Wood County Commissioners Court
County accepts drug dog; Victim grant application OK’d
By JOHN SPARKS

 

Meeting Friday, January 11 in regular session, Wood County Commissioners approved a recommendation from Sheriff Dwaine Daugherty to accept the donation of a drug dog; approved a resolution to apply for a grant for continued victim services projects in the county, and approved the reconstitution of the Wood County Jury Wheel.

The drug dog was offered to the county by the U.S. Armed Services from Lackland Air Force Base. In recommending acceptance, Sheriff Daugherty said the dog and its specialized training represent a value of $6,000. The Sheriff also asked and received approval for the donation of special flooring materials for the K-9 kennel at the jail. The materials represent a savings of $180.
 

The Court also approved a resolution authorizing the Office of the Criminal District Attorney to apply for the continuation of state grant funds through fiscal 2008-2009 to operate a victim services project in behalf of victims of crimes in Wood County. The estimated grant award for the year is $23,635. The county agrees to provide matching funds for certain elements of the project.
 

Commissioners accepted a notice of Jury Wheel Reconstitution from Jenica Turner, District Clerk stating the jury wheel was re-charged on January 1, 2008. The jury wheel list contains the names of all persons who hold a voter registration card issued for Wood County and/or for all citizens of Wood County who hold a valid Texas driver’s license and/or a valid personal identification card.
 

In other action, Commissioners approved a retainer agreement to employ The Alexander Law Firm of Winnsboro to represent the county and its interests in a legal dispute concerning the damming up of water on a public road in Precinct-4. Service rates of Alexander staff members range from $35 per hour to $200 per hour.
 

In other action, the Commissioners approved:
- Payment of claims in the amount of $243,083.08.
- Payroll in the amount of $269,210.08.
- Employee/dependent health claims of $19,446.95.
- Appointment of David Chenault, Mineola; Steve Fairbanks, Quitman, and Ed Baker, at large, to Wood County Industrial Commission Board of Directors.
- Assignment of Judge Richard Davis to the 402nd District Court for three days.
- Memorandum of understanding with Duke Vaughn, the contractor for the removal of a bridge from CR-3155 to the Winnsboro City Park at a cost of $3,800 to be split between the county and the City of Winnsboro.
- Monthly activity report of Constable, Precinct-1, Stephen Bowser.
- Amendment with Tyler Technologies to provide services and software to existing software and programs to add preparation and electronic storage of minutes of Wood County Commissioners Court sessions.
- Acceptance of new subdivision application forms.
- Use of JAG grant funds to pay overtime related to holiday hours logged by Sheriff Department law enforcement officers.
Eight personnel actions were approved as follows:
- Leon Williams, reappointment, part-time lake keeper, Precinct-3, $9.00/hour.
- Brittney Roberts, from part-time to full-time, Tax Deputy, Tax Assessor/Collector’s Department, from $8.50/hour to $12.82.
- Erin Ragan, resignation, Tax Deputy, Tax Assessor/Collectors Department.
- Heather Sumpter, salary increase, Deputy III, Criminal, County Clerk’s Department, from $13.26/hour to $14.15/hour.
- Dachelle D. Haggerty, salary increase, Deputy Clerk II, County Clerk’s Office, from $12.06/hour to $12.82/hour.
- Matthew Don Crowell, new hire, laborer II, Road & Bridge-Precinct-2, $14.15/hour.
- Rayburn Eppinett, resignation, equipment operator I, Road & Bridge-Precinct-2.
- Tracie Jackson, new full-time hire, 4-H Agent, Wood County Extension Office, $13,520/annually.
 

The next regular meeting of the Wood County Commissioners Court will be Friday, January 25, 2008 at 10 a.m. A special meeting of the court can be called with 72-hour public notice.