Wood County Commissioners Court
Fellowship Church camp road to remain open, be improved
By JOHN SPARKS

 

Meeting Friday, November 16 in regular session, Wood County Commissioners were advised by a representative of Fellowship Church that the road to private lots located in the former Lake O’ The Woods subdivision will be maintained, and even improved as the Church moves forward with the development of a large camp and retreat center at the West end of Lake Hawkins. Commissioners also canvassed Wood County election returns in the November 6 general election.

Commissioner Roger Pace, Precinct 3 presided in the absence of County Judge Bryan Jeanes who was in Houston for a training session.
 

Michael Lewis, a representative of Fellowship Church, Grapevine, told the court his organization plans to provide access to approximately 17 lots that were sold in the now defunct subdivision from FM-778. Fellowship has acquired the 1,000+ acre tract formerly known as “Lake O’ The Woods.” The church is in the process of developing a $25-million youth camp and retreat center on the property.
 

Dawn Goldthorn, Wood County Elections Administrator presented the tabulation of Wood County voting on the State Constitutional Amendments presented at the November 6 general election. Goldthorn said the election drew less than ten percent of the county’s registered voters. Wood County voters approved 15 of the 16 propositions, with only one calling for the creation of “The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas” failing by a narrow 1,064-to-1,151 vote. Statewide all propositions were approved by voters. Commissioners approved the election count submitted.
 

County advertisements failed to draw any proposals for inmate medical services for those incarcerated at Wood County Jail. The proposals were to be opened at this meeting of the court. Action was postponed until the next meeting of the court—Friday, November 30.
 

In other action, the Commissioners approved:
- Payment of claims in the amount of $334,091.46.
- Payroll in the amount of $249,794.18.
- Employee/dependent health claims of $164,890.50.
- Held public hearing regarding requested closing of CR-3569.
- Appointment of Sue Sullivan, Mineola to the Wood County Child Protection Board.
- Appointments of Steve Gowan, Holly Lake and Stanley Statser, Jarvis Christian College to the Wood County Industrial Commission Board of Directors.
- Right of entry for county employees and equipment to obtain clay material from property owned by Gary Cobb.
- Longevity Policy for 2008..
- Correction to compensation schedules due to error in salary formula.
- Lake House rental Policy at $400 per month (two currently available).
- Raising pier permit fee on county lakes to $10 from $5.00 per year (payable in five year blocks).
- Fuel oil contractor’s agreement to submit necessary paperwork (letter) to assure county receives “lowest” price.
- Yearly approval process for WCSO to continue receiving state grant funds for overtime work.
Four personnel actions were approved as follows:
- William Brandon Baade, new hire, Assistant District Attorney, Criminal District Attorney’s Office, $49,780 annual salary.
- Maria Devine, new hire, assistant elections administrator (temporary), $9.00/hour.
- Willie Earl McQueen, extension of temporary help period, County Lake #1, $9.00/hour.
- Doug Kisinger, new hire, Juvenile Probation Officer, Probation Department, $35,000 annual salary plus $48 per month phone allowance.

The next regular meeting of the Wood County Commissioners Court will be Friday, November 30 at 10 a.m. A special meeting of the court can be called with 72-hour public notice.