After reviewing the status of the local drought index during its regular meeting Tuesday, the Polk County Commissioners Court approved the use of fireworks for the July 4th firework season. “We’re in good shape,” Polk County Fire Marshal John Fugate said.
A proposal from Neogov for employment application and onboarding services was approved. A survey was sent to all department heads and elected officials who indicated they supported modernizing the system. According to Human Resources Director James Mostek, this is a platform that will make it much easier for applicants.
The Court approved closing the fiscal year 2026 reimbursement resolution, finalizing all expenditures to be included for issuance of authorized debt in 2026 series tax notes (including auditor’s verification of those expenditures previously approved) and including those authorized and pending payment prior to Sept. 30 (open invoicing/bids), stating the total to be authorized.
Surface lease agreements expiring June 30 for Polk County school land in Throckmorton and Baylor counties were discussed, with the Court approving an increase to $10 an acre for grazing, $6 an acre for hunting and $21.60 an acre for farming.
The Court approved ratifying approval to solicit proposals for group health insurance from Church Street Financial Services and Higginbotham Insurance. A committee made up of HR Director James Mostek, County Auditor Louis Ploth and Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Cassity was appointed to evaluate the proposals and bring a recommendation to the Court.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Milt Purvis presented a report from the county buildings committee regarding the next steps for county facility improvements.
“We’ve got to figure out what we’re going to do with the Beatty Avenue building. We know we’re going to put IT in there, but it will take a little work to get it ready for them. The annex, that’s going to be just a work in progress after we finish the courthouse and everybody moves back into the courthouse, then we’ll all have to figure out what we’re going to try to do down there. I know there’s some asbestos left. We know where it is and just have to figure out how to abate it. After we get the courthouse finished the tax office will move back in there and we can hopefully agree to put that building up for sale and get out from under it,” Purvis said.
The Court approved Big Sandy Ranchettes, located in Precinct 4.
In personnel matters, the Court approved personnel action form requests submitted by department heads since the last meeting; approved an update to Book I of the personnel management system; and approved the reclassification of the vacant assistant auditor I position to internal auditor.
Fiscal year 2026 budget revisions, as presented by the county auditor’s office, were approved.
In old business, the Court approved a request to advertise for bids for the construction of the Lake Livingston Building GLO Contract No. 24-065-044-e536.
During informational reports, several scholarship recipients were announced. Recipients of the Polk County Commissioners Court Bobby Smith Memorial Scholarship sponsored by Linebarger Goggan Blair were Connor Ratcliff of Big Sandy, Elijah Poage of Corrigan-Camden, Liseidy Balbuena and Danielle Oropeza, of Goodrich, Nailah Jordan of Leggett, Rudy Marquez of Livingston and Faith Tyerman of Onalaska. Recipients of the Law Enforcement Scholarship sponsored by Management & Training Corporation were Amberlee Smith of Big Sandy, Paden Walker of Corrigan-Camden, Joshua Stanley of Livingston and Dillon Jennings of Onalaska.
Items on the consent agenda included:
United Methodist Paster Ernie Turney opened the meeting with prayer.
