Meeting Friday, March 23 in regular session, Wood County Commissioners approved the purchase of a road grader for precinct-4; approved the purchase of two dump trucks for Precinct-3; approved the acquisition of nine Taser stun guns for the Sheriff’s Office; approved the acquisition of Palm Pilots and other equipment for the Election Administrators Office, and approved the advertising for bids for road oil and oil sand mix.

Commissioners tackled a 27-item agenda featuring a presentation on a candlelight vigil in Quitman’s Governor Jim Hogg City Park on April 27. The event, co-sponsored by several organizations including the Wood County Child Protection Board, the Wood County Child Welfare Board, CASA, and organizations representing crime victims and sexual assault victims has become a tradition. The vigil will feature singing groups and speakers. The Commissioners Court approved proclamations designating April as “Child Abuse” and “Sexual Assault Month.” A “Crime Victims Week” during April was also designated in Wood County by proclamation.
 

2 dump trucks for Pct.-3
Precinct-3 Commissioner Roger Pace will purchase two new Chevrolet dump trucks for his road & bridge crew at a cost of approximately $42,525 each. The winning bidder was Peters Chevrolet, Longview. Commissioner Jerry Galloway, Precinct-4, won approval to purchase a new road grader through a supplier on the State’s Buy Board. The county will make a down payment of $100,000 and finance the remainder of the $217,913 purchase price will be financed at 4.85 percent. 
 

Sheriff Dwaine Daugherty sought approval from the Court to accept the donation of nine Taser stun gun units, cartridges and accompanying cameras and audio recording devices. Daugherty cited the dangers faced by deputies answering family violence calls, especially during the “deep night” shift when only four deputies are on duty. Commissioners approved the gift from the Wood County Crime Stoppers valued at $13,500.
 

Wood County Elections Administrator Dawn Goldthorn sought approval of the purchase of Palm Pilot devices to provide election judges in remote voting locations with access to voter registration records. In addition to the Palm Pilot data storage system, the purchase will include keyboard units compatible with the Palm Pilot, necessary software and licensing fees and a data converter. Funding for the devices is provided by the federal government through the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) voting act. The Palm Pilots are $190 each, the wireless keyboards $55 each and the software is $5,000.
 

Commissioners also agreed to consider creating a special “elections services contract fund” in the Elections Administrators Office. Income to this fund would consist of payments by cities, school districts and other special districts which contract for election services with the Elections Administrator.
 

In normal circumstances the bidding process for road materials could be reported in a single sentence. However, volatile pricing and uncertain supplies of materials have wreaked havoc on the bidding process. In Wood County all 770-plus miles of county maintained roads have been constructed and are maintained with oil sand mix and with road oil. Wood County’s demand for these two petroleum-based materials exceeds any single contractor’s ability to supply. With a legal ruling through Wood County Attorney, Jim Wheeler, the court will look to a solution that would provide relief from the low bid requirements for the materials.  
 

In other action, the court approved:
-          Payment of claims in the amount of $380,286.32.
-          Payroll in the amount of $240,856.03.
-          Employee/dependent health claims of $50,189.10.
-          Cancellation of Bala Addition subdivision in Precinct-2 after a public hearing.
-          Interlocal agreement for road materials, labor and equipment with Winnsboro ISD.
-          Interlocal agreement for tax collection services with five cities and three school districts. Hawkins ISD (at a cost of $45,800) and the City of Hawkins ($11,416) were among these units. Overall cost to these taxing units is $100,772.
-          Resolution naming week of March 18-24 “National Agriculture Week” in Wood County.
-          Resolution objecting to unfunded mandates by state legislature for indigent health care.
-          Tax exempt status of Lake Country Playhouse and Select Theatre in Mineola.
-          Appointment of Ron Roddy, Holly Lake Ranch, to Wood County Airport Zoning Board replacing Bill McKenzie also of Holly Lake Ranch.
-          Designating senior assistant to the Wood County Treasurer as a signature for TexPool transactions.
-          Contract for professional services to demolish wall and remove asbestos flooring materials in technology office at $2,875.
-          Extension of agreement for Homeland Security Grant Program.
-          Contract for delinquent fines and fees collections with Linebarger, Goggan, Bair & Sampson, LLP.
Personnel actions approved included:
-          Randal David Lain, Jr., new hire, deputy sheriff, WCSO, $15/68 hour.
-          Patricia Dale Staggs, resignation, part-time cook, WCSO, $7.00/hour.   
-          David A. Hayes, promotion to jailer sergeant from jailer, WCSO, from $12.33/hour to $12.75/hour.
-          Leslie Ann Brady, resignation, part-time clerk, CDA Office, $9.00/hour.
-          Kacie Jo Sherrard, new hire, part-time clerk, CDA Office, $8.25/hour.
-          Julia Johnson, reclassification, part-time secretary, eligibility for retirement benefits, $9.00/hour.
-          Tommy John Wright, end of probationary period, laborer II, R&B Pct.-3, from $12.75/hour to $13.61/hour.
 

The next regular meeting of the Wood County Commissioners Court will be Friday, April 6 at 10 a.m. A special meeting of the court can be called with 72-hour public notice.