COMMISSIONERS

Adams also presented an item regarding the renewal of Howard County's Texas Association of Counties' Affordable Care Act Reporting and Tracking System (TAC/ARTS). The system handles much of the voluminous paperwork associated with reporting for the Affordable Care Act. Commissioners unanimously approved renewal of the service.

At the beginning of County Auditor Jackie Olson's section of the meeting, she requested that commissioners vote on a budget report and her presentation of the county's Financial Report which were discussed during the 1 p.m. Workshop. Both items were unanimously approved.

Olson also presented invoices, purchase requests, and budget amendments, which were all unanimously approveed.

Commissioner Cash Berry (Precinct 2) presented a change order for installation of carpet at the Justice of the Peace office in Coahoma Berry indicated that the change order would increase the cost of the project by more than $13,000. Commissioners unanimously approved the change order.

Berry also presented a request for a 90-day Burn Ban extension, which was unanimously approved.

Commissioner Jimmie Long (Precinct 3) presented a request to go out for bids on landscaping at the Howard County Courthouse. Long indicated that the total on the item would be greater than $50,000, the threshold which necessitates the bid process. The commissioners unanimously approved the item.

Commissioner Doug Wagner told commissioners that the company Berkshire Hathaway Energy Renewals requested a deal which would allow them to place a solar power farm at the old Howard County Airport, but said after examining the property, he doesn't like the idea because the old airport is already used extensively for other purposes. Commissioners allowed the item to die without a motion.

County Sheriff Stan Parker presented his annual Racial Profiling Report for 2022. According to the report, out of 4,253 stops of civilians by the Sheriff's Office in 2022, race or ethnicity was known in only 19, while it was not known in 4,234.

Racially, white individuals led the list of stops with 2,546; followed by Hispanic or Latino individuals with 1,498; black individuals with 192; Asian/pacific Islander with 15; and Alaska Native/american Indian with two.

Males were stopped more than three times as often as female drivers, 3,222 males stopped vs. 1,031 females stopped.

Four reasons were listed for the stops: Violation of the law in 787 cases; Preexisting knowledge in 12 cases; Moving traffic violation in 2,473 cases; and Vehicle traffic violation in 981 cases.

Searches were conducted in only 58 cases – 31 on white individuals, 24 on Hispanic or Latino individuals; and three on black individuals.

Of the stops, 145 resulted in a verbal warning; 2,978 in a written warning; 1,108 in a citation; 10 in a written warning and arrest; nine in a citation and arrest; and three in an arrest without a warning or citation.

Of the 4,253 stops, two involved police use of physical force resulting in an injury – one involving a white individual, and the other involving a Hispanic or Latino individual.

There were no complaints of racial profiling filed against the Sheriff's Office during 2022.

Commissioners unanimously approved the report.

County Clerk Zitterkopf presented his monthly report for January, indicating that the Clerk's Office brought in $57,396.41 in fees; and $3,404.50 in copy fees.

Road Engineer Brian Klinksiek presented his Roadway Maintenance Update. He also presented an application to place a man-camp in Precinct 2, which was unanimously approved. Commissioners also voted to make the Road and Bridge Office the point of contact for Subdivision Permits, at Klinksiek's suggestion, and granted him permission to auction several old, non-working county vehicles.