A busy agenda kept Erath County Commissioners hard at work Monday, Sept. 23 as they moved through their regular agenda.
As the Nov. 5 elections move closer, the commissioners approved bonds for Elections Administrator Lana Stevens and Assistant Elections Administrator Tara Arredondo.
Due to their positions in the county, the new election officials are required to be bonded to ensure they perform their job duties and comply with government laws and regulations.
It provides a means to hold officials accountable. The bond is designed to safeguard the interests of taxpayers and consumers and is required in all states.
Election contracts were also approved for Bluff Dale ISD, Huckabay ISD, Lingleville ISD and Morgan Mill ISD for the upcoming election since the county holds all elections.
The city of Dublin will now be able to clean city streets with the county’s street sweeper as a memo of understanding and interlocal agreement was approved by the commissioners court.
The county had a street sweeper they were no longer using and Huckabee explained while the county could not simply give the equipment to Dublin, they could sign an interlocal agreement that allowed the city to have exclusive use of the equipment.
The city of Dublin agrees to pay any and all expenses associated with the use, maintenance and storage of Waldon Sweep master.
In land development, Subdivision Coordinator Jason Gardner explained a replat in the Sims Creek Subdivision. According to Gardner, a neighbor is wanting to purchase half of a parcel for agriculture use. Gardner said there were no restrictions going forward with this, and the court unanimously passed the replat.
After the county recently replaced a fire engine, the court needed to decide what to do with the old one. First, the court unanimously approved it as a surplus item.
Emergency Coordinator Chris Brooks said the engine needed a bit of pump work but that a couple of area departments had expressed an interest. The engine still has an estimated value of about $65,000.
The court then got to decide the method of sale for the engine, which could be closed bids within the county or placing it on Gov Deals.
“If you put it on Gov Deals, locals can bid on it too,”Commissioner Sherman Edwards said.
County Judge Brandon Huckabee said if it could be of use to a county department he would like them to have the chance to bid on it first.
“It’s not just a brush truck. It’s going to bring $50,000 $60,000,” Edwards said.
Commissioners expressed moving forward with placing the engine on Gov Deals.
Huckabee voted against the motion.
“I would have liked it to be a sealed bid to other Erath County Volunteer Fire Departments with a minimum bid amount to allow them the opportunity to bid and add it to their fleet if they had the need and funds,” Huckabee said regarding his vote against the motion.
The motion passed 4 in favor and one against.
The court also reluctantly unanimously approved adding five host seats to the new annex and one at the Auditor’s Office in the courthouse. These phone lines are being added through Vyve.
According to information provided by IT Director Colby Reynolds, originally the seats were going to be put into place at $14 a seat, but that sales person is no longer with the company so the county had to go through the process again. This time, the seats are costing $24 each, raising the estimated total from $134 to $204.50.
The court again approved moving the current fiber service from the old Precinct 2 maintenance barn to the new barn at no cost and adding basic cable TV service for a monthly cost.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Albert Ray asked if they could get a guaranteed date with this since nothing had been done and it was holding up the move into the new facility.
“I’d like to see some timelines,” he said.
Fortunately, with the IT department’s help they have found a temporary solution for the internet and phones at the new maintenance barn. Ray said they were moving into the new facility.
In other business the court approved: ■ a bailiff contract between the city of Stephenville and Constable Jason Schipper
■ the purchase of a side boom brush cutter from an approved dealer for Precinct 2
■ selecting GrantWorks, Inc. for grant preapplication, application and implementation services for Erath County’s 2025-26 Texas Community Development Grand Fund Program as administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture
■ awarding road bid materials for FY 2025