County spends ARPA funds

Bosque County commissioners approved the spending of American Rescue Plan Act funds after reviewing recommendations for precincts 2 and 3 from the ARPA committee Monday.

Each of the four precincts were allotted $100,000 in ARPA funds to replace service vehicles, and commissioners requested further purchases with the remaining balance.

Precinct 2

With a starting balance of approximately $80,000 in addition to the allocated $100,000 in ARPA funds, Pct. 2 Commissioner Terry Townley requested to purchase two service trucks with addons for about $130,000 total.

Purchases were approved for a 2024 Dodge Ram 3500 4x4 service truck for $56,000, as well as a 2024 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 for $48,000. Additional purchases included a service truck flatbed for the 3500 for $14,000, and a bumper and grill guard for $2,000, side steps for $2,000 and road work safety lights for $2,000 for both vehicles.

Townley requested the remaining $50,000 be used to purchase a skid steer or dump bed for the dump truck.

Precinct 3

The court approved the purchase of a one-ton service truck for $56,000. With remaining funds, Commissioner Precinct 3 Larry Philipp requested to use $20,000 to purchase a mini excavator from Erath County, $5,000 for new tracks for the excavator and approximately $19,000 to be put towards the cost to repair the Caterpillar 140H Motor Grader used for daily road repair and maintenance.

In other news, commissioners approved the extension of contracts with Sunflower Bank in Meridian and Citizens State Bank in Clifton. Sunflower Bank was to be the depository while Citizens State Bank was to act as a clearing house for other depositories.

“If we have two depositories, one of them should act as a clearing house,” County Treasurer Pam Browning said. “It depends on how much money you have in the bank as to whether you can call it a sub-depository or not, and we have more funds in both banks than that sub-depository category covers.”

Browning requested to move the county’s check routing and daily deposits to Citizens State Bank instead of Sunflower Bank, though it would have to go before the court for a decision at a later date.

Also Monday commissioners approved an encroachment permit application from Texas-New Mexico Power Company at County Road 2700 in Pct. 2. TNMP will be installing two transmission poles on the right of way on County Road 2700 which will cross to the ONCOR substation across the street.

Townley said landowners were concerned about the possibility of encroachment on their property, but TNMP sent a letter to the court saying they would not encroach on private property for the maintenance of lines.

Bosque County commissioners also:

■ Approved the payment of claims, salaries and wages against county and precinct funds.

■ Received June 2024 monthly reports from County Attorney Natalie Koehler and County Treasurer Pam Browning.

■ Accepted a contract between Bosque County and Hood County for the housing of inmates in Bosque County.

■ Agreed to install three security cameras in the Bosque County Collections building, which will be monitored by the sheriff’s office.

■ Appointed Dr. Justin Squyres as the local health authority.

■ Signed a memorandum of understanding allowing Bosque County Senior Services and the City of Valley Mills to use 107 South 4th Street as a congregate site for senior meals; meals were already delivered to this address, but the MOU will allow seniors to eat meals on site as well as receive deliveries.