County discusses grant funds, agreements

GROVETON — In order to seek grant funds related to emergency medical services, the Trinity County Commissioners Court will draft a memorandum of understanding with Ventura EMS.

County Judge Danny Martin said that the county would be able to seek a grant of up to $350,000; however, since there was no copy of the agreement at the meeting, the court initially tabled the measure.

Currently, the county has an agreement with Allegiance Ambulance; County Attorney Colton Hay said that an agreement with Ventura would mirror that, but without any payments from the county.

Commissioner Neal Smith praised the work that Ventura does for the Trinity community.

The commissioners also gave their approval for the county to seek numerous grants for the Sheriff’s Office.

Those grants include:

• $50,000, with a 25 percent county match, for body cameras;
• $80,000 for the Active Attack Response grant program, to be used with area schools;
• $40,000 for the Juvenile Justice and Youth Diversion Program;
• $15,000 for a state requirement for video magistration;
• $85,000 for rifle-resistant body armor; and
• $50,000 for the State Crisis Intervention Program.

The court took no action on a $45,000 grant for the General Victim Assistance Grant Program, and a $10,000 grant for local certified Texas Crime Stoppers organizations, and tabled approval on applications for two cybersecurity grants.

Smith said the best thing that Judge Martin did in his term was to hire Grant Administrator Vicki Branch, who has garnered millions in grant funds for the county.

In other business, the county:

• approved the allocation of surplus materials to the four road precincts;
• approved bids for resale property submitted by the Trinity County Appraisal District; and
• approved payment of an invoice of $60,000 to DRG Architects for work on a proposed jail.