During its regular meeting Tuesday, the Polk County Commissioners Court took action regarding the distribution of $343,000 in discretionary salary pool funds, designating $88,000 to be used to fund a two-step increase on the salary scale for every corrections officer, corrections officer shift supervisor and dispatcher at the Polk County Sherrif’s Office.
Of the remaining $255,000, half ($127,500) will be allocated for the sheriff’s office and jail, and the remaining half ($127,500) will go into the general fund to be split among the other departments.
Following a discussion of Senate Bill 1173 which lifted the requirement for competitive bids from $50,000 to $100,000, the Court approved increasing the competitive bid threshold from $50,000 to $100,000 in the Polk County purchasing policy.
The Court approved a resolution approving the issuance of bonds to finance and refinance certain projects for CHI St. Luke’s Memorial Livingston. Owned or operated by CommonSpirit, Memorial Hospital of Polk County, and/or their affiliates or subsidiaries, the projects consist of the financing or refinancing of up to $9,500,000 for the costs of the acquisition, construction, renovation and installation of certain additions and improvements to the related land, parking garages, office buildings, clinics, warehouses and other buildings located on the CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Livingston campus, which is bordered generally by US-59 Loop N and West Park Road to the north and south and is identified by various addresses including, but not limited to, 1717 Hwy. 59 Bypass, Livingston. The bonds shall not represent or constitute a debt or pledge of the faith and credit or the taxing power of the county or of the State of Texas.
Nominations, by resolution, for the Polk Central Appraisal District Board Members for the 2026-2027 term were approved.
The Court approved the following requests for capital purchases to be paid from general fund balance and included on the fiscal year 2026 reimbursement resolution for year-end issuance of legally authorized debt: after-market equipment installed by Texas Fleet Outfitters on nine leased vehicles for the sheriff’s office in the amount of $207,587.40; after-market equipment installed by Texas Fleet Outfitters on leased vehicle for Precinct 1 constable in the amount of
$14,657.62.; and cabinets and shelving for county clerk land records purchased from Datum Storage Solutions in the amount of $69,516.02.
Construction bids received on the General Land Office Community Development Block Grant Housing and Urban Development most impacted and distressed water infrastructure projects were discussed and approved. The water infrastructure projects will impact Shiloh Ridge, Soda, Segno and Damascus Stryker.
The Court approved advertise bid #2026-11 for the purchase of two pickup trucks for Precinct 2 Road and Bridge to be paid from the Precinct 2 Road and Bridge fiscal year 2026 budget.
In personnel matters, the Court approved personnel action form requests submitted by department heads since the last meeting and approved updates to the personnel management system book 1 and book 2.
Fiscal year 2025 budget revisions and amendments and fiscal year 2026 amendments, as presented by the county auditor’s office, were approved.
In old business, the Court approved action regarding annual bids.
During informational reports, the Court presented a proclamation recognizing September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, received an update from the Polk County Wellness Committee regarding a Sept. 25 mental health wellness workshop for county employees and heard the annual report from the information technology department.
Items on the consent agenda included:
Lindell Mitchell of the Livingston Church of Christ opened the meeting with prayer.
