The Commissioners Court, the sheriff, and several deputies discussed for about an hour Tuesday continuing certificate pay for the employees of the Sheriff’ Office. Certificate pay was previously part of the collective bargaining agreement between the county and the Sheriff’s Office Employees Union for three years and has been paid voluntarily by the county since 2012.
Sheriff Keith Merritt gave the most passionate argument for continuing the extra pay for deputies that receive additional training worthy of a certificate in their positions with the Sheriff’s Office. Merritt stated it is not just the extra money that certificate pay puts in his deputies’ pockets, but that it makes for a more qualified and dedicated group of deputies. If it comes down to a problem with the union’s contract, then fix the contract Merritt pleaded.
The Court took a vote to continue the certificate pay, but with Commissioner Jody Crump absent from the meeting, the result was a tie vote. Commissioners John Gothia and Johnny Trahan voted for the continuation. County Judge Brint Carlton voted against it. Commissioner Barry Burton cast the other nay vote saying he wanted to have a full Commissioners Court present before making a decision such as this.
The discussions frequently mentioned the lack of negotiations in the collective bargaining agreement between the county and the Sheriff’s Office Employees Union which have been in litigation for a couple of years. Judge Carlton acknowledged he has received a request from the union president Sergeant Jimmy LeBoeuf to re-start negotiations for a new contract.
The recent jail inspection which received a certificate of compliance was accepted by the Commissioners Tuesday. Sheriff Merritt confirmed that the Orange County Jail has passed every inspection by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards for at least 18 consecutive years and with no deficiencies for the last twelve.
The Court approved advertising for applications from citizens for the second round of a Community Development Block Grant. Joel Ardoin who oversees the program for the county said there is about $100,000 that will be used to provide sewer improvements for low income residents.
Patrick Beebe received the requested waiver from the Commissioners to have his Mosquito Control District fly at low altitude in the county to conduct mosquito abatement spraying. The annual waiver allows the spraying to be done at altitudes of less than one thousand feet.
Following a closed session with Assistant County Attorney Doug Manning the Commissioners Court approved his recommendation in accordance with the county’s insurance agreement to initiate pre-litigation assistance in the matter of Rosa Bonilla. Last month Bonilla was found hanging in her cell at the Orange County Jail and later died at a hospital in Beaumont.
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