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County Judger Brian Lee COURTESY PHOTO
In last week’s meeting of the Titus County Commissioners Court, county leaders opted to agree with action set out by the Mount Pleasant City Council and rescind the one-month extension of the existing fire protection contract with the city. They also discussed replacing the extension of a contract with the city, by taking it from two years to one year from October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023. The price of a one-year extension set by the city is 1.3 million dollars. County leaders will continue to evaluate the possibility of the formation of a county fire department, which would be a county-owned, directed, and funded fire department. The county will still be open to negotiations to continue a long-term contract with the city, in an effort to keep all options open and available.
The meeting began with approving all of the previous meetings’ minutes. All of the commissioners gave updates on the road work saying they are continuing to mow, cut trees, and pave roads. There is ongoing road work that is needed to maintain the roads. Pam Titus County Elections Administrator Pam Holmes gave the commissioners the list of alternates and judges for the 20232024 election. These candidates have been presented to Holmes by the party chairs and she has approved each of them and been able to fill every position. As it stands now the Democrats hold the judgeship in boxes 1,8 and 17, they will be the alternate judges for the next two years. This could change with the election since it’s dependent on the box that carries which candidate. For the 2023 election, there is only the November general election and May uniform election. There could be an election that comes up, but no information regarding that has been brought up. Early voting started this week on Monday, October 24, 2022, and will continue until Friday, November 4, 2022. The hours for early voting, first-week Mon.-Fri. 8:00 am- 5:00 pm, Saturday 7:00 am-7:00 pm, Sunday 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm, second week Monday-Wednesday 8:00 am- 5:00 pm, and Thursday and Friday 7:00 am- 7:00 pm.
Commissioners discussed installing a handicap-accessible electric entry door system for the public elevator on the ground entrance of the main courthouse. On the morning of October 24th, there are two new handicapped parking spaces located on the north end of the courthouse by the light pole and on the corner of the square in the southwest corner. This renovation would be a major cost item with a ballpark figure somewhere around $7,500 but it will benefit someone who is unable to pull open the door and hold it so they can go through. Action was tabled on the agenda item until more information can be gathered.
Commissioners then discuss a memorandum of understanding with the Texas A&M Agri. Life Extension service. Hurley Miller had said that it was time to go to all of his counties and get a new updated current agreement in place. The commissioners can choose how long the agreement is and Miller suggested a one-year, five-year, or ten-year agreement. The county funds certain items, and a part of this is providing the office here to our taxpayers. County Judge Brian Lee recommended a five-year agreement that could be reviewed and evaluated periodically. There are no significant changes to the new agreement and the commissioners approved the measure.
Following a discussion on 2023 holidays and court meeting dates in which the county leaders opted to continue to hold their meetings on the second and fourth Monday of each month, the commissioners approved the oral and written reports of the various county officials and the Treasurer’s Report, along with budget amendments. Budget amendments included a line item to provide training through the end of December for incoming Titus County Clerk Leslie Brosnan.
The costs related to the training position will be through the clerk’s office Record Management fund.
The next Commissioners Court meeting will be November 14, 2022.