Court approves name change of Lavaca County OEM

  • File photo by Murray Montgomery.
    File photo by Murray Montgomery.

    With the usual meeting held on the second Monday of the month and the day falling on a county holiday (Columbus Day), the Lavaca County Commissioners’ Court met Tuesday morning, Oct. 11, instead.
    A resolution recognizing the change of the LCOEM was approved by the court and the office will now be referred to as the Lavaca County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.  
    Due to the duties performed by the emergency management coordinator’s office that include working with not only local law enforcement but also federal and state agencies in relation to the prevention or discovery, Homeland Security was added to the office name.
    The various duties that include prevention, response or recovery to situations include:
    • A terrorist attack;
    • A natural or man-made disaster;
    • A hostile military or paramilitary action; or
    • A fire or medical emergency requiring resources beyond the capabilities of local jurisdiction.
    Festival of Lights
    A request from the Hallettsville Festival of Lights committee for the continued use of the Courthouse grounds for seasonal displays was approved by the court.
    The annual Festival of Lights event will celebrate its 25th anniversary with seasonal displays showing through the Christmas holidays.
    In addition, the requests asked for the use of a key for entry to the Courthouse for the duration of the seasonal display event on Saturday, Nov. 26 lasting through the end of the parade that evening.
    Part of the requests also asked to utilize the banisters of the Courthouse to display decoration and the possibility of hosting a Christmas tree decorating contest on the third and fourth floor of the facility.
    Sheriff’s Department
    The court approved the hiring of Laurence Leon as a deputy sheriff and is effective  Oct. 3 and approved the resignation of employee number 1427 as corrections officer, which was effective Sept. 19. 
    Regarding a third agenda item involving the sheriff’s office, the court addressed  the item that called for the approval of appointment of Tramer J. Woytek as reserve deputy sheriff.
    However, no motion was made regarding this item nor did the court present any reason for not taking action on the matter. 
    Community Connections
    The court approved a request from Community Connections of Lavaca County (CCLC) program manager, Becky Janak, regarding a disbursement of the County’s cash match of $1,331.50 in reference to a grant agreement with the Texas Department of Agriculture Texans Feeding Home Delivered Meal Grant Program. 
    Regarding another item involving the CCLC, the court approved revised Lavaca R-Transit Drug and Alcohol policy requirements.
    County Tax Report
    County Tax Assessor-Collector Deborah Sevcik reported that 99.11% of the 2021 county taxes were collected through September leaving an unpaid balance of $105,873.88.
    Sevcik also reported that 99.12% of the 2021 Farm Market Road (FMR) taxes have been collected through June leaving an unpaid balance of $28,527.46.   
    In other action taken by the court:
    • Passed on recognizing Lavaca County Historical Commission for the 2021 Distinguished Service Award.
    • Acknowledged the receipt of 387.12 tons of one and a half inch limestone from Matrix Petroleum for repairs on CR 265. The approximate value is $7,936.17.
    • Approved a bond on Lisa Lowe as Records Management officer.
    • Approved a public defender contract between Lavaca County and the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc.
    Judge pro-tem Dennis W. Kocian presided over the meeting with commissioners Edward Pustka and Ronald Berckenhoff present for the meeting.