KingWm #LibertyMatters

What a great meeting!  With 27 items on the agenda, I expected a longer one, but we ended at an hour and 37 minutes.  There was a lot of great discussion today on several items.  The EMS and Grant reports were both informative and the recycling center was a hot topic today.  They even recognized that there are too many strings attached to some grants, rejecting one, and that relying on money from the State for our budget could be dangerous.  Employee benefits were discussed again, and the budget work shop was very informative as well.  Don’t miss it!

Wow, what a surprise!  I went to the Fayette County Republican Party Quarterly meeting mostly to see Wes Virdell, the state director for Gun Owners of America, but we were also blessed to welcome Stephen Willeford, the hero of the Sutherland Springs shooting.  When a crazy man went into a church is Sutherland Springs and began shooting, Stephen grabbed his firearm, engaged the shooter and ended the massacre.  Don’t miss his story!  Thank you, Deborah Frank, for organizing the meeting and for all your hours dedicated to community service.

Commissioners Court was brief again today and the hot topic was certainly the TAC presentation of the 2024 employee benefits renewal plans and rates.  With 73 minutes and  21 agenda items, the routine was interrupted with minimal discussion related to subdivisions, the hazard mitigation grant and a survey of donated real estate.  Did you know the County carries an insurance policy for employee theft?  The budget calendar was also discussed, and I asked when the public would begin seeing department budget requests.  Don’t miss the budget and TAC discussions.

Sorry, no report once again.  Even I have to work from time to time.

Noise, EMS, Audit Controversy, no report again this week.

On the noise nuisance and the outdated subdivision regulations.

It was another fairly routine and brief meeting, but there was lengthy continued discussion related to the noise nuisance in Precinct #2 that has been reported on.  Several member of the public spoke and they were well prepared. My heart breaks for them, we should do something to help.  There was further discussion on Fayette School Lands and hunters, a new County Bank Depository and fuel is still expensive.  In other news, St. Mark’s change in status still has not significantly affected the County budget.

Some days are more routine than others and it’s more about what you learn before and after Court :wink:  We covered 33 items in 80 minutes, here are some highlights: Rodney Read is unhappy about an accident report & Deborah Frank delivers more fabulous St. Mark’s comments; EMS employees Melody McCoy and Patty Nelson are recognized; subdivision regulations to be discussed at workshop; EMS gives Station 4 update, discusses ambulance chassis cost, wear & tear; discuss mulch grinding, hazardous waste disposal, unhappy uniforms, an internship & of course, bills.  But…no hospital update?

St. Mark’s is front and center again with more public questions and comments.  Thank you, Deborah & Eugene, for your participation.  The Airport had some businesses today and the County appears to have finalized its new r.o.w. maintenance bond policy.  The Sheriff’s Office report mentions human smuggling in Fayette County and EMS gets a drone capable of thermal imaging?  EMS updates us on St. Mark’s budgetary effects and the new EMS station in Schulenburg.  The county Grant Specialist had lots to report on today and the Recycling department and Precinct #4 get new equipment.

This was a brief public hearing to discuss the method of distribution for the Harvey grant funds.