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Hardin County Commissioners Court
With the new commissioner at school, the Hardin County Commissioners Court went ahead with business at the Jan. 10 meeting — the first of the new year.
County Judge Wayne McDaniel noted Pct. 4 Commissioner Ernie Koch was attending a commissioners school this week in Austin.
The court approved a request from Emergency Management Coordinator Aaron Tupper to amend the current Hardin County Policy for Disaster/Emergency Closing.
Tupper said the reason for the change was to make it “less confusing” for people to understand the county’s payment policy.
“It doesn’t change the way we are paid during a disaster, it just basically wording,” Tupper added. “We took out the word ’straight time’ because other agencies get hung up on that and we’re not eligible to be reimbursed for straight time but eligible to be reimbursed for straight time paid at an overtime rate.
According the amendment, county employees will receive premium/extraordinary pay at their regular rate in addition to their regular budgeted pay for the duration of the emergency closure for all documented time during which work is performed. All hours worked in excess of 40 hours will be paid at the overtime rate of time and one-half. All hours must be documented in a format approved by the County Auditor.
“This will help us with any future disasters,” McDaniel said.
Commissioners approved outside detention contact with Anderson, Angelina, Chambers, Ellis, 33rd and 424th Judicial District and Gillespie, Houston, 1st Judicial District in Jasper, Newton, Sabine and San Augustine, Johnson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Navarro, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Shelby, Tyler and Walker counties.
County Treasurer Deborah McWilliams reported the county has $7,894693 in General Checking and $7,012,198 for a total of $14,906,892.
In other action, the court approved the following:
• Authorize the purchasing agent to solicit bids for construction related to Beaver Brook Road Crossing Improvements, Phase 2, at Black Creek.
• 2011 International dump truck from Morris Herrin for $35,000 for Road and Bridge No. 3; and rescind an approved purchase approved by the court on Dec. 14 from Silsbee Ford for $91,494.
• Armando Lopez as deputy constable for Pct. 4 Constable Cory Jeffcoat to serve as a school resource officer for Hardin-Jefferson ISD.
• Upgrade NET Data Justice Court Case Management Software with GHS Collection to Justice of the Peace, Precincts 1,2,3,4 and 6 for $42,000. Also a master agreement with i3 Verticals LLC for credit card agreements and merchant card processing agreements.