Setting jury duty rates, salaries, and other fees were the main topic as the Commissioners Court met in regular session on Monday, January 9.
Before addressing the regular agenda, the Court unanimously approved to audit and settle all accounts against the County and direct their payment. This included $568,331.15 in County bills, $347,857.66 in hospital bills, and $8,823.53 in incentive part-time payroll salaries for the West Texas Medical Center.
Tax Assessor/Collector Jan Parrish was in attendance to give her monthly tax collection report for the month of December. Parrish reported that her office collected $2,709,147.89 in tax revenues during December, 2016.
After unanimously approving her tax report, the Commissioners also acknowledged Parrish’s continuing education hours she had accumulated.
Following these reports County Judge Jim Barron acknowledged receipt of monthly reports from the Precinct #1 Justice of the Peace office, the Sheriff’s office, and from the County Clerk’s office. Due to internet problems, a hard copy of the report from the District Clerk’s office was not available and will be addressed at the next meeting.
The Commissioners also unanimously approved suggested holidays for 2017 with one exception. A holiday date of December 27 was changed to December 22 making the dates for Christmas holidays go from Friday, December 22 through Tuesday, December 26, 2017. The Commissioners also approved 2017 pay periods as listed.
The Court also unanimously approved full time county salaries as reflected in the budget and set part time salary maximum rates for both Clerical and Roadhands positions.
One deputies position within the auditor’s office was adjusted from 3rd Deputy to 2nd Deputy.
Commissioners also unanimously passed an order placing Officers on Salary Base for 2017.
Compensation for jury services was also unanimously approved. A rate of $15 was approved for reporting to duty and as well as $40 for Juror Service and $40 for Juror Service after the 1st day.
Commissioners also unanimously approved mileage rate for out-of-county travel for county officials at $.53.5 per mile. They also set the rate for a private pilot flying at $1.15 per actual distance between two points or the same rate per nautical miles with two Commissioners in the plane.
The Court took action and unanimously approved actions on road crossing petitions from Monadnock Resources, LLC regarding a pipeline crossing of County Road 260 and County Road 280.
While discussing this action a construction manager from Oxy was present to inform the Court he was unaware of the $500 fee needed before the Court could approve an application for pipe crossing a county road. He informed the Court that his crew was about to cross a county road in Precinct #4, but he was unable to deliver the fee with the application because the fee would need to be sent directly from the corporate office in Houston. After a lengthy discussion, it was agreed the Court would make this one exception with Oxy, but in the future a check must arrive in Judge Barron’s office along with the application before any pipeline crossings could be approved and take place.
There was no request for the disposal of county equipment, no line item transfers, and no Soil Conservation request.
Precinct #2 Commissioner Ray Marion said work was progressing on the new Denver City Community Building. He had previously estimated the work to be completed sometime the first of July.
Commissioners Woody Lindsey, Ray Marion, Tommy Box, and Tim Addison along with Judge Jim Barron were all present for the meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Monday, January 16 at the County Courthouse.
