Commisioner's Court
Houston County Courier - October 2007
By Michael Guyton
Reporter

The Houston County Commissioners Court voted unanimously at the Tuesday, Oct. 9, meeting to use Wayne Gondeck with DRG Architects, of San Antonio, for the county jail expansion project.
Gondeck will work with jail planner Gary Adams. Adams has worked with the county previously on the construction of the current Houston County Jail in 1992.
A proclamation was presented to make October officially Czech Heritage Month. The court also welcomed Judy Vondra representing the county historical Czech community.
The transfer of  $1,000 to the Houston County Historical Commission fund was approved. The money was donated by ETC Katy Pipeline.
Raymond Vann and Associates, of Lufkin, were selected  to represent the county as management firm and Cross-Tex Engineering, of Palestine, to represent the engineering firm in the 2008 Texas Community Development grant which will provide a new deep water-well for the community or Berea.
The county applied for the grant on behalf of Consolidated Water Supply.  The $300,000 project will be funded with $250,000 grant money and a $50,000 from Consolidated.
The annual outside audit report was presented by Jesse Stephens, CPA, for the fiscal year that ended September 30, 2006.  The audit indicated that Houston County had a good financial year, with a net increase in cash balance for the year of $490,059.
Commissioners also welcomed special visitor Marc Hamlin, a native of Houston County who serves as district clerk of Brazos County and president of the Texas Association of Counties. Hamlin said he wanted to come and personally thank the local court and other elected officials of Houston County for their leadership and support of TAC.
The court also authorized the county judge to execute interlocal agreements with local governments for use of county-owned electronic voting machines.