County May Have Lots of Money Sitting Idle in State Funds
Fayette County Commissioners Court met Monday, Nov. 25, to take up a wide range of County business.
Commissioners took action to pursue several thousand dollars in unclaimed funds due to Fayette County that are being held by the Texas Comptroller’s Office. Fayette County Republican Party Chairman Michael Schlabach spoke to the Commissioners at their last meeting about the unclaimed funds. Schlabach said he searched the Comptroller’s database and found thousands of dollars in unclaimed funds due to various County departments. They include bills owed to Fayette County EMS and fees due to the County Clerk’s office, among others. At Monday’s meeting, the Court authorized department heads to claim those funds on behalf of the County from the Comptroller’s Office.
The Court considered a subdivision variance request from Clinton Lueders Jr. for a 27.83 acre tract of property off Loehr Rd. Lueders wished to divide two acres from the tract for a family member. The County’s subdivision rules normally require a 40 ft. easement to a public road for all newly-created tracts of property. The family asked for a variance to that rule so both properties could use an existing 30 ft. easement. The Court approved their request.
Commissioners also signed an order declaring several pieces of equipment from the Pct. 2 Road and Bridge department as salvage or surplus property. It included two 2011 International truck-tractors, a 2006 Ford F-150 pickup, a 10,000 gallon metal tank, a 500 gallon propane tank and various pieces of plastic and metal pipe. The equipment will be sold at auction.
The Court authorized Pct. 3 Commissioner Harvey Berckenhoff to purchase a 2012 Peterbilt truck-tractor from Mitchell Truck Sales in Alvarado for his road and bridge department. The truck will cost $42,500.
Commissioners approved a request from Fayette Electric Cooperative to bore under Darilek Rd. in Pct. 3 to extend electric service to a new customer. They also authorized Colorado Valley Communications to lay service lines in county rights-of-way to connect new customers.
The County signed-off on a grant application from the City of Smithville, which is seeking funding through the Texas Department of Agriculture for an EMS vehicle to transport patients receiving community health services from Ascension Seton Smithville Hospital. Some of those patients could reside in Fayette County. Accordingly, Smithville’s grant application required acknowledgement from Fayette County.
The Court approved a package of items related to their own grant application with the Texas Department of Agriculture. If awarded, they money will be used to purchase fire and rescue equipment for Fayette County fire departments. They County hired Langford Community Services to serve as the grant administrator.
In addition, Commissioners authorized the County to apply for a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Fayette County EMS. Emergency Management Coordinator Angela Hahn described the application as a “long shot” because only two percent of applicants are expected to receive awards. But if awarded, EMS would use the money to purchase a trailer to be used for firefighter rehab during house fires and other physically- intense emergencies. Firefighters could go inside the trailer to cool off and rest between assignments.
Commissioners also met in executive session Monday to discuss the possible purchase of some old airplane hangars at Fayette Regional Air Center that are owned by Mary Lueders of Smithville. Lueder’s late husband built the hangars many years ago on land leased from Fayette County. Assistant County Attorney Blake Watson told the Record that the County was unable to come to an agreement with Lueders about the purchase price. Upon returning to open session, Commissioners took no action on the item.