In a full agenda, the Erath County Commissioners Court completed 25 agenda items at its Monday, Dec. 12 regularly scheduled meeting.
The commissioners signed off on several offices inside the courthouse being moved. County Judge-elect Brandon Huckabee’s office will be moved downstairs by an entrance in order to provide easy access to the public.
The auditor’s office will be moved into the old treasurer’s office and the treasurer’s office will be moved to where the county judge’s office currently is upstairs.
All eight fire departments are receiving a nice Christmas present from the commissioner’s court. After much discussion previously, each department will receive an extra $150,000 after an additional services addenda for budget year 2023 with ARPA grant funds were approved.
“A check for each department will be sent,” Auditor Kent Reeves said.
Also dealing with ARPA funds, $320,000 has been formally designated for Erath County United Way. This amount will be for a 2-year period and Commissioner Albert Ray asked if the funds would stay in Erath County.
County Judge Alfonso Campos confirmed they would go to specifically help Erath County programs and residents.
The court also approved changing procedures for paid time off related to holiday, vacation and sick pay for county employees. According to Reeves, employees will start accruing instead of time being handed in advance.
“It’s just to get the books into accrual mode,” he said. “It’s a good move for the county.”
The court also approved extending the county’s COVID policy, allowing for an additional 40 hours of sick leave, through June 2023.
After a petition was filed to lower the speed limit to 45 mph from 60 mph on County Road 249 and CR 250 in Precinct 1, the commissioners took action to start the process to lower the speed limit.
Residents are requesting the speed limit be dropped due to new paving on one road and the curvy nature of the other one.
A notice must be placed in the newspaper for two weeks and then a public hearing will be held before the road can be officially lowered.
A whole slew of variance requests were approved at the meeting.
In other business, the court: ■ approved county assistance for the county stock show in January
■ approved the zeroing out of six chairs by the EMS department. DPS will receive the chairs.
■ approved the zeroing out of several items from the jail including damaged freezers. The commissioner’s court will hold its next meeting Tuesday, Dec. 27 due to the Christmas holiday.