Commissioners honor Col. Wallace for service to county

Col. and Mrs. Wallace Judge Bryon Ryder presided over the April 28th meeting of the Leon County Commissioners Court. Early in the meeting he and the commissioners took the opportunity to recognize Col. James Wallace who is resigning his post after serving five years as Executive Director of the Leon Health Resource Center. Col. Wallace and his wife Mary posed for photos with the commissioners and were presented with a plaque commemorating his years of leadership. The colonel graciously thanked the County for "the opportunity to serve".

Later in the meeting, the Court approved the appoint- ment of Teresa Harris to the position of vacated by Col. Wallace. Harris, who has a BS in Health Education from Sam Houston State, stated she is looking forward to building on what Col. Wallace has already accomplished with the resource center. As the new Executive Director, her primary focus over the next year will be to meet the one remaining goal of the 4-year grant -- that of bringing specialty care to Leon County, including cardiology and optometry. She also wants to get the word out to county employees that the center is a Scott & White Insurance provider. "Blood work, anything they are driving to Bryan for, is available here," Harris concluded.

Veterans Services Officers Gary and Susan Maples also had an award to present at the meeting. At an annual awards ceremony at Fort Hood on April 15, Major General William F. Grimsley presented a certificate of appreciation to the citizens of Leon County from the 41st Fires Brigade, and the Maples made a formal presentation of that plaque. "It is quite an honor to be recognized by the Deputy Commanding General at the largest US post in the world," Maples pointed out proudly.

Moving on to more routine business of the day, Judge Ryder spoke for Tyson Henson, presenting plats for Sean Land Company Phase II, and confirmed that all required paperwork was in order. The Court approved both the prelimary and final plat for the new development located in Precinct I just east of Centerville on Hwy 7.

The Court appointed Harris to replace Col. Wallace as the county's representative on the Brazos Valley Health Partnership. Judge Ryder was selected to replace Col. Wallace on the Executive Strategic Advisory Commission.

Calvin Williams has resigned from the Solid Waste Advisory Board at the BVCOG, and the county is looking for a new volunteer to serve on that board.

The Court next discussed plans to pursue a Texas Preservation Trust Fund development grant to renovate the 1913 jail as a historical site for tourists to visit. The jail, described as "a major part of the history of Leon County and the courthouse square", contains a gallows, and it was built after public hangings on the square's Hanging Tree were disallowed. The court authorized moving forward for the planning and developing grant.

While on the subject of the courthouse, the court addressed the need to clean up the Courthouse Square and voted to remove signs except the ones that are required by law (parking, etc.). They also made a motion to designate two parking areas for the district judges to park when court is in session.

At the recommendation of Commissioner David Ferguson, the county extended maintenance on CR 261 another 2/10 of mile.

Under Auditors' comments, Susan Pugh: - relayed a request from the Sheriff's office to donate the seat from disabled patrol car to Madisonville Sheriff's Office. - advised the court of the fact that the county's constables' personal cars are not covered under their insurance if they go out on a call for the county. The Court added a rider to the county's insurance policy to provide liability and collision coverage, at a cost of $2200 from contingency. The matter will be reinvestigated at budget time. - requested a budget amendment of $5000 from each precinct into the forestry department to cover repairs and maintenance until the end of the year. This was approved. - presented fourteen Line Item Transfers totalling $128,886. - requested a maintenance contract renewal for the IBM hardware in the sheriff's office. - presented a plan to use third floor space in Annex I (the old Juvenile Probation office) for the Texas AgriLife Extention Service. - passed along a request for another fax line at the health clinic.