Court approves time change for its Monday, March 13 meeting

By Jimmy Appelt

jimmy.appelt@lavacacountytoday.com

The Lavaca County Commissioners’ Court met in its regular meeting Monday morning and agreed to change the start time for its Monday, March 13 meeting. 

Due to March 13 designated as the day for Lavaca County Day at the State Capitol, the court decided to begin the meeting at 9 a.m. instead of the usual 10 a.m. starting time.

The change in the time will give any of the commissioners, who plan to attend, time to travel to Austin and arrive later that morning. 

The county’s legislature chairman, Paul Yamarick, spoke to the court presenting an itinerary of the day.

Yamarick said those attending are asked to gather at the House Gallery in the Capitol building at 9 a.m., or by 10 a.m. that morning.

He said the group will tour the Capitol at 10 a.m. and a room is reserved from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Capitol building for Lavaca County attendees.

Yamarick said District 18 State Senator Lois Kolkhorst and District 30 congresswoman Genie Morrison are scheduled to meet with those attending and a lunch will be served at that time. 

Yamarick said this is the first day that bills or being introduced, so the representative will be very busy. 

He said those who make the trip will have the opportunity to watch the bill introduction process take place in the afternoon. 

Yamarick recommended those planning to attend park at the Capitol visitor parking lot. 

Lavaca County Archives

The court heard from department director of the Lavaca County Records Management office, Lisa Lowe, and from Press Gang coordinator, Brenda Fisseler.

Lowe spoke about the limited office space for the Archives department at the Annex. She invited the court to come by and view the current layout and what is involved in the renovation plans.

Fisseler talked about the beginning to preserve Lavaca County historical records and the involvement of the Press Gang in cleaning and storing thousands of sheets of records. She also recommended court members to visit the archives department.  

The court voted to continue forward with the procedure into developing renovation plans.

Purchasing Policy Update

The court approved updating the Lavaca County Purchasing policy to include compliance with Federal Procurement Policies and increasing Category 1 purchase order limit. 

Following the court’s approval, a purchase order would be required for anything $2,500 or above. Previously, the limit requiring a purchase order was $500.

Liability Insurance

The court approved the renewal of coverages through the TAC Risk Management Pool Liability Program. 

The coverages include auto liability, auto physical, general, public officials and law enforcement liabilities. 

Lavaca County EMS 

 Prior to the Lavaca County EMS report, the court approved a memorandum of understanding with Colorado County in regards to both the counties sharing EMS director Michael Furrh. 

Besides sharing duties of the EMS director, the memorandum included that both counties would share expense of fuel and maintenance to the EMS director’s vehicle and each county would pay one-half of the director’s salary and all associated employee benefits. 

In addition, both counties would allow the director to respond to emergencies as reasonably practical as possible and the EMS director would present a report to the respective commissioner court meetings at least once a month.

Lastly, Colorado County would supply a vehicle to the EMS director for use in both counties for emergency and non-emergency transportation.

Furrh presented the Lavaca County EMS report for January and said the EMS had 157 calls for service with 130 patients being transported. 

Regarding 911 emergency calls, Furrh said the department had 114 calls and transferred 43.

In district breakdown, Furrh reported the Hallettsville station had 71 calls, Shiner 48 and Moulton 37. He said mileage per unit included Medic 1 – 961 miles; Medic 2 – 1,641 miles and Medic 3 – 755 miles. 

Furrh reported, in regards to transport by destination, Lavaca Medical Center had 42; Yoakum Community Center, 7, Gonzales Memorial Hospital, 19, Citizens Medical Center in Victoria, 12, and Victoria DeTar Hospital, 20.

In other action taken by the court:

• Renewed the Affordable Care Act Reporting and Tracking Service (ARTS) with TAC HEBP.

• Approved advertising for Lavaca County Depository bids.

• Declared surplus property items from the treasurer’s, judge’s and auditor’s offices.

• Approved all consent agenda items. 

County Judge Keith Mudd presided over the meeting with Commissioners Wayne Faircloth, Kenny Siegel and Dennis W. Kocian present for the meeting.