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ERATH COUNTY (August 13, 2015) — County Commissioners handled several major items and some housekeeping ones in Monday’s meeting, including the annual Meals on Wheels grant and the possible sale of county bridges to the Smith Airport among them.
“We approve this grant to the Erath County Senior Citizens every year so that they can apply for larger grants and continue their work here in Erath County. This year we’ve increased that grant some, but as the population that needs the service grows, so do the demands,” Erath County Judge Tab Thompson said following the unanimous approval of the Meals on Wheels grant. “The service they provide our senior citizens and other homebound residents is invaluable and we’re just pleased to do our part every year.”
The court also discussed the possibility of Smith Airport purchasing an old bridge that the county has in Precinct 2 that needs to removed as it is no longer being used. One commissioner pointed out that recently the county allowed the Dublin Public Library to use an old bridge, however, it was a different situation. Thompson said in that instance the county went out for bids and the library board won the bid. He believed that would have to happen again, but suggested the court consult the county attorney before taking action and the motion was put on the next meeting’s agenda.
Commissioners approved two slight increases in fees in the 2016 Sheriff’s and Constable Fees, the annual hazard mitigation action plan and discussed the donation to the county fire department. Chief Deputy Jason Upsahw told the court the increases in fees were to bring the county inline with other local departments. County Judge Tab Thompson advised the hazard mitigation plan was an annual resolution that put the county’s plan inline with the statewide emergency planning guidelines.
Erath County Volunteer Fire Rescue Chief Chris Brooks told the commissioners that he’d mistakenly requested to get rid of the old fire helmets so that the department could use the new helmets. However, upon reviewing the rule, he realized that meant destroying the helmets.
“I can’t speak for my guys,” Brooks told the court. “But the things that helmet has seen me through, it’s stuff I won’t forget and I can’t bring myself to destroy that helmet. I’d like to donate the old helmets to the firefighters who wore them. Mine will sit on a self in my office.”
In other business, the commissioners approved bonds for Jennifer Carry, Erath County Tax Assessor/Collector in Santo and Gordon ($50,000 each), granted permission for Herbert Brown (Pct. 2) to push a fence row on the Harrin property on County Road 355 and the permission to furnish material to put fence back on the same property. Brown explained he was requesting the county have an agreement with the landowner to provide the materials for the fence and he would do the work replacing the fence after county pushed the fence row.
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