DeWitt Commissioners present Service Award

In a brief agenda, DeWitt County Commissioners presented a distinguished service award certificate to the Texas Historical Commission at the May 30 meeting.

“The Historical Commission promotes a positive image to our county,” Judge Daryl Fowler said in a letter.

DeWitt County Historical Commissions Chairman Peggy Ledbetter believes the commission received this award due to their active contributions between the program and the county.

“I submit an annual report to the state and they have criteria for this recognition,” Ledbetter said. “They determine this by seeing if we work with other entities like the county and the city. We have been doing this the last several years. For example, we hosted a 150th anniversary celebration for the City of Cuero and a 175th celebration for DeWitt County. Not only that, but we also use student groups, and we like to bring them. It’s promoting the history of the county, and we also promote education. We’re very active and the Commissioner’s Court has been really supportive of us.”

There are 50 members in the Historical Commission. The court also appointed Tom Cheatham Polinard for the 2023-24 term of service on the commission.

Commissioners also discussed their employee health insurance benefits plan. They considered options and quotes provided through the Texas Association of Counties Health and Employee Benefits Pool.

They opted to renew their insurance plan. With this renewal, there will be an 8% increase in the employee insurance medical plan and a 2% increase for dental insurance.

Other items on the agenda included:

• Commissioners received a plan assessment for 2025 on the Texas County and District Retirement System. They have until Dec. 16 to make any changes to the retirement plan.

• Commissioners received the 2024 Predator Trapper Report from Texas A&M Wildlife Services.

• Commissioners discussed the implementation of the Healthy County Specific Incentive Program. This will be effective Oct. 1.

• A certificate of completion from Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service was given for DeWitt County Emergency Management Coordinator Billy Jordan Jr. He completed the Disaster Preparedness for Healthcare Organizations within the Community Infrastructure training course. Cuero-DeWitt County Health Department Nurse Manager Lisa Campos and Licensed Vocational Nurse April Preston also received this certificate. Another certificate of completion for DeWitt County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Peggy Mayer was given from the Texas Justice Court Training Center. She completed 10 hours of continuing education at the Justice of the Peace Seminar and Medical Examiner Workshop.

• Commissioners opted to cancel the June 24 meeting due to a schedule conflict with the South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Annual Conference.

• Precinct 2 Commissioner James Pilchiek Sr. presided over the meeting as Judge Daryl Fowler was out.