In a brief Commissioners Court Monday, July 8, Erath County Commissioners took additional steps in regard to the county-wide joint dispatch center.
Commissioner Dee Stephens ran the meeting in the absence of County Judge Brandon Huckabee’s absence. Commissioner Sherman Edwards was also absent from the meeting.
The court unanimously approved request for qualifications for construction manager at risk and the request for qualifications for architectural design for the Erath County Joint Dispatch Center.
In regards to the construction manager at risk, Erath County Fire Fighters Association President Dallas Sims said it would provide someone to keep the construction part of the project on track. Sims holds a seat on the Joint Dispatch Board.
“Hopefully it saves us a little money in the end,” he said.
With the RFQ for architectural design, Sims said they would hopefully be able to select someone by the end of August.
Members of the court also directed Human Resource Manager Becky Keith to work on a policy regarding county vehicle usage.
“We’ve got a policy in the handbook but I don’t think it’s being followed,” Precinct 2 County Commissioner Albert Ray said. “It’s time that we look at this because it’s just getting bigger and bigger and bigger.”
According to Precinct 2 County Commissioner Albert Ray, there is concern that county vehicles and county gas is being utilized for personal use and Auditor Kent Reeves has done some research with numbers to see how much it is costing the taxpayers.
“We’ve got some vehicles that are being driven home and such and there is no reason for it. Really, we are just providing a vehicle for them to drive home and back, and using the county’s fuel,” Ray said.
Keith asked for some direction regarding the policy and both Ray and Stephens said they were concerned with the liability of driving county vehicles for personal use.
“We are not looking at first responders,” Ray emphasized.
Stephens said he understood how difficult it can be to have to switch vehicles when doing county and personal errands.
“I’ve had to go home and switch vehicles and come back to town more times than I can count,” he said. “But I do it.”
Ray said the matter was important not to waste taxpayer money in regards to fuel and wear and tear on vehicles. Keith is going to draft a policy so the commissioners can review it in the future.
The same sheriffs and constable fees were approved again for 2025 and several items were deemed zero-value for the sheriff’s office.
Several line item transfers were approved including one for a grant reimbursement for body worn cameras in the amount of $59,233.50.
The next regular commissioners court meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, July 22 on the second floor of the downtown courthouse in Stephenville.