North & East Texas
Bell County received a perfect score during a state performance rating of its juvenile justice alternative education program. Commissioners Court also authorized limited tax notes for $10.1 million for capital improvement projects in 2014-17 and approved purchases of an x-ray inspection system and maintenance for $24,555 from Smiths Detection, interior and exterior cameras for $71,935 for the juvenile detention center, and pavement markings from D.I.J. Construction of Bertram.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins and Commissioner John Wiley Price participated in groundbreaking ceremonies for the $12.6 million Pleasant Run Road Bridge in Wilmer. Price told the Ellis County Press the bridge will “open up land in this area for manufacturing jobs, future homes, and overall growth and prosperity.”
Denton County Commissioners Court approved tax abatements for Holt Caterpillar, which plans a new $11.5 million dealership of 50,000 square feet and associated support buildings. The Denton Record Chronicle said Holt is the authorized Caterpillar dealer for 118 counties in Texas.
Ellis County Commissioners Court approved the purchase of equipment for up to $50,000 to improve security of the courthouse, courts building, and supervision and corrections department building.
Henderson County Commissioners Court approved a permit for construction of a 570-mile natural gas pipeline that passes through eastern Henderson County.
Hill County Commissioners Court approved four bridge projects totaling about $1.4 million with federal and state grants and a local match of about 3.7 percent.
Limestone County Commissioners Court awarded a contract to Utah-based Management and Training Corp. to operate the detention center. MTC operates 22 correctional facilities in nine states, including Texas.
Montgomery County sheriff’s office purchased 15 in-car digital cameras with related hardware from Coban Technologies for $87,125 through an agreement with Houston-Galveston Area Council. Commissioners Court also approved a tax abatement for Layne Christian, a Kansas City-based drilling company that will occupy 51,000 square feet of an office building and employ 135 people in 2014 with an average salary of $105,000.
Nacogdoches County Commissioners Court approved an agreement with the School of Human Sciences at Stephen F. Austin State University for internships for students studying for careers in civic centers, expo centers and AgriLife programs.
Panola County Commissioners Court approved security upgrades for the judicial complex and accepted a donation of $114,000 from Anadarko Petroleum Corp. for road repairs.
Rusk County Commissioners Court approved a reinvestment zone and tax abatements for an oil and gas company named 101 S. Marshall LP. Commissioners Court also approved an agreement with the city of Henderson police department to cooperate on narcotics investigations.
San Jacinto County Commissioners Court approved the purchase of 29 bulletproof vests for the sheriff’s department for $539 each for a total of about $17,200.
Smith County Commissioners Court approved donations of $15,000 from Southern Utilities and $5,000 from Delek Refinery for the purchase of Taser CEWs (conducted electrical weapons) for the sheriff’s office.
Walker County Commissioners Court approved $15,893 to complete the purchase of a new brush truck for the Riverside VFD, which also received $70,000 from an unidentified citizen and $5,000 from the emergency services district for the $90,000 vehicle. Commissioners Court also approved the purchase of personal protection equipment for road and bridge crews to wear when battling wildfires.
Wood County Commissioners Court approved an agreement with Brinson Benefits of Dallas to provide employee benefit consultant services.
South Texas
Aransas County will receive $3 million in state funding for the Cedar Bayou-Vinson Slough dredging project.
Austin County Commissioners Court approved one-year contracts of $14,900 for Laserfiche document imaging from ImageTek and $50,309 for EdocSuite electronic filing from Edoc Technologies for the county clerk.
Bastrop County Commissioners Court approved tax abatements for Go Green International, which harvests and disposes of potentially hazardous timber killed by fire and drought at no cost to the property owner. Harvested trees are converted into a biomass fuel product.
Bexar County Commissioners Court launched a $175 million project to transform San Pedro Creek into a linear park to preserve the creek’s role in downtown San Antonio flood control. Commissioners Court also issued $328 million in bonds to complete a 10-year flood control program that started in 2007.
