COUNTY

Commissioner Bailey stated a request was made for a mobile message board to be funded through a $1,700 grant. According to Commissioner Bailey, the city would be required to purchase the message board, however the the county and the city would have equal access to the board. A motion was made by Commissioner Bailey to approve the utilization of the grant for the board and was seconded by Commissioner Long to pass unanimously.

Judge Tim Yeats initiated conversation over Designation of Auxiliary Court Facility to Commissioners stating the need for jury selection to begin again in Howard County. According to Yeats, the city and county have an agreement that allows the county to use the Municipal Auditorium without costs.

“We’ve gone over there. It’s good, the acoustics are good; we can get plenty of people in there. I don’t know how long we’re going to have to do this, but we’ll do it as long as we have to. If things get backed up and we can’t have jury trials, people accused of crimes will ask for jury trials and then get postponed, so we need to have jury trials,” Yeats said.

According to Yeats, only the jury selection will take place in the auditorium and social distancing can still be maintained once the 12 jurors are selected. A motion was made by Commissioner Long to approve the use of the Municipal Auditorium as a way of jury selection and was seconded by Commissioner Bailey. The motion carried unanimously.

Maintenance-Chiller and Boiler Service Plan Proposals were given by Commissioner Bailey to discuss the maintenance of the chillers and boilers for the Howard County Courthouse and Howard County Library. While the proposals were separated into two bids, Commissioner Bailey discussed the possibility of instead approving the lowest bidder to maintain the boilers and chillers for the Howard County Library to later be re-evaluated after a year to possibly begin maintenance on the Howard County Courthouse. A motion was made be Commissioner Bailey to approve the proposal for the Howard County Library boiler and chiller maintenance to begin and then be re-evaluated after a year to possibly begin on the Howard County Courthouse. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Long to pass unanimously.

Road Engineer Brian Klinksiek provided Roadway Maintenance Updates stating the work for CR 34 was completed, rehabed and repaired.

County Commissioner Craig Bailey then held discussion on the placement of the burn ban regarding the burning of trash. Commissioner Bailey stated he held discussion with Howard County Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mitchell Hooper reviewing the dry maps and increasing winds.

“I would make the motion that we reinstate the burn ban per his recommendations,” Bailey said.

The reinstated burn ban will occur for 90 days unless requested otherwise with proper recommendation. A motion was made by Commissioner Bailey to reinstate the burn ban and was seconded by Commissioner Long. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Jimmy Long then moved into discussion regarding the special Town Hall Meeting being held on the Third floor Courtroom, Tuesday and Oct. 6 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., concerning County Assistance District. According to Commissioner Long, the Town Hall Meeting is being held in order to discuss the possibility of a 2% sales tax outside the city limits of Big Spring, Coahoma, and Forsan. The 2% sales tax would equal the current sales tax inside city limits for Big Spring, Coahoma, and Forsan.

“We will do our best to answer any questions for myself and anyone else with the Court. We will be here tomorrow night and next week in case someone cannot make it,” Long said.

County Clerk Brent Zitterkopf initiated discussion on agenda item Process/Policy-Commissioner Court Documents are required to be signed by all other parties/entities before they are approved in court. According to Zitterkopf, several documents have been left unsigned by individuals and is seeking to have all documents presented to the Court to be fully signatured before the Court can official sign and approve. After some discussion, Commissioner Bailey moved to table the item noting he required more time to review the policy before final decision and was seconded by Commissioner Cline to pass unanimously.

Before adjourning for the evening, Judge Wiseman also provided her thoughts on Howard County’s current situation with COVID-19.

“COVID is not over. It is firing up all over again in Europe. We still need to be vigilant, we still need to be careful, we still need to wear face masks and wash our hands. We have something like 737 cases diagnosed here in Howard County with 16 deaths. So, please be careful. Please respect the other people by staying social distanced and wearing masks if you can,” Wiseman said.

Other topic discussed and approved during the meeting included:

• Personnel Considerations

• Treasurer’s Monthly Payroll Report

• Approval of Invoices, Purchase Requests, and Budget Amendments

• Material Bid RGF 2021001M LRA for FY 2021 and Material Bid RFG 2021002M Flex Base for FY 2021

• Bid RFB 2020006 GRH CR 43

• Contract RFB

2020006 GRH CR 43//

Permission to proceed from TxDot, Notice of Intent with TCEQ, and possible Strat date from contractor

• Permission to go out for bid on RFB 2020007

GRH CR 35 PH I

Iris Rangel is a Staff Writer at the Big Spring Herald. To contact her, please email reporter@ bigspringherald.com or call 432-263-7331.

FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL

Richard Lopez, III, 25, died Thursday. Viewing and visitation will be 11:00 AM until 9:00 PM at Myers & Smith Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 2:30 PM Thursday at Cornerstone Covenant Church.

Diana “Dee” Oviedo, 47, died Friday. Viewing will be from 12:00 Noon until 9:00 PM Wednesday with A Prayer Service at 7:00 PM at Myers & Smith Chapel. Funeral service will be at 11:00 AM Thursday at Family Faith Center.

Betty Whaley, 84, died Monday. Services are pending at Myers & Smith Funeral Home.

Tracy Faulks, 73, died Monday. Services are pending at Myers & Smith Funeral Home