The Commissioner Court discussed Tuesday creating two new positions to deal with the recovery from Harvey. The Commissioners decided to take no action until after a workshop to discuss that and other items further, probably next week.
County Judge Brint Carlton proposed the two positions as a coordinator for Disaster Projects and a coordinator for Community Relations. He suggested both positions would come under the authority of the Commissioners Court.
Assistant County Attorney Doug Manning advised his research showed that the positions could be created and put under the Commissioners Court. He requested more time to investigate other sources before the Commissioners created the two positions.
Emergency Management Coordinator Missy Pillsbury was mentioned by Carlton as possibly filling one of the positions. Michelle Tubbleville works in the MIS Department and has been assigned to help with the recovery efforts. She was suggested during the discussions as a possibility for one of the positions. There was no discussion of restructuring the Emergency Management Department which was on the agenda since Carlton said it was tied to the creation of the two new positions. That will wait until after the workshop.
The Commissioners Tuesday decided to wait until probably next week on whether to move the county’s Parks Department into another county department. There has not been a Parks Department head for over a year and there have not been any operating parks in the county since the flooding from Harvey.
Acting Parks Supervisor Mike Hale told the Commissioners Court that with four Johnnie’s on the Spot he could reopen the Claiborne West Park as early as next week. He does need some grinder pumps to help activate the public restrooms at the park.
The Commissioners are considering whether to move the Parks Department into either the Maintenance Department under Kurt Guidry or to the Convention and Expo Center under Sabrina Gray. The Court agreed a workshop was necessary to discuss all the options for the future of the Parks Department.
No action was taken on a recommendation from County Judge Carlton to change the new Emergency Pay Plan for county employees that was approved last week. Under Carlton’s plan instead of giving a percentage increase to each employee’s salary, all employees would receive a flat rate above their normal salary for working during a declared disaster which the judge said would be more equitable to employees at the lower end of the pay scale. This topic may also be discussed in a proposed workshop next week.
The Commissioners Court approved keeping the same County Choice Silver Program as a supplement for county retirees age 65 or older. The Plan F medical coverage will have a 9.7 percent increase for the retirees. Plan 1A for prescription medicine coverage was approved and will show a $5 increase per prescription for the retirees. Human Resource Director Lori Ardoin said there are 144 county retirees that are covered by the plans.
Carlton mentioned at the end of the meeting that work on repairing the Sheriff’s Office building will be delayed because the proposed contractor is not approved by the state of Texas. Four deputies still have their offices in the Convention and Expo Center. Most of the department’s records and papers have been moved back to the Sheriff’s Office even though the walls are not completed, and the floors are bare.
The deadline for filing with FEMA has been extended to Friday, November 24, according to Carlton. Citizens must be registered with FEMA to be eligible for any benefits from the federal government because of Harvey.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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