Caldwell County Commissioners Court authorized
$4.5 million in series 2013 tax notes for construction of a judicial center – with any remaining funds used for upgrades to county facilities.
Calhoun County Commissioners Court approved contracts of $560,000 with Lester Contracting for beach restoration at Port Alto and $343,832 with Shirley & Sons Construction for a fishing pier at Seadrift. Funds came from the Coastal Impact Assistant Program that makes use of federal offshore oil and gas royalty payments.
Chambers County purchased a new patrol dog, Yoeri, for its sheriff’s department. A donation of $12,700 from the Shane Detwiler Foundation funded the purchase along with a bulletproof vest.
Colorado County Commissioners Court honored members of the Weimar High School boys golf team and girls softball team as 2013 Texas Class A state champions.
Hidalgo County will implement vote centers for the November election. Vote centers are countywide polling places similar to what is used during early voting where voters can cast their ballots at any of location.
Kendall County Commissioners Court appointed Darrell Lux, a Commissioner for 12 years, to serve as County Judge after the resignation and death in June of Gaylan Schroeder.
Lavaca County Commissioners Court honored the 2013 Hallettsville High School baseball team for winning the Texas Class 2A state championship.
Refugio County Commissioners Court approved tax abatements for the owner of a McDonald’s who plans to rebuild and expand his restaurant.
Travis County has a new Commissioner for Precinct 2. Bruce Todd, lobbyist and former Austin mayor and Travis County Commissioner, was appointed to replace Sarah Eckhardt, who is campaigning for the County Judge’s seat that Sam Biscoe is leaving Dec. 31, 2014.
Val Verde County Commissioners Court approved a $1.2 million tax note to fund improvements, including emergency management, 4-H facilities, pumper truck for volunteer fire department, and the women’s shelter. Half will be divided equally among the four precincts at $150,000 each. Also, Precinct 2 Commissioner Lewis Owens resigned.
Victoria County Commissioners Court approved the purchase of new equipment and 34 Taser CEWs (conducted electrical weapons) for courtroom deputies and patrol officers with federal grants from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Program. The total purchase cost was $30,516.
West Texas
Brown County Commissioners Court approved a purchase by the sheriff’s office of forensics equipment for investigations, four Taser CEWs (conducted electrical weapons), and a tactical vest and helmet for a new officer.
Carson County Commissioners Court approved a contract with Allied Compliance Services for drug and alcohol testing.
Comanche County Commissioners Court approved funding of $6,500 to purchase new bunker gear for the Sipe Springs VFD, which also received a forest service grant of $35,000 for the project.
Dawson County has a new County Judge. Precinct 4 Commissioner Foy O’Brien was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Judge Allen Wells, who resigned for health reasons. O’Brien’s replacement as Commissioner is Russell Cox.
Jeff Davis County Commissioners Court approved the purchase of a new state-of-the-art ambulance funded by donations to replace a 1992 model and accepted a grant of $250,000 for security of county buildings.
Jones County Commissioners Court voted to reopen the courthouse basement to use as a storm shelter during severe weather.
Lubbock County Commissioners Court approved a contract of $946,713 with Earth Builders, Inc., of Decatur to rehabilitate a portion of CR 3600 and drainage culverts north of Slaton. Commissioner Mark Heinrich told the Lubbock Avalanche Journal, “This project will increase accessibility and make sure first responders have access to the area.”
Parker County Commissioners Court appointed Jenny Barnwell of Weatherford, a county employee since 2009, as treasurer from among 18 applicants to fill the unexpired term of Jim Thorp, who died in March.
Parmer County received a grant to replace bulletproof vests for the sheriff’s department.
Taylor County Commissioners Court approved the purchase of about 5,000 new seats for the county coliseum for $479,849 from Irwin Seating Co. of Grand Rapids, Mich.
Wheeler County Commissioners Court approved an upgrade for the county’s COPsync real-time, information-sharing system for the sheriff’s department for $96,047, including new computers, software, installation, training, GPS receivers and support. H
– Compiled by Garner Roberts