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Pct. I Commissioner Mickey Barker discusses with other county commissioners regarding budgeting for federal prisoners housed at Hopkins County Jail at Monday's court meeting. Staff photo by Jillian Smith
Sewer fee also increased
The Hopkins County Commissioners Court considered bridge repairs and sewer fees, among other items of business at a Sept. 21 special session.
POWER LINES
After opening at 9 a.m., the court considered a request from Oncor power company to extend 2450 feet of telephone cable buried along County Road 4592 near Farm Road 1536 in Precinct 4.
Pct. 4 Commissioner Joe Price asked the request be postponed until next week’s session, as “we have to work out something there with the trees that are growing.” The court unanimously agreed to table the request.
The court then opened the floor for citizen comments. No citizens presented themselves for public comment.
BRIDGES
The court then considered two resolutions involving bridge projects involving Hunt and Rains Counties and TxDOT.
“It’s bridge projects that are going to be coming into Hopkins County,” County Judge Robert Newsom explained. “We share credit with other counties, so it impacts our county finances in a positive way.”
“For anyone that doesn’t know, we get money from TxDOT,” stated Pct. I Commissioner Mickey Barker.
According to the language of the resolutions, those counties that share responsibility with other counties for maintaining their bridges receive advance funding from TxDOT to replace them.
The court unanimously approved both measures.
SEWER FEES
The court then heard from emergency management coordinator Andy Endsley regarding onsite sewage facility fees.
According to Endsley, costs of maintaining onsite sewage for the county have increased $100 for a single-family unit and $200 for a commercial unit.
“There are several more inspections we need to go out on,” Endsley said. “North Hopkins Independent School District, over the summer, was one of them... It’s a lot of administrative work, even though it’s a one-time visit.”
Newsom clarified the cost increase was a one-time cost to the user and Endsley stated that was correct.
The court unanimously approved this measure.
BUDGET AMENDMENTS
County auditor Shannah Aulsbrook then presented two budget amendments:
- $100,000 for food and medical for federal inmates housed at HCSO jail, and
- $6,057 for uniforms for three fire Station 20 employees
Sheriff Lewis Tatum noted that the $100,000 would be from revenue already gained through housing federal employees.
“Those federal inmates are costing us, but we are making quite a bit of revenue off them,” Tatum told the court. “If you look at projected for the year, that’s going to be quite a bit of money.”
Barker asked if the CARES Act would reimburse the jail for housing federal inmates, and Aulsbrook stated “no, we’ve asked.”
“This is all brand new. Once we get used to it and we get settled down… I think we’ll be doing a lot better,” Tatum said.
Endsley stated his employees had been paid for by a SAFER grant; however, the grant did not pay for their uniforms.
The court unanimously approved the requests.
MISCELLANEOUS
The court further unanimously approved:
- Payment of bills
- Chapter 381 economic development program between Hopkins County and Hopkins Energy
- Statewide Automatic Notification System (SAVNS) Grant
- Longevity payment schedule of $25 additional salary per year of employment after 2 years of employment, as previously presented in the 2021 fiscal year budget
With no additional business, the court was adjourned at 9:20 a.m.
Managing editor Jillian Smith contributed to this report.