement database to assist agencies and officers in tracking thefts.
Johnson County Commissioners Court approved tax abatements for Delek Renewables, a biodiesel production facility in Cleburne. Delek is planning a
$3.9 million remodeling project of an existing building where 19 employees will work.
Kaufman County Commissioners Court approved the purchase of Workflow, web-based software to track county employees’ time.
Leon County Commissioner Dean Player retired March 24 from Precinct 4 after a recent hospitalization, according to a report in the Buffalo Express.
Madison County Commissioners Court approved an electrical contract with Arizpe Contractors for $18,573 to replace lighting in the courthouse with energy efficient lights.
Rains County Commissioners Court approved the release of up to $3 million from the permanent school fund for renovations and improvements at 42-year-old Wildcat Stadium of Rains ISD.
Rusk County Commissioners Court approved a change in its inmate services company to Swanson Inmate Services.
Upshur County Commissioners Court approved a one-year contract with Reinhart Food Service of Shreveport, La., to provide food for county jail prisoners.
South Texas
Burleson County Commissioners Court approved a contract of $488,000 for criminal justice software and a five-year maintenance plan for $214,000 with American Cadastre (AMCAD) of Herndon, Va. The commissioners court also approved a contract of $649,000 for courthouse stabilization and restoration with Hayward Baker of Broomfield, Colo.
Comal County conducted a ceremony to mark the completion of Krueger Canyon Dam, a lengthy $23 million flood control project on Dry Comal Creek, which threatens New Braunfels with floodwaters.
Fort Bend County Commissioners Court approved plans for a new building and facilities for the central appraisal district in Rosenberg expected to cost $1.4 million.
Lavaca County Commissioners Court approved receipt of a donation of $30,000 from the Dickson-Allen Foundation to purchase equipment for ambulances of the county’s rescue service.
Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to ban the use of tobacco on all county-owned properties both indoors and outdoors.
West Texas
Bandera County Commissioners Court approved the donation of 27 Garmin GPS systems to local fire departments and the county EMS.
Brown County Commissioners Court approved a farmers’ market in a covered parking area north of the courthouse in Brownwood on Saturdays from April to August.
Carson County Commissioners Court approved tax abatements for Route 66 Wind Power.
Clay County Commissioners Court voted to spend $3,120 to dispose of hazardous waste from illegal drug manufacturing in the county. The Clay County Leader said a company from the Gulf Coast will collect the waste and dispose of it at a site in Port Arthur.
Crockett County Commissioners Court approved the purchase of COPsync, a real-time, information-sharing system for the sheriff’s office. The Ozona Stockman said more than 320 Texas law enforcement agencies now use the program.
Hardeman County Commissioners Court learned that the county’s hazard mitigation plan has been approved by federal and state agencies.
Jack County Commissioners Court approved a five-year elevator maintenance agreement with the Otis Elevator Company.
Kerr County Sheriff W.R. (Rusty) Hierholzer received the 2013 Community Builder Award from the Kerrville Masonic Lodge 697 “in recognition of his distinguished service and personal contributions to the community.” The mayor and city council also honored Hierholzer for his 32 years of service as a county law enforcement officer.
McCulloch County is registering cell phone users for its new emergency notification system. Judge Danny Neal told the Brady Standard-Herald, “We are proud to offer this new service to the public.” All landline numbers already have been obtained for the new system from the 911 database.
Montague County offices, including those for the county judge, treasurer, auditor, clerk, attorney and tax assessor, moved in March into new facilities in the new county annex in Bowie.
Moore County Commissioners Court approved the purchase of the law enforcement software COPsync, a real-time, information-sharing network, for the sheriff’s department, for a price of $172,508.
Nolan County Commissioners Court has selected Wiginton, Hooker and Jeffry Architects and Turner Construction for its new $9 million county jail and sheriff’s office.
Parker County Commissioners Court voted to renew the county’s agreement with Tarrant Regional Auto Crimes Task Force.
Taylor County Commissioners Court approved a state grant of $24,500 to fund juvenile and parental services in the county’s juvenile justice department.
Terry County contracted with EDOC Technologies to digitize and make available its public records on the county’s website this spring. They include property transfers, tax liens, and other records available through the Public Information Act.
Wheeler County Commissioners Court approved a preliminary cost of $6.9 million to construct a new 48-bed law enforcement center. Southwest Architects will serve as the county’s agent. H
– Compiled by Garner Roberts