County Commissioners Court Lists 2020 Action
Action taken by the Fayette County Commissioners’ Court in the year 2020 included:
• The Court approved to increase the 65 or over with Homestead exemption to $10,500.00 and authorized the Judge to sign an Order to that effect. The exemption will begin for the 2020 year.
• On Thursday, January 23, the Fayette County Commissioners Court met at 8 a.m. at the Agriculture building and heard an update from the Texas AgriLife Extension Office. Sally Garrett, Kayla Kaspar, and Scott Willey gave the Court a summary of the activities their departments were involved in the previous year. Topics that were highlighted were: Agriculture/ Natural Resources’ Programs, Family & Community Health Programs and 4-H & Youth Programs.
• The Court approved Advance Funding Agreements, for the replacement or rehabilitation of three bridges off the state system, between the Texas Department of Transportation and Fayette County, Texas re: : Race Track Road over Cedar Creek, Parkerville Road over Live Oak Creek, and Old Waelder Road over Big Fivemile Creek (Prcts 1 & 3).
• The Court adopted and signed a Resolution and Order that Fayette County, Texas elects to immediately become eligible to participate in Tax Abatement.
• Adopted and signed an Order and Ordinance Prohibiting the Disposal or Processing of Municipal Solid Waste or Industrial Solid Waste in Fayette County, Texas.
• Approved and signed the Inmate Healthcare Services Agreement between Fayette County, Texas and Tejas Health Care.
• On February 27, 2020 the Court established, adopted, and signed Guidelines and Criteria Governing Tax Abatement Agreements to be entered into and granted by Fayette County, Texas.
• The Court approved Advance Funding Agreements, for the replacement or rehabilitation of three bridges off the state system, between the Texas Department of Transportation and Fayette County, Texas re: E. Radhost Rd over Crisswell Creek, Seydler Rd over Bushy Creek, Anders Bottom Rd over White Creek, Bruno Rd over Walker Branch, Anders Bottom Rd over Williams Creek, and Holub Rd over Middle Creek (Precinct 4).
• Proclaimed the week of March 15-21, 2020 as “Law Enforcement Appreciation Week.”
• The Court signed a proclamation proclaiming the month of April, 2020 as Autism Awareness Month in Fayette County, on hand to accept the proclamation was Phyllis Fritsch, Outreach Coordinator and Kyle Janda.
• On March 13th the United States Federal Government declared a national emergency, the State of Texas declared a statewide public health disaster as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), and County Judge Joe Weber signed a Declaration of Local Disaster Related to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
• The Court approved the purchase of 12 additional certified poll books for Fayette County Elections Office to use in future elections. The Elections Contract Fund will be used to pay for the poll books. This new version of certified poll books is required by the Texas Secretary of State therefore ES&S will replace the Elections Office’s current version (16 units) at no cost, which will give the Elections Office a total of 28 certified new version poll books, one for every precinct in Fayette Count.
• Increased Election Worker hourly pay in accordance to the amount authorized by the Texas Secretary of State as follows: Presiding Judge $12.00 per hour; Associate Judge $11.50 per hour; Clerk $10.00 per hour.
• Accepted an application for tax abatement and an application fee from 7V Solar Ranch, L.L.C. in accordance with the tax abatement guidelines adopted by Fayette County on February 27, 2020.
• Approved the Advance Funding Agreements, for the replacement or rehabilitation of two bridges off the state system, between the Texas Department of Transportation and Fayette County, Texas re: Warda Blacktop Rd over Pin Oak Branch and Teinert Rd over Pin Oak Branch (Precinct 1).
• On June 11, 2020, the Court signing two Resolutions of approval and support for the submission of a grant application for Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program to the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance.
• Accepted a petition and an application for election for the incorporation of the City of Ellinger, and ordered an incorporation election to be held November 3, 2020 at the Ellinger Fire Station located at 208 West Main Street, Ellinger, Texas.
• Set a speed limit of 35 mph for the entire length of Makinson Road (Precinct 1).
• Signed a Resolution and entered into a County Transportation Infrastructure Fund Grant Agreement with the State, acting by and through Texas Department of Transportation.
• The Court presented the Texas Historical Commission’s 2019 Distinguished Service Award to Fayette County Historical Commission in recognition of its active and well-balanced preservation program. On hand to accept the award was Bobbie Nash, Chairperson of the Fayette County Historical Commission.
• Entered into an Agreement with GrantWorks, Inc. for project delivery services for the County Transportation Infrastructure Fund (CTIF) 2020 grant program.
• Approved the Fabrication Agreement for Tower Clock Equipment with The Verdin Company, for the repair of the Courthouse clock tower.
• On August 27, 2020 the Court signed an Order of Adoption and Designation of a Reinvestment Zone or Zones pursuant to Fayette County’s Guidelines and Criteria under the Property Redevelopment and Tax Abatement Act, Chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code. The Court also signed a Resolution and Order approving and authorizing a property Tax Abatement Agreement in the jurisdiction of Fayette County, Texas and entered into a property Tax Abatement Agreement with 7V Solar Ranch, LLC.
