<body><div>County zips up potty needs Subhead Thirty extra privies eyed for visitor crush during 2024 eclipse News Staff Wed, 06/14/2023 - 11:48 Image <ul class="slides"><li><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4UpoZV_0mvgu5Gw00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4UpoZV_0mvgu5Gw00" width="683" height="420" ></li></ul> Body The Gillespie County Commissioners Court approved the use of 30 portable restrooms to be used during the 2024 Solar Eclipse event during its June 12 regular meeting. The court accepted an agreement with Can-Doo Budget Rentals to provide portable restroom services in lieu of the expected crowds during the eclipse on April 8, 2024. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Gillespie County Judge Daniel Jones mentioned the county had been seeking to provide more rest stops outside of the City of Fredericksburg for the increased traffic and travel. “We’ve had some difficulty finding providers,” Jones said about the high demand for portable restrooms during the eclipse. Jennifer Doss, Human Resources Director for the county added, “Our original thought process on this was to put additional sanitation in the areas we’ve identified through our Eclipse Task Force where we feel like people might need additional services.” The portable restrooms will be located at the volunteer fire departments throughout the county. Five will be provided to Willow City, 10 to Stonewall, five to Doss, and 10 to Harper. Jennifer Doss made the request to approve securing the 30 portable units, stating that Can-Doo did not require a deposit for the purchase that would total $10,000. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> “Right now, we’re just needing to secure them,” Doss said. “Most people, if you don’t have them secured right now, you’re not going to get them.” Commissioner Don Weinheimer suggested the county request a commitment letter from Can-Doo since no deposit had been required. The court unanimously approved the purchase of usage for the 30 portable restrooms. The cost would affect the budget for next year’s fiscal year since no cost is currently required. Health plan increases Renewal of the county’s health benefit plan was presented by Doss regarding consideration of the employee benefit plan Renewal Notice and Benefit Confirmation for Plan Year 2023. Doss shared with the court the overall costs of the current coverage would increase 7.2% for each county employee based on the county’s claims. The renewal is not due until June 30, giving the commissioners court time to discuss and consider options. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Gillespie County would need to spend $160,124 to absorb the increase and to keep the employee costs the same. Doss presented data to encourage the commissioners court to absorb the costs to improve attraction to county employment. “Based on our current situation, 26% of county employees are eligible to retire at the end of this fiscal year,” Doss said. “In another two years that number jumps to 31%. By the end of 2026, 35% of our employees will be eligible to retire. “So, based on that fact, and that we are going to need to bring in new younger employees to take those positions, I would love to see the county contribute a little more to bring the family coverage to an affordable rate.” Doss shared that the current family coverage in Gillespie County costs close to $1,650 per month, a rate above the monthly earnings of many of the county’s employees. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> “Nobody I know can afford that,” said Doss. Judge Jones communicated frustration that the renewal is due prior to the approval of the new fiscal year budget, making financial decisions a guessing game. The commissioners court took no action regarding the benefits renewal to give the commissioners more time to review data and to give Doss time to compile comparisons with other counties benefits plans and costs. With the June 30 deadline on renewal, the commissioners court is expected to decide on benefits plans at the next commissioners court meeting to be held on June 26. Finding money for archiving During the April 24 commissioners’ meeting, Cathy Drolet, a representative of Kofile Technologies, requested $153,730 in overage costs for image and indexing services of historic probate records stored at the courthouse. According to Drolet, Kofile Technologies had underestimated the page count of the project. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> At the time, the court took no action on the cost. In the June 12 meeting, the court discussed a contract amendment with Kofile Technologies that would allow the county to pay the invoice in a five-year payment plan rather than a four-year plan. Kofile Technologies also had applied a $59,000 discount to the project. At the time of the meeting, the new contract amendment was not available for the commissioners to review. The court took no action on the contract amendment to give time for the commissioners to review the new contract prior to approval. Additional agenda items Other items discussed in the June 12 commissioners court meeting included: • Approval of Security State Bank &amp; Trust for county bank depository services. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> • A presentation by a representative of Hill Country CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) regarding foster children services in Gillespie County. • A public hearing regarding the replat of Lots 632 and 633 in Boot Ranch, Phase 2, Section 4, and approval of the replat. • A public hearing regarding the replat of Lots 307 and 308 in Boot Ranch, Phase 1, and approval of the replat. • Approval of a bid from Hill Country Painting to paint and repair the terminal building at the Gillespie County Airport. • Purchased replacement water heaters for the Gillespie County Jail. • Renewed a contract with Planet Technologies for Microsoft training software used by the county. • Approved a routine audit to be done by Neffendorf &amp; Blocker, P.C., regarding the change of the elected official for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3. • Hired Akeem White as a deputy in the Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office. • Approved a judicial clerk internship program in the Gillespie County Court at Law and the Gillespie County Court and hired John Stauffer to fill the intern position. • Accepted a new agreement with the Hill Country Regional Public Defender’s Office. • Accepted a new agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation regarding the bridge project on Gellermann Lane that waived a local match agreement on project costs. <a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

County zips up potty needs

  
    Subhead
              Thirty extra privies eyed for visitor crush during 2024 eclipse

          
News Staff
Wed, 06/14/2023 - 11:48

  
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