Wood County commissioners voted unanimously to approve a resolution in opposition to Texas Senate Bill 234 and its companion House Bill 749 which is seen as an effort to silence county officials. 

County Judge Lucy Hebron explained the resolution. “This is a resolution that we encourage our representatives and our senators down in Austin to let them know how we feel here in the East Texas area that we oppose both of these bills that have been filed in that it would interfere with our ability to represent our citizens well and efficiently at a savings to the taxpayer,” Judge Hebron noted. 

Commissioners approved the COVID-19 comp-time payment policy.

The policy states “Pursuant to COVID-19 relief funding, and in order to continue the proactive response in combating the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Wood County Commissioners Court approves comp-time payment against COVID-19 response fund to further allow Wood County facilities to be adequately disinfected after hours on a regular schedule, without disrupting the normal daily business hours, by designated Wood County employees.” This will be effective through April 30, unless commissioners approve any changes or cancel the policy.

In another matter, commissioners approved a resolution for the Wood County District Attorney Victim Services Project for the 2022 VOCA grant application. The current grant was used to hire Kiki Bettis as the victim’s coordinator.  

Commissioners approved a vehicle “trade-in for like-kind” request by the Wood County Sheriff’s Office. Two Ford F-150s, a 2005 and 2010, will be traded for a 2014 Chevy Tahoe.

In other business, commissioners ratified Judge Hebron’s disaster declaration on Feb. 22. The declaration stated a local disaster due to the threat of imminent weather posing a widespread and severe property damage, injury and loss of life due to prolonged freezing temperatures, heavy snow and freezing rain in Wood County.

In personnel actions, commissioners approved four requests from Sheriff Kelly Cole. Robert Holland was hired as a lieutenant, Cole Hudson was hired as a deputy, Jeremy Smith changed positions from CID sergeant to patrol sergeant, and Jeremy Ragsdale moved from patrol sergeant to CID sergeant.

Other hires were Myron Sims in Precinct 1 and Jeremy Powell in Precinct 2 as road technicians. 

Commissioners approved the payroll of $371,881; health and dental claims of $51,209; and accounts payable of $379,965.