• The Court approve the Fayette County Clerk’s Records Archive Plan for 2021 for the preservation and restoration of archived records; and set the Records Archive Fee of $10.00 to be collected permanently in accordance with SB 658 of the 86th TX Legislature.
• A proclamation proclaiming September 2020 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Fayette County was signed. Jackie Wessels and Marlana Fajkus were on hand to accept the proclamation. The Court also approved the request from Jackie Wessels to place a single gold ribbon on an oak tree on the Courthouse lawn, along with a sign recognizing September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
• Entered into a Service Agreement between Public Consulting Group, Inc., and Fayette County, Texas on behalf of Fayette County EMS in regard to Supplemental Payment Program and Other Consulting Services for Emergency Medical Services.
• Signed a Resolution authorizing a Fayette County Grant to Combined Community Action, Inc., for the Texas Department of Agriculture Texas Feeding Texas: Home Delivered Meal Grant Program.
• On Thursday, September 24, the Commissioners Court met at 8 a.m. in the Fayette County Agriculture Building to hear the annual reports from the local 4-H groups. The court was informed of the many activities, competitions and community service projects which they have been involved in throughout the past year. County wide there are eight Community Clubs, two Project Clubs, and three Project Groups comprised of 297 4-H members, along with 34 adult leaders. After hearing presentations, the Court thanked the groups for their reports and stated how they look forward to having the groups come in each year. The Court also signed a Proclamation proclaiming the week of October 4-10, 2020 as National 4-H Week in Texas.
• The Court approved a commitment of CARES Act Coronavirus Relief funds for the purchase of internet solutions such as hot spots and e-learning devices. Districts that received funds were: La Grange ISD ($17,075.00), Flatonia ISD ($14,850.00), Fayetteville ISD ($4,712.50), and Schulenburg ISD ($2,500.00).
• Awarded a contract for Cummins Creek bank stabilization along Gebhard Rd., and for repair of Gebhard Rd. erosion at Cummins Creek (Precinct 2) to Jacquez Construction and Trucking, LLC.
• The Court granted a request from Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Annunciation #1962, to place white ribbons on the trees of the Courthouse lawn during the week of October 25-31, 2020, to raise awareness for the White Ribbon Against Pornography Campaign.
• On October 8, 2020 the Court approved the purchase of a Stryker Lucas 3 (Mechanical CPR Device) for Fayette County EMS by using grant funds received from Capital Area Trauma Regional Advisory Council (CATRAC). The Court also approved the purchase of two new ambulances for Fayette County EMS from Siddons Martin Apparatus.
• Accepted and approved Education Affiliation Agreement between Austin Community College District and Fayette County, Texas on behalf of Fayette County EMS to provide clinical/practical education for students. Accepted and approved Memorandum of Understanding between Texas Public Safety Training Academy, LLC and Fayette County, Texas on behalf of Fayette County EMS to provide clinical/practical education for students.
• Approved the Community Development Partnership Program Letter Agreement with Lower Colorado River Authority. LCRA approved the County’s application to receive grant funds to renovate the Founders Park into an enclosed tourism office space and public restroom facility. The City of La Grange will be partnering with the County on the project. The County intends to incorporate all items currently located at the Founders Park with the renovation.
• Approved Fayette County Burn Ban Protocol.
• Entered into an Imaging and Indexing of Deed Records Agreement with Edoc Technologies, Inc., on behalf of the County Clerk, for the purpose of uploading Marriage records, Commissioners Court records and Probate minutes, using 2021 County Clerk Records Archive Fund with project beginning in January 2021.
• Accepted a tax abatement application from Perdue Farms for an improvement and investment in commercial property in Schulenburg, Texas.
• Approved Courthouse Use Application and setting Courthouse grounds guidelines and restrictions.
• Signed an Order of Incorporation for the municipality of Ellinger following the November 3, 2020 incorporation election.
• Contracts were awarded to Morris Albers, Candace Clay, Richard Halpain, and Luis Vallejo to serve as indigent defense attorneys for Fayette County.
• Promoted Paul Zapalac as department head of the Recycling Center for all of Fayette County.
• An Order Designating Days of Week and Location of Regular Terms and Setting Schedule of Fayette County Commissioners’ Court Regular Meetings for 2021 was signed at the December 23, 2020 Meeting.
• The Court approved a donation to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Memorial and Benevolent Society Fund to be disbursed to CJ Lehmann in the amount of $5,000.00.
• Approved and signed Contract for Website Hosting, between Edoc Technologies, Inc., and Fayette County, Texas on behalf of the Fayette County Clerk’s office, to allow the public to search and view Official Public Records indexes and images, and indexes only for Vital Statistics Records, which includes Birth, Death and Marriage.
• The County continues to work closely with and contributes funds to the Fayette County volunteer fire departments. We thank them for a great job that they continue to do for the citizens of the county.
We are truly blessed to have dedicated county employees and elected officials who work closely together for the betterment of all citizens of the county. The county appreciates the special relationship we have with the cities and fire departments along with the various agencies. We look forward to working with everyone in 2021. The Commissioners Court also wishes everyone a happy and prosperous New Year.