The Commissioners Court of Lamb County held their regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 9th at the Lamb County Courthouse to discuss a 16-item agenda.
The meeting was called to order at 10:01 a.m. by Lamb County Judge James DeLoach, who also gave the Invocation.
There was nobody present for the public comment portion of the meeting.
Consent Agenda Items: a) Consider and take appropriate action on minutes from previous meeting(s); Jude DeLoach stated that there were two sets of minutes, one from the regular meeting on Nov. 22nd and a special meeting on Nov. 27th, and they appeared to be in order.
b) Consider and take appropriate action on budget and salary amendments and/or line-item transfers; Lamb County Auditor, Gina Jones requested that the Commissioners approved the Budget Adjustments as presented. c) Consider and take appropriate action on bills presented by the County Auditor; Gina Jones requested that the commissioners approve bills totaling $1,065,336.18. d) Consider and take appropriate action on payroll; Jerry Yarbrough requested that the commissioners approve payroll for Lamb County ending on Nov. 29th, in the amount of $166,182.09. She also requested that the commissioners approve payroll for LHC ending on Nov. 30th in the amount of $239,148.22. e) Consider and take appropriate action on departmental reports; packets.
The motion to approve the consent agenda items as presented was made by Commissioner Danny Short and seconded by Commissioner Lee Logan. The motion carried.
Item four was to consider and take appropriate action to use TAC for Cybersecurity Training.
“It’s exactly what we’ve been doing the last few years, however last year they started charging $5 per person that takes it, but other than that it is exactly the same,” Yarbrough said.
The motion to approve using TAC for Cybersecurity Training was made by Commissioner Cory DeBerry and seconded by Commissioner Short. The motion car- ried.
The next order of business was to consider and take appropriate action on Catastrophic Sick Leave Pool Committee Update.
Yarbrough said she was bringing this update to the commissioners for knowledge.
The motion to approve the Catastrophic Sick Leave Pool Committee Update was made by Commissioner Kent Lewis and seconded by Commissioner DeBerry. The motion carried.
The next item on the agenda was to consider and take appropriate action to accept surplus material from TxDOT County Assistance Program.
“This is the Rider19 Program that we do every year,” Judge DeLoach said. “The fiscal year 2025 is just under $20,000 worth of material.”
The motion to approve the surplus material from TXDOT County Assistance Program was made by Commissioner Short and seconded by Commissioner Logan. The motion carried.
Item seven on the agenda was to consider and take appropriate action on resolution in support Motor Fuel Tax Exemption for Lamb County Vehicles.
“A bunch of the counties have done it already, but it is a resolution for support for the County Motorfuel tax exemption,” Judge DeLoach said. “I haven’t read the bill myself, but it is basically taking what we do pay in fuel tax and take it off. It’s a resolution to support legislation to do that.”
The motion to approve the Motor Fuel Tax Exemption for Lamb County Vehicles was made by Commissioner Lewis and seconded by Commissioner Short. The motion carried.
The next order of business was to consider and take appropriate action to replace a board member on the Lamb County Child Welfare Board.
“They contacted me last week sometime and one of the Littlefield positions for the Lamb County Child Welfare Board, which was held by Tami McGehee; she has resigned,” Judge DeLoach said. “The Board is recommending that we replace her with Kim Moss, who has agreed to serve in that position.”
The motion was made by Commissioner Logan and seconded by Commissioner Lewis. The motion carried.
The next item on the agenda was to consider and take appropriate action on a Lame Duck Policy for County and Precinct Officials.
“Basically what this is, if an incumbent county and precinct officer is not renominated or not reelected to the county or precinct office of the county during the time following the date of the results official canvass of the primary or election, the Commissioners Court must approve any expenditure by an incumbent county or precinct officer who is not renominated or reelected that is over the amount set by the Commissioners Court. Our amount is $2,500.”
The motion was to approve a Lame Duck Policy for County and Precinct Officials was made by Commissioner Short and seconded by Commissioner Logan. The motion carried.
Item 10 on the agenda was to consider and take appropriate action on agreement with Spyglass to Audit our communication bills.
“They’re just going to review all of our cell phone, telephone type of bills to make sure we aren’t paying taxes that we don’t have to pay,” Jones said. “If they find something then we give them a percentage.”
The motion to approve Spyglass auditing the County’s communication bills was made by Commissioner DeBerry and seconded by Commissioner Logan. The motion carried.
The next item on the agenda was to consider and take appropriate action on increase to the Indigent Burial allowance.
“Last week, Judge DeLoach, myself and Shawna Hastings discussed our balance that we pay for Cremation, which is $1,000,” Cynthia Bussey said. “She stated that her cost to do it averages about $2,500. We haven’t increased it since 2017, so we’re asking for approval to increase it to $1,250, and then revisit it every four to five years.”
The motion to approve an increase to $1,250 for the Indigent burial allowance was made by Commissioner Lewis and seconded by Commissioner Short. The motion carried.
The next order of business was to consider and take appropriate action on bonds of Elected Officials.
The motion to approve bonds of Elected Officials was made by Commissioner Logan and seconded by Commissioner Short. The motion carried.
Item 13 on the agenda was to consider and take appropriate action on purchasing a vehicle for Agri-Life Extension.
A discussion was had on what type of vehicle the County was looking at purchasing, after which it was decided that they were looking at a Chevy Tahoe.
The motion to approve going out for sealed bids for a new vehicle for Agri-Life Extension was made by Commissioner Lewis and seconded by Commissioner Short. The motion carried.
Item 14 on the agenda was to consider and take appropriate action on Interlocal agreements for Fire/EMS.
“We did not change anything in the Fire or EMS agreements, all we did was change the dates,” Judge DeLoach said.
The motion to approve interlocal agreements for Fire/EMS was made by Commissioner DeBerry and seconded by Commissioner Logan. The motion carried.
Future agenda items were discussed.
Mike McNutt gave an update on LHC. “November was a busy month for us,” he said. “Sleep Lad received their accreditation and got their physical certificate back, so we will start using that in promotional items. Last week we had financial audit, preliminary reports look like it is all fine. We had our annual cookies with Santa last week and had a great turnout and we participated in the parade last Friday.”
With no further business to discuss, a motion was made to adjourn by Commissioner Logan and seconded by Commissioner Short. The meeting was adjourned at 11:05 a.m.