Published: October 26, 2009 08:48 pm      

Commissioners hear from Terrell officials

By Deanna Brown

Daily Sun



Two presentations preceded the Navarro County Commissioners’ Court meeting Monday, with the first being from Terrell State Hospital.

Bob Winchester with the Volunteer Services Council Board gave a power point demonstration regarding the role of the Volunteer Services Council, since Terrell State Hospital serves Navarro County.

The history of Terrell State Hospital was described, with the name change being adopted in 1925. The hospital now serves 12,000 square miles. Programs cover adult acute, children and adolescent services, and geriatric services.

“In 1994, the volunteers began a massive research project, which was to identify each person buried at Wildwood Cemetery, the cemetery on the grounds of the hospital,” Winchester said. “The graves were marked with numbers, not names. Fourteen years later, in May 2008, this project was nearly completed, with all persons identified. We still lack 1,400 markers.”

Not all people buried at Wildwood Cemetery suffered from mental illnesses. Some were victims of infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis.

“Terrell State Hospital does serve your community,” Winchester said. “And this presentation is available for service clubs, groups, and others.”

Eric Meyers Jr. with the Office of Emergency Management introduced Debbie Jasek, who gave the presentation of the Hazardous Materials Commodity Flow Study done recently in Navarro County.

“The purpose of this study is to identify the types of HazMat materials transported through Navarro County,” Jasek said. “This is a part of a community’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.”

Jasek said 80 percent of the study was funded through the governor’s office, collected from fine money in HazMat spills. The purpose of said studies are to increase public awareness, define training scenarios, emergency planning, identify equipment needs, community planning, asset and resource scheduling, support of the HazMat route adjustment, and support legal takings.

“We looked at all the roads in Navarro County, and concentrated on I-45, and the intersections of State Highway 31 and State Highway 22,” she said.

Jasek said she was surprised not to see ammonia on the list, which is used in agricultural areas, but then realized the main fertilization times were missed during the study. She also stated that truck traffic was down this last year, from 20 to 30 percent, due perhaps to the economy. The HazMat being hauled in Navarro County via trucks is pretty average with the rest of the state.

“I have acquired the database for HazMat spills back to 1974 in this county,” she said. “Reporting has gotten much better. Everyone always thinks of the ‘big, bad trucks’ carrying the HazMat, when in reality, much more is carried by trains.”

Trains in the Navarro County area routinely carry HazMat chemicals such as chlorine, and anhydrous ammonia. There are also natural gases and hazardous liquids in pipelines.

“The percentage of HazMat placarded trucks on I-45 is at or slightly higher than average, perhaps because of the number of DPS weigh stations on Interstate 45,” she said.



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Deanna Brown may be contacted via e-mail at deanna@corsicanadailysun.com. Want to “Sound Off” on this story? E-mail soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com.



NAVARRO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ COURT MEETING BRIEFS

By Deanna Brown/Daily Sun Staff Writer



Replats considered

Commissioners’ court approved the replat of both Mattie Caston Shores, Phase I, Lots 14 and 15, and Lots 596 and 597, Phase 10 of The Shores, both in Precinct 2.

Equipment purchase

Pct. 2 Commissioner Faith Holt requested approval to purchase a Kubota tractor and Motorgrader. The tractor had been rented from Vitter’s Tractor since the Pct. 2 tractor broke down, and the motorgrader is a used model.

Meals for seniors

Commissioners approved a $3,000 grant to Kaufman County Senior Citizen Services, dba Navarro County Meals on Wheels. Judge Davenport said the grant was larger last year, but had to be cut due to budget restraints.

Amateur radio equipment

Commissioners voted to accept funding from North Central Texas Council of Governments, in the amount of $7,600 for the Navarro County Amateur Radio Repeater Project. In another agenda item, they voted to approve the acceptance of $19,800 worth of 25 VHF portable radios, which would be for the sheriff and supervisors courtesy of a grant from the NCTCOG.

Approval of reports

A tax report was submitted by Russell P. Hudson, tax assessor/collector, as well as a report from Ruby Coker, Navarro County treasurer. Both reports were approved by commisioners and Judge Davenport.

Precinct 4 request

Commissioner James Olsen asked that commissioners consider awarding a contract to Neyland Bridge Construction to build a bridge on SW CR 3160, and another on NW CR 3320. It was approved.

Precinct 1 requests

Commissioner Kit Herrington asked for approval to close the road at NE CR 3250, as well as approval to construct a bridge on NW CR 1250, and to purchase a 2000 model Mack truck to replace an old dump truck being traded in for the newer model.

Navarro County Wellness

Coker requested that Paula Butler be appointed as wellness coordinator, and said she would serve as wellness sponsor for Navarro County with the Texas Association of Counties for the Health and Employee Benefits Pool. After last month’s health fair, which had great turnout, these two volunteer, unpaid positions will result in small perks for county employees who participate.

County Auditor Business

Kathy Hollomon, county auditor, gave the September 2009 monthly financial report, which was approved by the commissioners and the county judge. Hollomon also gave the investment report, and discussed the auditor’s office seeking bids for health and pharmacy services for jail inmates. The previous contract was terminated in 2008, and cost-saving measures are being sought.

Energy Savings

Consideration of approving a resolution to accept the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program allocation under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act prompted discussion from Judge Davenport. He stated they are looking for energy cost-saving measures at the jail, since the courthouse is pretty much exempt due to its historical designation.

HIDTA overtime policy

Tim Easley of the auditor’s office stated that HIDTA employees never had an overtime policy, it was simply approved by the supervisors. They have since come up with a policy that went into more detail regarding overtime.

Energy Technology Stimulus Grant program

Judge Davenport said that he was approached just recently about a grant for $1 million with an 80/20 copay (with Oncor paying the 20 percent) which would result in zero cost to the county. He stated a decision had to be made by Nov. 1, 2009, and that the county will not administer the grant. He also said there was a caveat that determined the county could be released from the grant program at any time. It can be used for energy savings on any county structure or property.