Wood County Commissioners Court

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$400,000 to 12 County VFDs; Pack suit attorney selected
By JOHN SPARKS

Meeting in regular session Friday, December 12, Wood County Commissioners approved the distribution of $400,000 to the county's 12 Volunteer Fire Departments and selected a law firm to represent the county in defending a law suit brought by former Precinct-3 Justice of the Peace, Larry Pack. The court also reviewed the proposed new map of the county as prepared by the East Texas Council of Governments.


Grants to the operating budgets of the county's 12 volunteer fire departments were approved as all met the requirements of county government concerning the financial management of each department. Holly Lake Volunteer Fire Department received $27,667 in county support while Hawkins VFD received $37,347. Others receiving grants were Alba VFD-$33,737; Coke/Pleasant Grove-$26,887; Hainesville VFD-$31.347; Lands End VFD-$24,591; Mineola VFD-$47,363; Ogburn VFD-$27,137; Perryville VFD-$25,953; Quitman VFD-$46,497; Winnsboro VFD-$38,587, and Yantis VFD-32,787. The actual grant amount for each department is determined by the Wood County Fire Chiefs Association, not by commissioners.

Commissioners voted to utilize the services of Clark, Lee and Parker, Tyler to represent Wood County in a suit brought by Larry David Pack in federal district court. Pack, the former Precinct-3 Justice of the Peace is suing for salary and wages lost after he resigned his post. Pack had been accused and convicted by a Wood County jury of a minor felony. That conviction was later set aside by an appellate court.

Representatives of East Texas Council of Government's mapping unit presented a near final map of the Wood County roads system to commissioners for review. The map is scheduled to be printed during the first quarter of 2009 and will serve as the "official' map of the county. As a part of the mapping agreement the county's fire departments and other first responders will receive maps specific to their service areas.

Commissioners also approved revised subdivision regulations for the county. The county has jurisdiction in all rural unincorporated areas (beyond city limits) for the dividing of a tract of land into two or more parts for the purposed of developing lots for homes or businesses.

The court also approved a contract between the county and a planning and management consulting firm to administer a grant of $64,599 from the Texas Office of Rural Community Development for clean up expenditures related to storm damage in Precinct-4. The firm will be paid $8,900 for services.

In other action the court approved:
- payroll of $368,610.92.
- employee/dependent health claims of $30,332.82.
- claims of $578,935.11.
- Constable reports for Precincts 1 and 3.
- Claudeane Sublett to service on Wood County Industrial Commission Board of Directors.
- tax sale of property previously owned by Angeline Pierce in Mineola to Morgan Waggoner for $3,600.
- amendment to county's drug testing policy providing for a 30-day probationary period for new employees of the Wood County Sheriff's Office.
- assignment of Paul Banner to bench of 402nd District Court.
- grants to CASA for Kids of East Texas ($5,500) and to East Texas Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (3,000).
- grant continuation resolution for Wood County Victim Services project.
Personnel actions taken at the meeting included:
- Becky Sue Burford, end of appointed term, Auditor, $52,461.00/year.
- Deannie Darlene Yosten, new hire, jailer, WCSO, $13.79/hour.
- Deborah L. Foster, Chief Deputy; Michael Alan Johnson, Captain; Kelly W. Cole, CID Sergeant; Robert Low Holland, CID Sergeant; David Shannon Barkley, Deputy; Mark Allen Smith, Deputy, and Sherri L. Fiesel, jailer, resignations, Wood County Sheriff's Office.
- Rayburn Eppinett, new hire, Laborer II, Precinct-2 Road & Bridge, $14.72/hour.
-Robert Timothy McCraw, salary increase, Precinct-1 Road & Bridge, from $12,92/hour to $14.72/hour.

The next regular meeting of the Wood County Commissioners Court will be Tuesday, December 23 at 10 a.m. A special meeting of the court can be called with 72-hour public notice.

Last Updated on Friday, 10 April 2009 18:28