Lamb County Commissioners held their last regular business meeting for the year Tuesday morning, Dec. 29, 2020.
They will begin the new 2021 year Friday morning, Jan. 1, at 10 a.m., in the Lamb County Courtroom, when elected officials will be sworn into offices.
The Sheriff and deputies will also be sworn to their duties.
Part of the action Tuesday morning was the unanimous approval of the bonds of the elected officials.
After Lamb County Judge James M. DeLoach called the meeting to order, the opening prayer and Pledges of Allegiance to the U.S. and Texas flags were recited.
There were no public comments made on any of the agenda items.leave
Five ConsentAgenda items were considered first, in a combined vote of approval:
Minutes from the Dec. 14, 2020 were approved as presented.
There was one line-item transfer made to the budget.
Bills presented by the County Auditor included: $81,181.43 for Lamb County, and $456,540.25 from Lamb Healthcare Center’s account, for a total of $703,006.68.
Payrolls presented by the County Treasurer included: $144,885.94 for Lamb County, and $165,285.01 for Lamb Healthcare Center.
The departmental reports as presented, were included in the Consent Agenda Items approval. Other Agenda items:
Commisioners heard a request from a local business owner of the Prescription Shop, to remove a Deed Restriction on that personal property.
When the land was first sold 25 years ago, a restriction was placed on the property that businesses there would support the hospital.
There is still five years left on that restriction, and currently the County Attorney, and the owner’s attorney are looking into the situation, to come up with an answer.
Changes to COVID policy
Judge DeLoach discussed changes to the County’s Temporary Policies for County Employees affected by the COVID virus.
“We need to look at scaling back of some of the things we’re now doing,” he began.
He expressed the opinion that if an employee is exposed, they should contact a physician who would issue a statement for the employer, if the employee should be quarantined (and for how
He suggested that the COVID policy be adjusted to 80 hours of pay for those who must be quarantined.
“If an employee works at home to do their job, while quarantined, they should be paid.
“There should be no more pay for multiple times past the 80 hours, when the employee’s sick pay could be used.
There was a lot more detail presented about the employee and the pay they receive when ill with COVID.
Seek bids for Courthouse roof
Commissioners granted the county judge the permission to advertise for sealed bids to replace the roof on the Courthouse.
He told the commissioners they are finding leaks in the roof, that need to be fixed.
Elected Officials’ Bonds
Bonds for the recently-elected officials: Commissioner Pct. 1, Cory DeBerry; Commissioner Pct. 3, Danny Short; County Attorney, Scott Say; Sheriff, Gary Maddox; and County Tax Assessor-Collector, Brenda Goheen; were approved by the commissioners.
New Extension Agent
Susan Sandoval of Olton was introduced as a new employee in the Lamb County AgriLife Extension Office.
County Extension Agent Kyle Howard, explained that the County-wide Stock show will begin Wednesday, Jan. 6 thru Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021.
“Things will be different this year. We plan to observe social distancing and instead of a concession stand, we’ll have a food truck to come in to provide the concessions.”
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 10:55 a.m.