Freestone County Commissioners awarded the bid on county management software to a company called Local Government Solutions.
The commissioners made that decision at their July 17 meeting, when they also opened bids on county medical insurance; agreed to buy a brush cutter for a little over a quarter of a million dollars; agreed to buy security cameras for the new Tax Office; and made other decisions about the county’s funds and well-being.
As for the county management software, the county had previously received bids from two companies on the matter: one from LGS and the other from I-Docket. Dane McBroom, the county’s IT specialist, told the court that the unanimous decision by all the department heads who studied the matter was that the LGS program would better fit the needs of Freestone County. Mc-Broom estimated the conversion would be completed around January 2025.
BIDS ON COUNTY MEDICAL INSURANCE
On a different subject, the court tabled opening bids for medical insurance. Two bids were received for the county’s main health insurance: one a renewal of United Healthcare and the second, a bid from a company called Curative. Several bids were also received for supplemental insurance, including Sun Life, Equitable, Guardian, Met Life, Mutual of Omaha, and Principal.
Judge Grant said the bids would be given to the county’s insurance broker to review them.
Consequently, the court decided to table a decision until the broker had reviewed the different insurance companies.
“For the most part, everybody was extremely happy about not having to pay anything,” Grant said of the current health insurance.
PURCHASE OF BRUSH CUTTER
In other matters, the commissioners agreed to use $281,927 in ARPA grant funds to purchase a Mower Max Brush Cutter through the buy board for the Road & Bridge Department in Precinct 2.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Will McSwane told the court he went to Tarrant County to see a demonstration of what the machine could do, and he described it as “amazing.”
KING TO BE ON TEXPOOL AND SICK LEAVE POOL
In a separate matter, the court passed a resolution amending the authorized representatives for TEXPOOL, making Deputy Treasurer Holly King one of those representatives. County Treasurer Jeannie Keeney, who is moving to South Texas, told the court that once she is replaced, the new treasurer will be added to the list of authorized TEXPOOL representatives..
King was also nominated by the court as a committee administrator for the Sick Leave Pool, to replace Keeney.
DECISIONS ON NEW TAX OFFICE
In another matter, the commissioners agreed to pay $13,928 for security cameras for the new Tax Office based on a five-year contract with a company called NES Solutions.
McBroom said the single company could allow the county to monitor locked doors, window sensors, panic buttons and 24hour alarm systems in one company at the Tax Office.
Also concerning the Tax Office, the court tabled discussion on a lease agreement with Pitney Bowes for a mail machine for the new Tax Office, since Tax Assessor- Collector Daniel Ralston said he did not yet have the required 1295 form from the company.
“It’s $136.34 a month,” Ralston told the court, “which is quite a bit less than the amount the courthouse is paying for the Pitney-Bowes machine here. It’s their most basic automated machine, and we have quite a bit of mail.”
Although the machines are hooked up in the new Tax Office, they are not yet connected to Austin. Ralston said he expects to have the DMV fiber circuits connected around Aug. 6.
DECISION MADE ON ROAD USE AGREEMENTS
On a separate matter, the court approved amending the county road use agreements, making them good for two years and that may be extended for two years.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Lloyd Lane told the court he was hoping to get the amended contracts approved that day so the companies could know which roads they were going to use and how much the bonds will be. Consequently, the court approved the amendments, agreeing to add the road numbers later.
OTHER DECISIONS
In other matters, the commissioners: • Took no action to initiate a burn ban at this time;
• Considered a five-year extension of the OTIS elevator maintenance contract, but ultimately tabled the decision for now since the price was unavailable.
• Discussed hiring to replace records clerk Karren Townsend at the Sheriff’s Office and jail, since she will be retiring in September. Sheriff Jeremy Shipley asked if the county could hire Townsend’s replacement soon so he or she could start training for the position. Ultimately, the court agreed to let Shipley hire the replacement soon.
• Tabled a decision to allow District Clerk Teresa Black to provide the court with monthly reports on money received from delinquent tax sales by the county, on the amounts paid out and the list of funds currently in that account to give Black time to reconcile the information and balance it with the county’s bank statement;
• Postponed to a future meeting discussion on amending subdivision regulations. Judge Grant told the commissioners that the matter was not yet ready for consideration.
PUBLIC INPUT
During the time for public input, Freestone County citizen Charles Morgan addressed the court, expressing concern about the negative effects of low-frequency noise from oil-and-gas machinery. County Judge Linda Grant asked Morgan to bring her the information he has on the subject.
After the regular meeting, the court held a budget workshop to begin studying details of the upcoming budget.
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