Erath County is under a burn ban for 90 days, even with recent rains due to the amount of undergrowth and expected winds.
On Monday, Oct. 27, three proposals for outside audit firms were received from Pattillo, Brown and Hill, BMY, and Eide Bailly.
“We did meet - myself, the auditor, adult and juvenile probation and the fire department as a group to get their feedback since they utilize them,” County Judge Brandon Huckabee said.
They will be reviewed by the commissionersandarecommendation for approval will be presented at the next board meeting.
Daniel Anderson from ANCO, the county’s insurance broker, was on hand to present request for proposals for insurance benefits for 2026.
The county is seeing a 10.6% increase.
“We ran very hot this year with lots of people using their insurance which is what it is there for,” Anderson said. The increase for medical is favorable, considering nationwide the increases being seen is an average of 15%.
“It’s about as good of a benefit plan as you can get,” he said.
Everything else such as dental and vision will be zero percent change since they are under a two-year contract.
“At one point we had budgeted a 20% increase,” Huckabee said.
The court made the unanimous decision to renew their health benefits with TAC and Nonstop.
In the treasurer’s office, Treasurer Angie Shawver requested her fulltime clerk be reduced down to part- time due to the amount of work needed.
“At this time would like to change the position to part-time for the savings for the county,” she said.
Commissioners Albert Ray and Jim Buck requested a vehicle for their secretary to drive on county business.
Originally, the agenda item stated new vehicle, however, Ray clarified it could be any vehicle including one the county already owned.
Shawver spoke saying the commissioners justifications are their own, but her office has someone who goes to bank every single day, as do other offices.
“As of late we have acquired a vehicle from the sheriff ’s office. I don’t see the justification if we have vehicles available,” she said.
Ray clarified that he was unsure if there was a vehicle left for her to drive.
Auditor Kent Reeves offered up possible mileage reimbursement as a good alternative if a vehicle was not available.
“I just don’t know if it’s the best use of county money,” Huckabee said about the purchase of another vehicle. “If we have a vehicle we own, I don’t have a problem with it.”
There was no action taken on the item, though the discussion was to possibly locate a vehicle that the county already owns.
Approval was given for video redacting software through Motorola Solutions.
Sheriff Matt Coates said the software can be used in certain instances to blackout faces, licenses and certain words when body cam footage is requested.
The unfunded mandate was handed down by the state.
The commissioners approved the software at a cost of $14,114 for the next five years.
The sheriff’s office received unanimous approval to build a county range on CR 203 for law enforcement weapon training.
“I think the county could possibly be building a berm,” Sheriff Matt Coates said.
“I don’t see a problem with them building it there,” Commissioner Sherman Edwards.
Though cost was unknown at this time, the court approved the process with the sheriff’s office bringing back costs associated with the project such as a generator and storage container.
In public comments, Kathy Smith with the Erath County Historical Commission asked the commissioners to address the Bluff Dale Suspension Bridge which is severely leaning and needs to be taken down before it takes out the concrete bridge which residents use to get out of the neighborhood.
“The time has come to address the situation. I ask to give you this your attention,” she said. “I also request you to repair the low water crossing.”
In other action the court: ■ Approved monthly departmental reports for August and September
■ Approved zero-valuing items from the Sheriff’s Office
■ Approved the sheriff’s office to apply for ballistic-resistant components grants for law enforcement vehicles for all sheriff’s vehicles and constables (100% reimbursement)
■ Approved an agreement for municipal court bailiff between Erath County and the city of Stephenville
■ Approved invoices for regular and recurring payments