Meeting covers wide range of topics

Last week’s meeting of the Jeff Davis County Board of Commissioners covered a wide range of subjects.
Fonda Ussery spoke to the commissioners briefly about Towns Bluff Park and Heritage Center before turning over the floor to park administrator Nadine Lollis. Lollis said park tools needed to be replaced, and there is a need for new playground equipment and upgrading the old equipment. During the hot summer months, the bathhouses are in need of air conditioning, the park needs a new lawnmower and there is a need for lighting of the playground area and around the bathhouses.
Ussery added that the shelter at the park needed to be finished.
Dennis Yawn expressed his concerns about inadequate camera security in the commission meeting room where elections are conducted. He felt a deer camera placed in the room offered inadequate security.
Terry Stone spoke to the commissioners on behalf of Bill Wasmund’s efforts to relieve senior citizens from having to pay school taxes.
County Administrator Heather Scott informed the commissioners that the lease agreement with the Department of Community Supervision was up and she suggested the lease be altered to a month-to-month basis. The commissioners approved her suggestion.
The commissioners ….
…. accepted the low bid of $38,400 from D&D Construction for modifications to the old Sheriff’s Department building for use as the Board of Elections office.
…. approved the agreement with the indigent defense services.
…. approved an amended agreement for National Opioid Litigation.
…. heard from Scott who said budget public hearings were scheduled for June 24 at 5 p.m. and June 27 at 4:15 p.m. in the county extension office. The latter will also be a called meeting to adopt the FY25 budget.
…. agreed to advertise for bids for a tandem dump truck, a production loader, a brush cutter and other road department equipment as requested by Roads Superintendent Chris Horton.
…. heard from Commissioner Vann Wooten who pointed out that there were 25 participants in the recreation department’s youth golf program and suggested the commission help with the program.
…. heard from Commissioner Ricky Crosby who said the commission’s No. 1 priority should be to hire sufficient personnel for the Emergency Medical Service.
…. heard from Joint Development Authority Administrator Oakley Perry who gave an update and informed the commissioners of a Fourth of July celebration scheduled for July 6 at the fairgrounds.
…. heard from David DeSousa who spoke on reducing school taxes for seniors and suggested the commissioners wait to see what the State Legislature puts on the November ballot about tax matters such as increasing the state homestead exemption.