Court addresses short agenda

Addressing a short agenda, the Lavaca County Commissioners’ Court met in a regular meeting Monday morning and heard County Auditor Shana Opela present the audit/review of the jail commissary for Oct. 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023.
Opela said her office is required to perform the annual audit/review of operations and accounts of the commissary.
The auditor presented a copy to the court of the review and said the jail commissary was in compliance with government code for the period audited. 

Interlocal Agreement

In regards to overpopulation of the jail, the court approved local agreements with  both Lee and Calhoun counties to house certain Lavaca County jail inmates.
The LCSO chief deputy J. R. Peters said they are experiencing overcrowding at the jail and contacted 11 different counties. 
County judge Keith Mudd said the jail was fully populated with a maximum of 48 inmates on two different occasions in the last two weeks.
According to the Lee County agreement, it would house a prisoner for $75 per day per inmate, while Calhoun County’s agreement would charge $55 per day per prisoner. 

Security Plan, System/Building Upgrades

At the meeting, Mudd presented an agenda item regarding a security plan as well as system and building upgrades for the Courthouse, Sheriff’s office and County Annex.
Mudd said his purpose for bringing this agenda item to the court was mainly for informing them and the public. 
He said discussion of security plans will begin Wednesday in closed sessions and will include commissioners’ court, elected officials and other county employees. 
“We are working on some things behind the scenes,” Mudd said. “Starting Wednesday we will have some sessions going forward to discuss securities and concerns under closed settings.”
According to Mudd, the closed meetings will include vendors coming in to explain what they can do and what the cost would be. 
Mudd said the plan is to bring this matter to the commissioners’ court meeting in April to go out for bids. 
The court tabled the agenda item.

Certificate of Exemption

The court approved a certificate of exemption from subdivision requirements for Andy Chevalier and Clayton Woods.
Precinct 2 commissioner Wayne Faircloth said Chevalier and Woods are subdividing 22.477 acres into four tracts.
Faircloth said the four tracts would be divided into 6 acres, 6.2 acres, 5.07 acres and 5.21 acres. He said the property is located on CR 217.
In other action taken by the court:
• Declared items with Pct. 4 as surplus property.
• Discussed, but tabled any action on the county road plan and paving agreement.
• 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.