Wood County Commissioners Court
Court OKs CID remodeling;
approves $19K EM funds
BY JOHN SPARKS

Meeting Friday, June 1 in regular session, Wood County Commissioners quickly dispatched a short agenda of thirteen items, including approval of a bid for remodeling work on the Criminal Investigation Division space at the Wood County Jail and the distribution of Emergency Management funds to six Wood County city governments, including Hawkins. The court also dealt with an appeal by a resident of Horseshoe Bend regarding a 911 address change.

A bid of $2,170.00 was accepted for planned remodeling work at the Wood County Criminal Justice Center in the area housing the Criminal Investigation Division of the Sheriff’s Office. Joe Lee Construction, Quitman, will perform the work, consisting of drywall tape and bed, painting, finish trim and clean up. The contractor offered to utilize prisoner labor if available.

Hawkins was among six Wood County municipalities to receive a pass through from the county of federal and state funds for Emergency Management use. Hawkins will receive $2,136. The other recipients and amounts are: Mineola-$7,260; Winnsboro-$5,617.50; Quitman-$3,189; Alba-$693, and Yantis-$523.

Commissioners also heard a presentation regarding “Experience Works,” a program that provides employment and training services to seniors. Experience Works is funded by federal grants and by more than 60 public and private sources.

Two agenda items, a non-financial agreement with East Texas Workforce and a restatement of receipts and disbursements from the Treasurer’s Office for September through December 2006, were passed to next meeting. Those interested should contact Wes Cowan at 877-781-9953.
The Rusty Brittain family of Horseshoe Bend sought exemption from 9-1-1 addressing because of the hardships, cost and inconvenience. The court denied the request pointing out that most of the costs cited in the protest are not subject to charge with proper paper work. Several lots, three of which are actually developed are on CR-4557, and were numbered non-sequentially originally. The 9-1-1 addressing will correct the addresses and provide a more certain emergency response in the area.

In other action, the Commissioners approved:
- Payment of claims in the amount of $221,980.52.
- Payroll in the amount of $249,904.34.
- Employee/dependent health claims of $42,721.04.
- Constables reports from Precinct 1 and 4.
- Grant of $750 (annual) to Wood Soil and Water Conservation District 444.
Personnel actions approved included:
- Timothy Edward Baucom, new hire, deputy sheriff, WCSO, $15.68/hour.
- Margaret Elizabeth Havard, new hire, dispatcher, WCSO, $11.96/hour.
- Richard Kevin Fretwell, resignation, deputy sheriff, WCSO, $15.68/hour.
- Ronda Darlene Hux, resignation, custodian, County Judge.
- Tammy Jo Maricle, death, deputy county clerk.
- Bobby Harill, re-hire, temporary lake keeper, Precinct 2, $9.00/hour.
- Tommy Alvin Snow, re-hire, temporary seasonal worker, Precinct 3, $9.00/hour.
- Perry Donald Miller, re-hire, temporary seasonal worker, Precinct-3 R&R, $9.00/hour.
- Leon Jimmie Musick, re-hire, temporary seasonal worker, Precinct 3 R&B, $9.00/hour.

The next regular meeting of the Wood County Commissioners Court will be Friday, June 15 at 10 a.m. A special meeting of the court can be called with 72-hour public notice.