Lamb County Commissioners took care of an 11-item agenda when they met Monday morning, March 22, 2021.
After Lamb County Judge James M. DeLoach called the meeting to order, the invocation was given by Joella Lovvorn, followed by the judge’s leading the Pledges of Allegiance to the U.S. and Texas flags.
There was no one who wished to make a public comment about any of the agenda items.
The six consent agenda items were then considered:
a) Minutes from the March 8 previous meeting.
b) There were no budget and salary amendments and/or lineitem transfers to be considered.
c) Bills presented by the County Auditor, included: $212,151.46 for Lamb County; and $572,920.12 for the Lamb County hospital, for a total of $785,071.58 in bills to be paid.
d) Payrolls presented by Lamb County Treasurer Jerry Yarbrough, included: Lamb County payroll ending March 12, 2021, in the amount of $149,591.76; and Lamb Healthcare Center Payroll ending March 13, 2021, in the amount of $161,646.11.
e) The departmental reports that were received.
f) The eight individual donations that were given to the Littlefield Lamb County Library for its Summer Reading Program and a touch table.
All of the consent agenda items were accepted and approved.
Healthcare Solutions
Commissioners approved the renewal of the Memory of Understanding with Indigent Healthcare Solutions, which helps indigent patients with their prescriptions.
Tabled Rabies Control
The agenda item about appointing a Rabies Control Officer for Lamb County, as required by Chapter 826 of Health and Safety Code, was tabled, for further consideration about the state’s requirements, and until the control measures can be determined and put in place.
New Bond Supervision Program
Ben Diaz, Lamb County Adult Probation Officer, approached the commissioners and said that he would like to do the county’s own Bond Supervision Program for Adult Probation, and in the meantime hire a state employee to train working as the supervisor on Oct. 1, when the new fiscal year begins.
The supervisor would be contacting the people who could be released from jail, but can’t pay a bond to be released.
Following a lengthy discussion on the subject, the commissioners voted to approve Diaz’s request to hire someone to train, and to fund the program as he requested.
Don’t silence county officials
Commissioners voted to approve a resolution to oppose Texas Senate Bill 234 and House Bill 749, that are efforts to “Silence Elected County Officials.”
All elected Lamb County Officials were urged to sign the resolution.
Judge DeLoach explained: “If those bills pass, special interest groups will be the only ones who can go to complain, offer comments or suggestions. Auditors to discontinue service
As a future agenda item, Judge DeLoach reported to the commissioners that he has received a letter and a call from Webb, Webb and Wright CPAs, that as of June 30, they will remove their firm from audit services. Executive Session
For agenda item 8, Judge DeLoach announced that the Commissioners would go into an executive session, pursuant to Government Code 551.072; then for Agenda Item 9, which was to follow the executive session, the commissioners could announce the action they took to negotiate the Purchase of Real Estate.
No action was taken.
The meeting was adjourned.