Erath County Commissioners tackled an agenda full of county business Tuesday, Oct. 14 including the promotion of an assistant EMS director.
Community Response Paramedic Colby Swearingen has now been moved into the lateral position and will now take on administrative work too.
The court also approved the final plat for the Lucky Bluff Bess battery storage facility on CR 300 in Precinct 1.
Jason Gardner said after about a year of trying to get documentation signed off on because of a sale, all items had been signed and taken care of.
A resolution was signed as part of the 2026 Indigent Defense Grant Program for the county to apply for the grant. This is an annual application.
Approval was given for right-ofway permits on CR 163 in Precinct 4 for Brightspeed who is placing lines underground.
The majority of annual mutual aid agreements between the county and area volunteer fire departments have been signed.
“I want to thank Jojo who went with me to the chief’s meeting and we were able to get most of these signed,” County Judge Brandon Huckabee said.
Departments included Bluff Dale, Carlton, Desdemona, Erath, Harbin, Huckabay, Lingleville, Lipan, Morgan Mill, Selden and Gordon.
Departments received a budget increase this year, increasing from $12,000 to $24,000.
Dublin had to go through council approval first, which was completed Monday, Oct. 20, and Hico and Proctor were not present at the chief’s meeting so their agreements will be signed at a later date.
Dublin VFD, which is under a separate contract, receives $80,000 from the county.
SRO contracts between the Erath County Sheriff’s Office and Bluff Dale ISD, Morgan Mill ISD, Three Way ISD and White Horse Academy were also approved.
The only changes were to salaries based on this year’s budgets and the districts are now responsible for overtime pay.
The court approved the awarding bid for 9-1-1 Erath County Joint Dispatch consoles (the desks that the dispatchers will be using, along with some storage/filing cabinets).
Quotes received were Xybix $188,590.24, Russ Bassett $199,638.61 and Watson $244,270.14 for eight consoles.
Russ Bassett was selected as the company the county will be going with after initial approval by the Emergency Dispatch Board and Stephenville’s Chief Dan Harris.
“They met all of our needs for the new center and seemed to be a better overall fit for the center than the other companies,” Erath County Joint Dispatch Communications Manager Ashley Anderson said.
The cost will be split between the city of Stephenville and the county.
A special revenue line item was approved after the county received reimbursement for the Big L fire. Out of the $44,483.75 funds Bluff Dale VFD will receive $13,582.40, Erath County VFD will receive $12,743.40, Seldon VFD will receive $5,305.73, Stephenville VFD will receive $4,788.81, Morgan Mill will receive $4,467.53 and Lingleville VFD will receive $3,595.88.
The court approved the distribution unanimously.