County’s veterans to get new van

Joyce Stark was honored with a plaque in appreciation for her dedicated work for area veterans. Van’Go’photo Various veterans groups from aross the county were represented at last Wednesday's meeting of the Leon County Commissioners Court for a special presentation. The county will be receiving a van from the VA which will be located in the courthouse square and used to take veterans to doctor's appointments in Temple, Waco and Bryan/ College Station. In a related presentation, Joyce Stark was given a plaque of appreciation for her on-going work for area veterans. Also, the American Legion #335 was authorized to use the gazebo and courthouse grounds for a fund raiser/lunch on December 11th.

Several agenda items dealt with the steps required for the county to serve as the pass-through entity for Flo Water to submit a grant application to the Texas Community Department Program. The $275,00 grant will require a $27,500 match from FCWS, and will be used to fund a water line replacement on FM 1618 to first increase the line size in order to be in compliance with TCEQ, and to then put in a well.

The County is also working to get Hurricane Ike grants for emergency generators for area cities and water services. TCEQ requires that the generators be in place, but the bid packets for the grant monies have run into many entanglements, but appears to be on track to have generators "on the ground by the end of the year", according to a representative of Kerbow and Associates.

Larry Bass reported on recent CERT training and stated that another class to set up a certified emergency response team is needed in the Buffalo/Jewett area.

The Court tabled a decision on extending the contract of grant writer Vyonne Kopy, pending a meeting to determine the scope of the work she has already done.

Robin Shafer reported that Marquez will hold an election on a tax for street maintenance.

Louis Milstead was appointed to replace the late JR Patterson on the ESD #2 Board, and Jim Ramsey and Ethel Lewis were reappointed to that board.

Judge Ryder was reappointed to the BVCOG Board of Directors for another 3-year term.

Post-approval was given for a county-wide burn ban which went into effect August 18th.

Emergency Services Coordinator Pat Bell and Will Patterson with DialTone Services made a presentation about satellite phones available in Leona which the county could use for back-up communications during emergency situations. The county contracted for six phones: one for each commissioner, the sheriff, and the EOC.

A road use agreement was approved for Buffco Production Company for CR 113 in Precinct 1. The county also accepted a check for $12,100 from that company.

A road use agreement was also approved for Hodge Services for CR 212 and 268 in Precinct 2.

Auditor Susan Pugh presented 14 line item transfers totalling $287,643.52 for the court's approval.

The court voted to: - re-bid hot mix, road oil contracts; - renewed a contract with Mary Smith Janitorial Services; - go out for bids on a motor grader for Precinct 3;

Like all other local public entities, the Leon County Commissioners are working on their 2011 budget. Public hearings are set for August 26 (2:30) and August 30 (9:30) and the commissioners will be voting on adopting the 2011 budget and tax rate during the September 7th meeting, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The proposed budget is posted on the County's website and available at the County Clerk's office.