Limestone County commissioners during their Tuesday, July 23, meeting voted to purchase equipment and hired a contractor to clear storm debris.
The meeting was led by Precinct 4 Commissioner Bobby Forrest, as Judge Richard Duncan was absent due to illness.
Commissioners considered five bids for a dump trailer for the Road and Bridge Department, and eventually followed Administrator James Trantham’s recommendation for Texas Pride trailer. They unanimously approved the $19,030.25 trailer purchase, to be funded from the contingencies budget line.
Commissioners had “tentatively approved” awarding the storm debris and tree removal work to Texas Tree Trimmers during their second June meeting. However, Auditor Natasha Goodman voiced concerns that the county would risk violating the bid process laws should more work be needed before the end of the fiscal year – thereby going over the maximum amount they could spend on a project without going out for bids.
As such, commissioners held a special meeting July 1 to put the job out for bid, with additional county roads to be included from those originally discussed in June. Of the two bids received, J&H Excavation Inc. came in with the better price at $82,110.
Emergency Management Coordinator Matt Groveton emphasized the detailed documentation process that must be carried out with the debris removal work in order to meet FEMA guidelines for reimbursement.
Commissioners approved awarding the job to J&H Excavation in a 3-1 vote, with Commissioner Stephen Friday voting “nay,” voicing concerns that the six-figure price difference between the bids may become evident in the quality of work provided.
In other business, Groveton explained the need to purchase four backup repeaters for law enforcement. (A repeater is a type of network node that amplifies incoming signals and rebroadcasts them over a wider area or higher network layer than the original signal.) One of the new repeaters, which was grant-funded and is still under warranty, had been struck by lightning a couple of months ago. He is having trouble getting warranty repairs done with their usual company of choice.
“The Sheriff's Office was nice enough to allow us to let some other agencies onto their channel, but if you have too many people talking on one channel, it’s a safety issue,” Groveton said. “It’s been alright so far, but it’s usually okay until it’s not.”
He stated new backup repeaters cost about $30,000 each, but used three-year warranty repeaters are available for about $1,500 each. While the warranty repairs are still being pursued on the new grant-funded repeater, four back up repeaters would allow them to function without crowding the Sheriff’s Office’s channel. Commissioners approved the purchase of four used repeaters with funds from general contingencies.
Steve Dabney of 5D Wireless provided the court with an update on the county broadband project, reporting that two towers are completed, and plans are in place to get three more up in August. Forrest reminded those in attendance that the project is being funded by federal money and will provide more reliable internet access throughout the county. All 11 towers are expected to be completed by December.
Dub Taylor, chief operating officer of Texas PACE Authority, provided an overview of the financing program that makes it easier for commercial property owners to invest in facility upgrades and modernization with little or no upfront capital.
“We currently have 97 counties and cities across the state that have set up PACE programs to allow property owners to make these kinds of investments and finance them over the long term,” Taylor said. “This long term financing is provided by a private lender but is secured through a local assessment lien that the property owner agrees to.”
Taylor explained that by design, the program comes at no cost or administrative burden to the county, but like a delinquent property tax, a delinquent PACE installment or loan payment would be assigned to the firm contracted for collection of delinquent property taxes. Commissioners posed several questions to Taylor, namely about the county’s role and responsibilities, should they choose to work with Texas PACE Authority.
Although no action was required or taken at this meeting, a resolution of intent to establish a PACE program could start the process in a future meeting.
Regarding health insurance renewal for county employees, Forrest noted Duncan had successfully negotiated with the Texas Association of Counties to avoid an increased rate.
“As county judge, (Duncan) doesn’t just roll over and do whatever somebody tells him. They proposed a 3.5% increase on the health insurance renewal, and I’m not sure the exact figure but I believe he got that removed and the rate is 1% lower than the current rate,” Forrest said. “He needs to be commended for that; most of the time it would have just been brought to us for approval of the increase, but he didn’t swallow that increase, he fought it because he was in that field (insurance) and we certainly want to thank him for that.”
Commissioners approved the health insurance renewal.
Commissioners spent a little time discussing and accepting annual bids for FY 2024-2025, and chose the following:
Janitorial Supplies: Re-No Chemicals, and Complete Supply
Pest Control: Mexia Pest Control (with Micah Anderson recusing himself from voting on this particular bid)
Road Oil: Bryan & Bryan Asphalt
Crushed Limestone: Frost Crushed Stone; Knife River; Conners; Helmcamp
Steel Culverts: Wilson Culverts
Bridge Lumber: no bids received
Diesel: Fikes, Inc.
Unleaded Gasoline: Fikes, Inc.
Contact Hauling: Force Logistics
Steel Products: The Railroad Yard
The Court opted to table the drivers’ license office modifications, the executive session, and the budget workshop until the next meeting so that Duncan can participate in the discussion.
They also tabled discussion and action on the DBT Transportation invoice for the AWOS system for the airport, because Airport Manager Chris Savage was not present to provide context.
In other business, the court:
Approved the consent agenda;
Took no action on the county burn ban (it remains off at time of press);
Accepted for record the monthly operation reports and safety report;
Approved the single audit report and yearly audit report for the county; and
Approved budget transfer #622 for the Jail (moving $3,500 dollars to cover the cost of the annual fire inspection and certification, and to purchase a floor buffer and items like flashlights, tools, shelving and storage).
The next regular Commissioners' Court meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, in the county courthouse. The meetings are open to the public but also available for live-streaming or later playback on YouTube (search: Limestone County Commissioners Court).
The agenda and relevant attachments are also available online at
https://limestonecotx.portal.civicclerk.com/
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