Wood County Commissioners adopted a proclamation naming January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month. 

The proclamation stated in part: “We cannot stop what we do not see. Victims are hiding in plain sight, held prisoner by fear, shame and the trauma bonds created by their traffickers to manipulate and control them.” 

A statewide Can You See Me? campaign was recently launched with A21 and Outdoor Advertising of Texas. Billboards depicting the most common forms of exploitation are being displayed in public spaces and transportation hubs across more than 70 Texas markets. The yearlong campaign will help the public recognize indicators of human trafficking and educate them on reporting suspicious activity.

There were only two actions concerning personnel. Christopher Flournoy resigned as the information technology director and James Parris was hired in Precinct 1 as a road tech.

Commissioners handled several items concerning the upcoming election. Approved were a joint resolution between the county and the Democratic and Republican parties, joint election services contracts with both parties and notification of election for both parties.

The court approved temporary branch early voting locations at Winnsboro City Auditorium, Hawkins Community Center and the First Methodist Church Ministry Center in Mineola. They will be open Thursday and Friday, Feb. 27 and 28 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The jury wheel reconstruction was acknowledged by the commissioners. The new wheel contains current voter registration lists from all precincts in Wood County and current list furnished by the Texas Dept. Public Safety of all names of citizens of Wood County who hold a valid Texas driver’s license and/or valid personal identification card.

Racial profiling reports from the fire marshal and sheriff’s dept. were approved as was the racial profiling report exemption for the district attorney’s office.

Several public hearings were set for the revision of lots, three at Holly Lake Subdivision, one at Bluff Ranch Subdivision and one at Northeast Properties Subdivision.

In other action, Trident Portable Diagnostic Services was approved to provide portable x-ray, cardiac and ultra sound services to inmates of Wood County Jail.

Claims were approved for payroll at $374,841; health and dental $234,128 and accounts payable at $426,372.