Amidst a slew of agenda items, Erath County Commissioners moved swiftly through their meeting Tuesday, Oct. 10.
The meeting was moved to Tuesday due to county offices being closed for Indigenous Peoples’ Day/ Columbus Day.
Agreements between Erath County Volunteer Department and Erath County and the Dublin Volunteer Fire Department and Erath County were approved after some conversation.
Precinct 2 County Commissioner Albert Ray said he felt like there are some secret agreements being made and that he felt like the court should be made aware of agreements.
County Judge Brandon Huckabee asked Ray to bring everything out into the open and be transparent to discuss any issues.
Ray stated that on more than one occasion StephenvilleFireDepartment was responding to calls when they were not requested by smaller departments.
“I don’t think people who are in trouble care what color the ambulance or fire truck is,” Huckabee said.
Ray cited a particular call when Lingleville VFD was told to disregard when they were already on scene and then asked to provide traffic control for Stephenville FD. He stated Dublin and Selden had also had issues with them coming to calls without being requested and Erath County VFD going to Stephenville FD calls without being asked.
“I don’t mind them coming if they are needed but them just showing up should not happen,” Ray said. “I’m not the only one who is unhappy about this. Don’t come unless you’re asked.”
Huckabee said that having a joint dispatch, which is in the works, will help with some of these problems.
“If my house is on fire everyone is welcome,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Jim Buck said.
Ultimately, both agreements were unanimously approved.
Thecourtalsounanimously approved splitting the cost of this weekend’s electronics recycling event with the city of Stephenville at a cost of $2,250.
“It’s nice and cool and we are ready to get rid of some electronics,” Colby Reynolds told the commissioners court. He stated that a less expensive company was used this year and some zero value items from the county will be recycled at the event.
The event will be held at the city maintenance yard Saturday, Oct. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon.
All Erath County residents are able to recycle electronics at the event.
Erath County has also received an additional layer of security as a CIVIC Plus Platinum Security package for the website was approved. The yearly contract, which is an add on for the software the county already uses, costs $5,600 annually but will help limit who can see the county website from other countries and help eliminate spam threats.
“It’s a lot cheaper than Dallas, or Las Vegas would tell you they’ve paid which is in the millions,” Huckabee said.
Bids for the awards for the Justice Center Technology Upgrades were approved by the court including an expense of $104,070.88 for the District courtroom, $19,104.02 for the County Court at Law and $9,531.57 for Justice of the Peace 1.
The bids were previously tabled last meeting so the judges could look over the technology requirements before the bids were approved.
The expenses are a budgeted item.