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Hardin County Courthouse
Commissioners approved to accept more than $90,700 from the Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) and to open a new interest-bearing account for the funds at the Feb. 14 meeting of the Hardin County Commissioners Court.
The money, which was deposited on Jan. 13, came from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and is subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement entered into by the Treasury and the respective recipient government, which incorporate the provisions of the guidance that implements this program.
"There is a second part that will be coming sometime in 2023 for the same amount," said Emergency Management Coordinator Aaron Tupper.
LATCF delivers $2 billion to eligible Tribal governments and eligible revenue-sharing counties as a general revenue enhancement program.
Eligible uses for the funds are as followed:
• Recipients may similarly treat these funds to how they treat funds generated from their own revenue.
• Programs, services, and capital expenditures that are traditionally undertaken by a government are considered to fulfill a “governmental purpose.”
• For example, recipients could use funds for long-term economic development activities, including affordable housing development, workforce development and other programs to strengthen local communities undergoing economic transitions.
• Funds may not be used for lobbying activities.
• All funds are available to recipients until expended or returned to Treasury.
The court approved a new interest-bearing account with PNC Bank.
Also, commissioners approved a Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Amendment of $10,252 requested by Tupper, who is also the technology director, for the installation/upgrade of controlled access security to the District Courts and District Attorney’s offices.
The court approved a recommendation by Cody Croley, senior project manager with LJA Engineering in Beaumont, to reject a lone bid on the Beaver Brook Road Crossing Improvements project.
Croley reported that Icon GG, LLC was the lone and lowest bidder with a total bid of $4,243,224 for 10 months and the bid was considerably over the engineer’s estimate of $2 million to $2.5 million.
"In our review of the bid, we noticed the unit prices for several bid items far exceeded our estimate’s unit prices and even statewide average bid prices for TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) projects. Construction prices are high right now due to several factors, but we feel this bid is unusually high when compared to projects with similar bid items and scope," according to Croley.
It will be rebidded at a later date in an effort to obtain better bid prices.
In other action, the court approved:
• 2022 Racial Profiling Reportings submitted by Pct. 4 Constable Cory Jeffcoat and Pct. 5 Constable Danny Sullins.
• $5,680 for repairs to the Mobile Command Trailer, requested by Sheriff Mark Davis.
• Affordable Care Act Reporting and Tracking Service (ARTS) Program Agreement offered by Texas Association of Counties Health and Employees Benefits Pool.
• To name an unnamed private road “Burrell Trail”, located in Precinct 2, for 9-1-1 addressing purposes.
• A contractor agreement with Mendoza House Leveling and Repair, LLC, for building repair located at 225 Crocker St. in Kountze.
• A one-year renewal Master Services Agreement Amendment 1 including a 7.7% price increase with Tetra Tech Inc. for professional consulting services for emergency/disaster debris monitoring services.
• A Master Services Agreement with Arceneaux Wilson and Cole for professional engineering services related to the Community Development Block Grant Program of the Texas Department of Agriculture.
• Purchasing Agent Misty Sims to sell surplus furniture, file cabinets, chairs, scrap metal, and other miscellaneous items utilizing Rene’ Bates Auctioneers, Inc.