Wood County Commissioners held their final Friday meeting Oct. 4. Meetings will now be held on Tuesday’s at 10 a.m. with the next scheduled for Oct. 22. Commissioners approved the Tuesday dates for the next year.

Commissioners acknowledged and accepted an award of $172,183 from the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA). The monies are for the City of Mineola for gap financing of necessary infrastructure in connection with the Sanderson Farms Project. The development of water, sewer and natural gas infrastructure in support of the Northeast Texas Poultry Complex (Sanderson Farms) will help spur the development of a project predicted to generate thousands of new jobs in East Texas as well as bring commercial freight traffic on roads and rail.

The NET RMA was intrigued by this project as it is the largest agricultural and food processing project currently pending in the entire state. The NET RMA is an independent government agency created to accelerate the development of transportation projects in Northeast Texas.

Judge Alfonso Charles of the 124th District Court was assigned to the 402nd District Court case of Brian A. Smale vs. Glen Thurman a/k/a Glen Thurman Builder, Inc. a/k/a Rose Hill Springs Development, LLC, Defendant and Wood County commissioner’s court.

Commissioners approved an inter-local cooperation agreement with Henderson County to accept inmates from Wood County at $40 per day per inmate.

The agreement calls for housing, care, meals and routine medical services for such inmates on the same basis it provides for its own inmates.

Wood County is responsible for transportation of its inmates to the Henderson County Jail in Athens. The term of the agreement is for one year. At last count there were 141 inmates at the jail facility with 115 males and 26 females.

In personnel moves, Pamela “Kiki” Bettis was discharged from her duties as executive director of the Wood County Industrial Commission which is now the Wood County Economic Development Commission (see related story).

In another matter, commissioners approved the RAMP (Routine Airport Maintenance Program) grant from the state acting through the Texas Department of Transportation. The project is the continued routine maintenance project at Wood County Airport-Collins Field. 

Commissioners approved the Wood County policy for the disposition of deceased paupers. The county uses Beatty Funeral Home in Winnsboro for cremation of deceased paupers.

Precinct 2 Constable Kelly Smith received approval to apply for a K9 vest donation for his dog Juma from Vested Interest in K9s.

The mission of the organization is to raise awareness and funds to donate bullet and stab protective vests to canines in law enforcement and related agencies throughout the U.S. Canines must be a minimum of 20 months, and the awards are given first come, first served basis.  

Commissioners declared a proclamation honoring National 4-H Week Oct. 6-12 for 112 years of providing experience-based education to youngsters throughout the Lone Star State.