A seven-day burn ban issued March 20 by County Judge Sydney Murphy will expire Thursday. Following monitoring by the Texas Forest Service, the Polk County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Polk County Office of Emergency Management, the Polk County Commissioners Court approved allowing the ban to expire during its regular meeting Tuesday.
In somewhat related activity, the Court approved an order authorizing the sale of fireworks during the San Jacinto Day period of April 16 through midnight April 21.
In activity related to the 89th legislative session presently underway, the Court approved resolutions in support of countywide polling and funding for rural emergency medical services and in opposition to the elimination of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.
A change order for the courthouse restoration project – regarding millwork on the second floor and repair of a water leak where the elevator was – was approved at a total cost of $61,232.87.
Based on a request from Trinity County, the Court approved nullifying and withdrawing the joint resolution between Polk and Trinity counties for emergency management program services and the shared interjurisdictional emergency management plan.
The Court approved rescheduling the July 22 meeting to July 29 due to a conflict with the North and East Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association’s Annual Conference in Waco.
The purchase of Axon body worn cameras for the constables was approved. Requested by Precinct 2 Commissioner Mark Dubose, the purchase will be funded by the remaining portion of Precinct 2’s American Rescue Plan Act funds and Chief Deputy Andy Lowrie has agreed to provide the training.
The Court approved advertising for bids for a generator for Precinct 3 Road and Bridge and advertising for a nuisance abatement bid for the old gas station located at the corner of FM 350 North and US 59 North in Moscow.
Requests for variance from Polk County subdivision regulation design standards for Phase 6 of Midway Acres, located in Precinct 4, was approved as follows: Section 7.17, plat requirements, requiring that plays for developments of this size be prepared at a scale no smaller than one-inch equals 200 feet; and Section 9.D, design standards, concerning the number of single-family dwellings per lot on all tracts larger than 10 acres.
The Court approved personnel action form requests submitted by department heads since the last meeting.
County Social Services Director Tammy Plattenburg presented a report on behalf of the clinic committee, having checked out three counties that have clinics – Denton, Chambers and Jefferson counties. She said she likes Jefferson County’s program and thinks it could be a good thing for Polk County to have.
“It cut down on their absenteeism by 2.5%. They offered a lot of things that I think would be important to the county. The also offered tele-med. The overall emphasis is trying to keep people at work,” Plattenburg said.
A proclamation recognizing Soil & Water Stewardship Conservation Week was presented to Patricia Snook and Sandy Baker.
Items on the consent agenda included:
Pastor Sean Ferry of Pine Forest Baptist Church opened the meeting with prayer.
