Wood County Commissioners Court
Pleasant Acres plat approved; Constitution Week proclaimed
By JOHN SPARKS

 

Meeting Friday, September 7 in regular session, Wood County Commissioners approved a 9-lot plat for the Pleasant Acres subdivision; proclaimed Constitution Week, and agreed to the purchase of ballot printing software.
 

Senior Commissioner Roger Pace, Pct-3, presided in the absence of Wood County Judge Bryan Jeanes who was attending a required probate school for county judges.
 

The Pleasant Acres subdivision is being developed at CR-3460 and CR-3450 in precinct 3. The subdivision will not involve construction of roads with all nine lots fronting on the two county roads. Pleasant Acres is being developed by Michael W. Stewart of Tyler.
 

With seven members of the Elizabeth Dalton English chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in attendance, commissioners adopted a proclamation identifying the week September 17-to-23 as Constitution Week in Wood County. The tradition of celebrating the constitution was started many years ago by the DAR and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a federal public law designating September 17-23 as Constitution Week.
 

Elections Administrator Dawn Goldthorn advised commissioners of the opportunity to use $10,895 in HAVA funding to purchase software which will permit the county to print ballots for all elections. Goldthorn provided an example of the savings available by pointing out that the ballot printer currently utilized by the county charged 27-cents per ballot while the new software will permit her department to print the same ballot for 9-cents each. In addition she said that the ballots can be printed “on demand” thus reducing unnecessary overprinting and enabling the staff to react to unexpected election turnouts.
 

In other election related items, commissioners approved interlocal agreements with the Mineola and Big Sandy school districts for the rental of county voting equipment for the November ’07 elections of school board trustees. Commissioners also voted to utilize $25,000 in ’07 reserve funds in payment to Southwest Data Solutions, Inc. for conversion of the voter registration system. The item was removed from the ’08 budget.
 

Two grant writing firms submitted proposals of service and were rated for possible service to Ramey Supply Corporation. Based upon the ratings, Amazing Grants of Big Sandy was selected to assist RWSC in grant writing. Martin Consulting also submitted a proposal of service.
 

In other action, the Commissioners approved:
- Payment of claims in the amount of $529,846.71.
- Payroll in the amount of $239,714.97.
- Employee/dependent health claims of $117,848.58.
- Appointment of Joe Echolson to Upper Sabine Valley Solid Waste Management District for precinct-1.
- Appointment of Rodney Duplechain, Holly Lake Ranch, as at-large representative to the board of directors of Wood County Industrial Commission.
- Appointment of Kay Ellis as representative of the City of Alba to the board of directors of Wood County Industrial Commission.
- Acceptance of monthly activities from Steve Bowser, constable precinct-1.
- Appointment of Celia Boswell to the North East Regional Mobility Association Board.
- Resolution to apply for general security grant through Homeland Security to protect critical infrastructure in county.
Personnel actions approved included:
- David Paul Betts, death, Constable, Pct-3.
- Angela L. Albers Converse, reclassification, Assistant District Attorney, CDA office, from $43,000 to $47,840 (grant funding).
- James J. Burton, resignation, Assistant District Attorney, CDA office.
- Brittany Roberts, new hire, part time, deputy auto clerk, Tax Assessor/Collector.
- Bobby Rex Tilley, extend ending date, temporary seasonal worker, R&B Pct.-2, $9.00/hour
 

The next regular meeting of the Wood County Commissioners Court will be Friday, September 22 at 10 a.m. A special meeting of the court can be called with 72-hour public notice.