Commissioners OK additional request for COVID-19 hazard pay

NEW BOSTON, Texas — With hazard pay being granted to both Bowie County Sheriff’s Officepatrol deputies and courthouse security personnel last month, the same is now be granted to sheriff’s investigators.

Last week, Bowie County Commissioners approved hazard pay for sheriff’s office’s detectives with the money being supplied through the Coronavirus Relief Fund and Security Act (CARES Act).

Back on Sept. 28, commissioners approved hazard pay for patrol deputies and courthouse security personnel because of the regular contact these county employees have with public as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.This pay measure soon prompted the sheriff’s office to ask the same investigators.

Bowie County Auditor Jennifer Beckett said the county doesn’t have actually have the CARES Act money yet, but she added that the county will be reimbursed the money before the end of the year.

Bowie County Precinct 2 Road Commissioner Tom Whitten said that if the sheriff’s office can keep record of investigators contact with the public, that would help reinforce both the need and request for the pay in order to recover the CARES Act money.Following some additional discussion the Commissioners Court approved the measure.

In other business. the Commissioners Court approved a request by DeKalb Mayor Lowell Walker for $61,930 of the CARES Act funding being transferred from Redwater, Texas, to DeKalb.

Walker told commissioners that one city isn’t permitted by law to just give another city CARES Act money, adding that the county itself would have to act as the passthrough for the measure. Walker also added that the money will be used for overtime benefits for the city’s law enforcement.

The court then agreed to have the county accept the Cares Act money for disbursement to DeKalb.