Nathan Straus
Jacksonville Progress
RUSK — County commissioners approved alterations to the jail and sheriff’s department Monday at their regular meeting.
County Judge Chris Davis said this decision included about $10,000 of changes encompassing items like lower sinks in the bathroom, raised toilets and new door handles.
“They were originally built to code,” Davis said. “They need to be updated as new codes come into effect.”
In addition, commissioners approved the sheriff’s department’s monthly report.
A representative gave a brief update on Texas Department of Transportation projects in the county. Davis said no new projects were announced during the update.
“We took no action on it,” Davis said.
Commissioners also accepted John Mark Lester’s resignation from the Cherokee County Appraisal District Board of Directors, though no name was presented to appoint in his stead. They also passed on replacing a wrecked dump truck for Pct. 2 through the Buy Board in favor of going out for bids on a new vehicle.
The county approved a contract with Jacksonville to hold a local option election for May 8.
Also, a resolution certifying urgent need conditions within the county was approved. Davis said this was a resolution saying the county needed money for emergency items such as power generators.
“It’s slow,” Davis said of the status in obtaining this grant.
Left over from a previous court meeting, the commissioners approved an agreement with the Area Health Education Center for training of community health workers. Davis said in return for the AHEC paying for a pair of workers for the county’s health department, health department officials will train them.
The regular consent agenda was approved, including approval of court meeting minutes of February, the auditor’s monthly report for January, monthly reports from the Pct. 2 and Pct. 3 constables, and the payment of the bills.
The Cherokee County Commissioners Court meets at 10 a.m. the second and fourth Mondays of each month in the county courthouse in Rusk. All meetings are open to the public.
