County payment held, ‘completion not satisfactory’

• Cutline: County Commissioner Stevie Smith explains why he was not in favor of paying Emergency Watershed Protection Program invoice because in his opinion, the project has not been satisfactorily completed. David Danley | The Light and Champion

A budget adjustment for payment of a construction project the county considers unacceptable topped the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court regular meeting Wednesday, Feb. 14.

The project in question is an Emergency Watershed Protection Program by the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Precinct 3.

“We received the invoice … for $906,038,” said Porterfield. According to the county auditor, plans were to pay the invoice out of a contingency account, but currently, three contingency accounts exist. The adjustment allows payment from one account instead of three.

Stevie Smith, Commissioner, Pct. 3, was not in favor of paying the invoice saying he feels the project has not been satisfactorily completed due to damage done by the contractor that has not been properly repaired.

“The project is not complete and I’m not in favor of paying this,” said Smith. According to the commissioner, a phone line connecting a chicken farm computer system to the owner’s residence was destroyed by the contractor. Indicating the line was not properly repaired, Smith said, “I don’t think the project is finished until they bury this phone line like it was when they got there.”

Smith said the contractor first looped a tem- porary line through the pasture after which they tied it to the fencepost in some places and left it in the ditch in other places. He said during the last freeze, the owners made multiple trips during the night removing limbs.

The court approved the line-item transfer into one fund, but delayed payment until the deadline to explore possible options to get the damage rectified.

County Treasurer Ann Blackwell reported on January. The Tax Assessor- Collector’s office collected $3,335,224.39 and motor vehicles collected $120,354.92 for a total of $3,455579.31. Collection amounts from the other officers were County Clerk Jennifer Fountain $32,301.76; District Clerk Lori Oliver $10,782.01; Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 Donna Hughes $16,788.20; Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 Marla Denby $861; Justice of the Peace Pct. 3 Melba Rogers $2,828; Justice of the Peace Pct. 4 De De Green $3282.62, Justice of the Peace Pct. 5 Tracy Broadway $4,158.95; Constable Pct. 1 Zach Warr $880; Constable Pct. 2 James Hagler, $180; Constable Pct. 3 Roy Cheatwood $270; Constable Pct. 4 Taylor Fanguy $260; sheriff ’s office $4,686.80.

According to Blackwell, the county’s investments included $13,292.16 interest on Wichita Falls First National Bank and $2,019.37 at Farmer’s State Bank CDs. $21,808.26 interest on a Sweep account with First National Wichita Falls and $45,464.15 from Tex-Pool. The county’s regular checking account earned $83.65 in interest. Total interest earned for the month of January was $82,585.53.

On road and bridge financial report, $7,479.50 paid in January which leaves a cash balance of $2,224,208.75. The actual fund balance including pending amounts is $1,485,833.89. The Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund grant expenditure was $82,852.40. “It has a cash balance of $217,619.90 and then you have some journal entries from the auditor that we’d like for you to look at and approve as well,” said Blackwell.

According to Porterfield, “The LATCF fund currently has a balance of $191,000 as of Feb. 9. We still have the two other payments for the historical plan which are $22,500 apiece. So, right now, what we have available in that fund is $146,00.”

Blackwell presented the court with the county’s investment policy for its annual review. The court accepted and approved the policy and designated Blackwell as the county investment officer. The court also recorded continuing education credits for Blackwell as both county treasurer and county investment officer.

Constable Pct. 4 Taylor Fanguy updated the status of a vehicle purchased for his office yet to be delivered. According to Fanguy, the dealership will invoice for the car parts ordered will be invoiced when needed.

Eric Garrett, President of Paxton Water Corporation, invited county officials to the well opening ceremony. “We’re going to do our best to give honor to whom honor is due and we want to express our appreciation.”

In executive session the court discussed two county positions up for retirement. According to Comm. Tom Bellmysr “One of those positions … is the assistant auditor. The other position … is our 911 administrator for addressing.” He noted that the requirements for the positions would be posted in the local newspaper.

In other business, the court approved the purchase of a tank trailer for Pct. 2 at a cost of $11,500. The court also approved the minutes from its January meetings, paid the current payroll and weekly expenses and recorded the racial profiling report for the sheriff ’s department.