County prepping for April 8 eclipse

Freestone County leaders continue making preparations for the April 8 eclipse, which is expected to create traffic havoc and other problems.

The County Commissioners heard reports on the matter at their March 20 meeting, when they also finalized getting a new audio/visual system for the district courtroom; increased the amount of sick leave and vacation time for newer employees; took no action to reinitiate a burn ban; and made other decisions about the county’s finances and well-being.

County Sheriff Jeremy Shipley said the population is expected to double during the day of the eclipse. He plans to have deputies stationed in every precinct to be prepared for problems.

County Judge Linda Grant encouraged residents to already be prepared with food and fuel, and to try to stay home during the eclipse to avoid getting stuck in the traffic.

Emergency Management Coordinator Leonard Smith said he will set up a post at the Fairfield Fire Department to coordinate with law enforcement to do operational services for the day of the event in case there are issues “moving people down the road.”

“That way we’re not focusing all on our main radio frequencies,” Smith said. “We can go to a back channel and allow our dispatch center to still operate as they need to when emergency calls come in.”

Whether or not to close the county that day will be considered on the agenda of the next Commissioners Court meeting.

NEW AUDIO/VISUAL SYSTEM FOR DISTRICT COURT

Also at the meeting, the court discussed getting a new audio-visual system through current provider Windstream, but to do that they first had to rescind a motion from the March 6 meeting to go out for bids on a new audio/visual proposal system.

Subsequently, the court considered a proposal for a new audio/visual system for the District courtroom from Windstream using a discretionary exemption rather than requesting bids, which the court is allowed to do.

District Judge Amy Thomas Ward was present and agreed to using this proposal for a new quote.

“We don’t know that we won’t get a better quote,” Ward said.

IT Director Dane Mc-Broom gave the court members a written presentation on using a system from Windstream in which that company would install an Internet and phone system, while allowing the county to cancel the remaining 18 months of its current contract.

McBroom said he constantly receives complaints of slow computer speed from different departments. The new system would result in faster service and less fragmentation, he said.

“It’s just something that has to be done,” he told the commissioners.

NEW COUNTY EMPLOYEES TO GET MORE SICK LEAVE, VACATION TIME

In other action, the court agreed to increase the amount of sick leave and vacation time accrued by employees who have worked for the county less than five years, to eight hours of sick leave and eight hours of vacation time each month, effective April 1.

In other matters, while considering paying the county’s bills, Precinct 4 Commissioner Clyde Ridge Jr. questioned a $13,000 charge for body cameras. County Auditor Karen Craddock, however, assured Ridge that while the county paid the invoice, a grant would repay the county for that charge.

Also at the meeting, in a discussion on approving the payroll, County Clerk René Reynolds requested using a portion of the Preservation Fund to supplement a salary for a new clerk to change a part-time position to a full-time position, which the court approved.

In other matters, the commissioners:

• Authorized the creation of the Freestone County Communications Center, a move required for the county to apply for a new license for the Center; • Took no action to initiate a burn ban; and

• Authorized the sale of fireworks for San Jacinto Day;

PUBLIC COMMENTS

During the public comments portion of the meeting two people spoke:

• Retired civil engineer Charles Morgan spoke about the danger of low-frequency noise produced by the oil-andgas compressor stations in the county, of which there are 130, and which have caused him to have to leave his home with high blood pressure issues and even be hospitalized.

• County resident Ed O’Neill expressed gratitude to Elections Administrator René McBay for answering a question he had during the recent elections.

McBay told O’Neill she would get back to him with the answer, which she did.

“I’d like to say thank you and give credit where credit is due,” O’Neill said.

The question he asked was whether he could take into the voting booth written notes on who he wanted to vote for. McBay told him that voters are allowed to do that.”