Based on the ratings and recommendations from the court-appointed scoring committee, the Polk County Commissioners Court receive took action regarding the 2024 Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Local Communities Program through the Texas General Land Office during its regular meeting Wednesday. The Court approved Waxman & Associates as its grant administrator, but tabled action on selecting an engineering firm.
The Court met Wednesday instead of Tuesday due to Veterans Day falling on Tuesday.
Cheryl Ray with Traylor & Associates made a presentation to the Court regarding participation in the development of the 2028 regional flood plan and methods to identify potential projects for consideration by the regional flood planning group. Tasked with community outreach, Ray explained that the Regional Flood Plan is developed using information and data obtained from county and city officials, stakeholders and the flood planning group itself, whereas the State Flood Plan consolidates the information presented in the regional flood plans into a single actionable plan to reduce the risks and impacts of future flooding.
“The objective is to save money, save lives and reduce high water rescues,” Ray said, adding that projects need to be identified and added to the plan in order to secure funding.
The Court approved the purchase of a 2020 Noram motor grader for Precinct 1 Road & Bridge in the amount of $96,122.50 with trade-in and financed over a four-year term, to be paid from Precinct 1, and also approved the bid from Hendrix for the purchase of a motor grader for Precinct 4 Road & Bridge, to be paid from the fund balance.
Submission of an application to the Deep East Texas Council of Governments for the fiscal year 2026 solid waste grant was approved. The Court also approved a revised Title VI/Nondiscrimination Policy.
Requests for capital purchases to be paid from the general fund balance and included on the fiscal year 2026 reimbursement resolution for the year-end issuance of legally authorized debt were approved, specifically, the sheriff’s purchase of laptop docking stations for vehicles from Cloud Tech Inc. in the amount of $7,500.46; Axon body cameras, year 2, for the Polk County Jail in the amount of $49,439.10; and Axon body cameras, year 2, for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $53,844.77.
In personnel matters, the Court approved personnel action form requests submitted by department heads since the last meeting; approved requests from Precinct 3 Road & Bridge and Precinct 4 Road & Bridge to use discretionary funds for one-time bonuses; and approved a sheriff’s request to give the chief deputy a three-step discretionary increase.
Fiscal year 2026 budget revisions as presented by the county auditor’s office were approved.
The Court receive the yearly report from Veterans Service Officer Melissa Gates and also received announcements from the healthy county committee, specifically, the county will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 21 in the parking lot of the Polk County Regional Health Building located at 410 E. Church St.
Richard Burr addressed the Court during the portion of the meeting reserved for public comment. An attorney for 50+ years, Burr said he represented people on capital charges for 46 years. He expressed his support for the creation of a public defender’s office.
Items on the consent agenda included:
Robert Murphy with Providence Baptist Church opened the meeting with prayer.
