Newly sworn-in County Judge Brandon Huckabee led his first commissioners court meeting Monday, Jan. 9 with an agenda of 24 items.
The meeting started with a prayer and backup packet information is now available online where agendas are located, prior to each meeting, allowing more transparency for citizens.
Meetings are also continuing to be live streamed on the county’s Youtube channel.
During the meeting, a public hearing to reduce the speed limit from 60 mph to 40 mph on County Road 249 and County Road 250 was held, with no comments.
After the public hearing, commissioners voted unanimously to lower the speed limit on the roads. The item was brought to the court from a citizen who was concerned about the traffic driving too fast on the roads. Recently, CR 250 was paved making it easier for drivers to travel at a high rate of speed.
On CR 249, the number of curves is a concern.
“Thank you to those citizens for bringing this to the court,” Huckabee said.
Several items were on the agenda handling business for newly sworn in officials including Treasurer Angie Shawver who was approved as investment officer in place of the previous County Treasurer.
The deputation of the county treasurer’s office was recorded and a new job description for chief deputy in the county treasurer’s office was approved since a new human resources specialist, Becky Keith was hired.
“We are removing about 10 lines and taking out the human resources references since someone was hired for that position,” Huckabee said. Oaths of office and bonds for newly elected officials were also approved.
A 2007 Ford Club Wagon was deemed as surplus by the court for the Erath County Sheriff’s Office since the vehicle could not be repaired due to a lack of parts.
Several sealed bids were opened including one for a construction road project on CR 176, which was awarded to Jay Mills Contracting at a cost of $323,635. The county has alerted residents that the project will start Jan. 11 on CR 176 (Cheese Plant Road) and be closed to thru traffic until Feb. 1. The project starts at the railroad tracks and goes east about 1150 feet. The project is being paid for through the Texas Department of Agriculture.
Commissioners also held a special called meeting Jan. 11 to discuss guidelines for solar farms. Info from that meeting was not available at press.