County to Hire New Animal Control Officer

Fayette County Commissioners Court approved a new position for a part-time animal control officer at the Sheriff’s Office.

Chief Deputy Randy Noviskie of the Sheriff’s Office told the Commissioners at last Thursday’s meeting that the former animal control officer, Charlie Jakobeit, had been promoted to jail sergeant. He previously split time as a jailer and animal control officer for the unincorporated areas of the County.

“So the deputies are doing animal control,” Noviskie said. “It involves setting out traps, dealing with stray dogs and cats. We have somebody in mind that just wants to be part time. I think it would be great.”

Noviskie said the job would pay $20 per hour, and the employee would work a maximum of 28 hours per week.

“We’ve got a retired person who’s interested,” Noviskie said. “You’ve got to be a certified animal control officer and he is certified.”

The position was not included in this year’s County budget.

However, the Sheriff’s Office currently has several open positions.

“If you approve it, we can pay it out of our open positions for this year,” Noviskie said.

Commissioners approved the Sheriff’s request.

Also at Thursday’s meeting, County Judge Dan Mueller read a proclamation designating June 19 as Emancipation Day in Fayette County. Local Juneteenth celebration organizer Verlia Mosley Rhodes was on-hand for the signing. She invited everyone in the community to the Juneteenth Celebration on the Courthouse Square on Saturday, June 8. Commissioners also approved a request from Rhodes to use the Courthouse Square, Founders Park restrooms and electricity for the Celebration, which will take place from 4-10 p.m.

Water Supply

Fayette County Emergency Management Coordinator and Grant Specialist Angela Hahn reported that the County was unable to secure a grant to help purchase generators for Fayette Water Supply Corporation (FWSC). Following the 2021 winter storm, the State implemented a new requirement for public water suppliers to install backup power generators.

Fayette County had applied for a grant with the Texas Department of Emergency Management to help FWSC purchase the necessary generators. Hahn said the deadline for installing the generators had passed, so FWSC was forced to purchase them on their own.

Bridge Replacement

Commissioners also approved a slate of budget amendments at their meeting Thursday. Most of them were minor adjustments. The biggest one was a $500,000 increase to the Pct. 2 Road and Bridge Department’s line item for bridge materials.

Pct. 2 Commissioner Luke Sternadel said he needs the money to pay for two bridge replacements that were not included in the 2024 County Budget. The money will come from Pct. 2 reserve funds held in a certificate of deposit.

Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom asked whether the bridges could be paid for through Texas Department of Transportation’s bridge replacement program. That program has funded many bridge replacements throughout the County at very low cost to local taxpayers. TxDOT typically prioritizes funding for bridges with a low safety rating.

Plum resident William Bernsen attended Thursday’s meeting and asked Sternadel if the bridge replacements were an emergency.

“It’s not the rating of the bridge,” Sternadel said. “The bridge is real low, probably not but three foot clearance between the bridge and bottom of the creek. We’re redoing the road, making it wider. It’s got high banks on both sides. At some point the bridge was built real low and its short and narrow. It’s just really unsafe. So my plan is to bring it up five or six feet and make it wider.

“I’ve got another bridge with the same scenario,” Sternadel said. “By the time you put rails on it, its almost impassable with some of this modern equipment. You start getting these subdivisions in between these bridges … With all of the new construction with these subdivisions and new people, I think the County is going to see a lot more of this in the future.”