January 13, 2020 – Hopkins County Commissioner Court made short work of Monday’s regular meeting, going through the agenda in about 15 minutes.
Plat Request
The court was asked to consider approving a plat request to separate two lots in Together Good Deeds II Addition to sell. County Clerk Tracy Smith told the court the land in question is located in Cumby and had received approval from the City of Cumby to provide sewer and water services. County rules require commissioners approval for the action. The county guidelines require proof of provision of water and resources.
When asked about the property and request Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price said he hadn’t viewed the property and wasn’t familiar with the request. He made the motion for the plat request to be tabled. The motion was seconded by Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley and approved by the court.
Red Cross Agreement
The Commissioners Court approved a space license agreement with the American Red Cross, for the agency to use and assume responsibility for insurance a county office space.
The agreement is more or less a formality, Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley noted. Previously, the local chapter operated from the fire station. However, when the environmental division moved to the fire department, the Red Cross was asked to move. They have been located in the old Fidelity Express drive-through building, located behind the courthouse annex, across from First Baptist Church. The agreement wasn’t enacted previously because the space was primarily occupied by the Chamber of Commerce, until their Main Street offices were ready for them to move into.
The office is provided by the count to the Red Cross at no cost, and also provides space for Salvation Army and CERT as well. The Red Cross will provide insurance in case something happens to the building during their occupancy, according to Endsley.
Bartley made the motion, seconded by Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker, approving the agreement. The motion received unanimous approval from the Commissioners Court.
Financial
Hopkins County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook asked the court to allow the $1,050 Precinct 3 received from selling scrap equipment to be moved from a revenue to an equipment fund for Precinct 3. The motion, by Bartley and seconded by Barker, also received unanimous approval of the court.
Fire Departments
Hopkins County Commissioners Court approved on a motion from Price and seconded by Barker, the fire protection contract returned signed by Miller Grove Volunteer Fire Department officials.
The deadline for all VFDs to return a signed fire protection contract to the county in order to receive county funding is Feb. 2. All of the other department have already gotten their contracts in and approved, except one.
Endsley said Arbala VFD, the only department that has yet to sign a contract with the county, is scheduled to hold a meeting next Sunday to discuss and approve the contract.
Also announced was that commissioners would be meeting with volunteer fire department chiefs during their monthly meeting Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the training room at Hopkins County Fire Station.
Fire Works Sales
The Commissioners Court too was asked to approve three resolutions authorizing sales of fireworks in Hopkins County for three occasions.
“Fire work sales are a really important part of the economy for some people and for our community. If we don’t approve it, we cannot have the fireworks at other odd times,” Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said. “There’s three holidays that we have to approve for our fireworks sales to go forward”
Newsom proposed and Bartley seconded the motion approving the resolutions authorizing sales of fireworks for Independence Day, San Jacinto Day and Memorial Day in Hopkins County. The motion was unanimously approved.
The motion, made by Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom and seconded by Bartley, was unanimously approved.
Training Credits
Hopkins County AgriLife Extension Agent Johanna Hicks presents Barker and Bartley with certificates recognizing them for completion of 6 hours of educational training at the District 4 Northeast Texas Continuing Education Conference Held Dec. 5 in Mount Pleasant for commissioners and judges. She said although no certificate was provided, the county judge too attended the conference.
The commissioners noted the conference to be an “excellent” conference, and “one of the best conferences” they have attended.
Utility facilities
The commissioners court approved requests from Farmers Electric Coop to construct electric power distribution facilities over County Road 3310 and County Road 3530. Bartley said he’d looked at both and was recommending approving the request. Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Anglin second the motion, which received unanimous approval, along with the previous meeting minutes as part of the consent agenda.
Public Forum
Candidate Bryan Slaton introduced himself during public forum and described a political situation in Austin he wanted to make those present aware of, which he said would impact cities and counties.
