A variety of health-related items received attention and approval at the Monday, July 27 Erath County Commissioners Court meeting.
Two proclamations were approved including celebrating National Health Center Week on Aug. 2-8 and another one commemorating the 100th anniversary of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital. (For more information and photos of the Texas Health anniversary celebration, see next week’s edition).
“As the country’s largest primary care network, Community Health Centers are the health care home for 52 million Americans in over 17,000 communities across the country. One in every seven people in the United States gets their care at a Community Health Center,” the proclamation stated.
Esther Taylor, Accel Health CEO was present for the proclamation, and shared in the excitement of National Health Center Week.
“The Community Health Center model continues to be an effective means of overcoming barriers to health care access, including geography, income and insurance status – improving health outcomes and reducing costs,” the proclamation also stated.
Unanimous approval was given for bonds issued for Tarrant County Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corporation for the benefit of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital.
The county is not obligated in any way and the refinancing of the bonds is to allow for renovations of hospital property.
A new price agreement with Southern Health Partners and Erath County Jail for inmate health services was approved at a rate of $174,877.44 annually (or $14,573.12 per month). A per diem rate for more than 100 inmates is included for $1.61.
The contract runs from October 2026 through September 2027.
An agreement for student clinicals was approved between the Erath County EMS and Weatherford College.
Assistant EMS Director Colby Swearingen said the county had previously had an agreement for clinicals with Weatherford College, however, they had expired.
A new alarm services monitoring contract was approved for both the Unified Dispatch Center and the Erath County Jail.
The contract is for $54.99 a month for the unified dispatch center and $7,927.50 annually for the jail.
“They have been very responsive to our needs,” Jail Captain Danny Clayton said.
No changes were made for any sheriff and constable fees for Fiscal Year 2027. Citations are $75 and writs are $150.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Albert Ray sought and got approval to use an alternate vendor for road materials, Nobles Materials LLC, due to supply fulfillment constraints with J.H. Strain and Sons.
Ray explained the company is selling so much material that it is sometimes difficult for the county to get the amount they need. Nobles Materials LLC has done business as a vendor with the county previously.s Precinct 1 County Commissioner Dee Stephens received approval to enter into a buy back agreement with LoneStar Truck Group for a 2026 Western Start 47X DayCab Tractor after the previous one was totaled by a semitruck that pulled out in front of the county’s driver.
Stephens said the agreement was for two years and would give the county some protection in case the vehicle turned out to be a ‘lemon.’
The court also approved a lease termination rental agreement on 1011 N. Graham St. in Stephenville for the property they were renting for the juvenile probation office. The county recently purchased the building on West Green Street to house the office.