An order regarding the installation of utilities in the unincorporated areas of the county was discussed and approved during the regular meeting of the Polk County Commissioners Court Tuesday.
Requested by Permits Supervisor/Inspector Hollie Oliver, the order – which has been reviewed and approved by legal counsel – will prevent utility providers from installing utilities in developments that have not been approved or certified exempt from the county’s subdivision regulations.
The Court approved the following requests – the purchase of body worn cameras with five-year terms for the sheriff’s office, to be purchased from the sheriff’s capital outlay (budgeted funds) at an annual cost of $53,844.79, and the purchase of body worn cameras with five-year terms for the jail, to be purchased from the jail’s capital outlay (budgeted funds) at an annual cost of $49,439.10.
The Court approved receiving and recording the replat of Harbor Light Lot 32A and B in Precinct 2. However, because the county never received the required application after multiple requests, the Court approved sending a letter to the attorney and the title company for the future.
A certificate of compliance for Lagoon Ranch RV Park in Precinct 2 was approved.
The Court also approved accepting a donation of 7,500 feet of road base, not to exceed $500,000, to be used on Old Groveton North located in Precinct 2. Private individuals are donating the materials and labor.
In personnel matters, the Court approved personnel action form requests submitted by department heads since the last meeting, approved an update to the personnel management guide and approved a request to reclassify one full-time assistant district attorney position into two part-time positions.
Fiscal year 2025 budget amendments as presented by the county auditor’s office were approved.
Items on the consent agenda included:
•Approval of the minutes of the Feb. 25 meeting;
•Approval of the schedules of bills;
•Approval of an order designating surplus property;
•Approval of a transfer of one patrol unit from the district attorney’s office to the Precinct 4 constable’s office;
•Receiving and recording personnel action forms submitted by elected officials since the last meeting;
•Receiving and recording fiscal year 2024 Polk County jail commissary and inmate trust fund financial review;
•Receiving a petition to close Old Blanchard Loop, also known as the Blanchard and Onalaska Highway, located in Precinct 2, and schedule consideration of an order to close the road on April 8;
•Approval of an order accepting Main Street (specified sections of), located in Paradise Acres Subdivision in Precinct 2, for public maintenance;
•Approval of an update to the master street address guide;
•Approval to submit application for USDA wildfire defense grant; and
•Approval of a resolution in support of district attorney’s victim coordinator and liaison grant (VCLG) application #2026-3549717563 to the Office of the Attorney General.
During informational reports, proclamations were presented recognizing March 2025 as American Red Cross Month and April 2025 as Fair Housing Month in Polk County.
Social Services Director Tammy Plattenburg opened the meeting with prayer.
