County Commissioners appoint ESD #4 board

Steve Kerbow (Kerbow & Associates) made a presentation at Commissioners Court on the status of several grant applications. Van’Go’photo The Leon County Commissioners met on December 23rd to wrap up the county's 2009 business. All were present save Precinct 4 Commissioner Dean Player, who was travelling for the holidays. Opening ceremonies included a prayer for the county, led by Pastor Billy Bob Evans of Marquez Baptist Church.

The agenda included the appointing of a new board of commissioners for Emergency Services District #4. Appointed to serve for two years were Joel Echols, Pat Smith and Becky Barrilleaux. Joey Rodell and Scott Peavy were appointed to serve one year on the board.

The bulk of the meeting was spent in a discussion of several grant applications. Kerbow & Associates' representative Steve Kerbow made a brief presentation of plans to apply for a SECO (State Energy Conservation) grant to get Leon County their portion ($57,000+) of some stimulus funds earmarked for improvements which would save energy. The county plans to replace air conditioners with more economical units, per a bid from Freedom Air Conditioning. The commissioners approved Kerbow and Associates' 5% fee to submit the application, which Judge Ryder stated would "help... getting it in and getting it right", and meeting the short deadline.

A much longer discussion centered around Kerbow's request that the County allow him to amend an earlier application for ORCA grant funds related to Hurricane Ike. A single application with the county serving as the pass-through entity should bring $1.213 Million for the various cities and water systems in Leon County -- funds to be used to purchase generators to keep water available in the event of large-scale emergencies. The application, submitted in June, has still not been fully approved and funds are still tied up in Austin. The delays have been responsible for not meeting an EPA mandate for generators on local water systems and several of the water systems have received fine letters from TCEQ. Kerbow explained that administrative costs have been considerably higher than anticipated and requested permission to add to the application in order to cover his firm's additional expenses and audit fees. Ker- bow summed up, "The State is now managing 300,000 contracts and it has absolutely overwhelmed folks in Austin... In my 24 years of grant writing we've never asked for an increase -- this one has just been a curveball for us. We expected it to be done by now and we're only beginning." Commissioner David Ferguson questioned whether re-application might serve to further delay approval of the county's application in Austin, and the court tabled a decision on the request until their next meeting.

In other housekeeping matters, the commissioners: - added Jim Witt to the Sick Pool Policy Committee; - approved bonds as requested for a list of elected officials; - approved a road use agreement with R.W. Delaney Construction Company for CR 350 and Beddingfield Road in Precinct #3 to move a rig for BRG.

Auditor Susan Pugh had no budget amendments or line item transfers to submit. Looking ahead to the coming budget planning process, Pugh asked the court to allow her office to pursue other options for health insurance for county employees. She was authorized to look at the option of getting county retirees a reduced rate if their insurance is purchased through the county.

The commissioners and Judge Byron Ryder went into a brief executive session and afterward voted to pursue the application of "a company" that is considering locating in Leon County. Not at liberty to name the firm, Judge Ryder did imply that it would be a very good thing for the area if it comes to pass.