Blanco County Commissioners met on Tuesday Aug. 14 for a regular meeting. They reviewed proposed changes to the 2018/2019 budget, renewed contracts for another fiscal year and saw to new business.

Agreements and

Contracts

The County Judge was authorized by commissioners to sign a Non-Financial Child Welfare Services Contract with the Department of Family and Protective Services. The contract, Judge Bray reports, does have a financial component dependent on the County’s decision to provide funding to the Child Advocacy Board.

Commissioners authorized Judge Bray to sign the proposal for the disposal of household waste materials with Stericycle. A household waste pickup is currently scheduled for September. The current estimate for the proposal is approximately $28 thousand, the cost has not yet been finalized.

Commissioner Granberg reports funds for this event will come from a Capitol Area Council of Governments Grant, from City of Blanco and pending an agreement, Johnson City.

Commissioners also authorized the County Judge to sign the Database and PSAP Interlocal Agreement with Capitol Area Emergency Communications District and a renewal of the County’s Insurance for the Law Enforcement Center’s radio tower.

New Business

They approved payroll in the amount of $309,791.66 and outstanding bills in the amount of $93,763.79

Election judges were approved by Commissioners to serve a one year term. Precinct 102 Judge Franciela Smith, Alternate Judge Claire Latham; Precinct 201 Judge Kim Weirich, Alternate Judge Joyce Humble; Precinct 302 Judge George Stearns, Alternate Judge David Hamm; Precinct 303 Judge Dwight Brodbeck, Alternate Judge Julian Olinick; Precinct 304 TBD (No name submitted by the Republican Party), Alternate Judge Patty Chimene; Precinct 401 Judge Amy Arnold, Alternate Judge Suzanne Perkins

Signature Verification Ballot Board Judge is Frank Blagg. Alternate Judge is Marjorie Heard.

Commissioners acknowledged the required continuing education of Tax Accessor Collector Kristin Spies. The Tax Accessor Collector requested a petty cash fund of $300 to make change at the South County Annex. Commissioners voted to grant the Change Fund Request.

Replats were considered in Twin Sisters Estates and the Ranches of Brushy Top. Both requests were granted.

Judge Bray opened a bid for janitorial services for the county’s facilities. The contract was from Dusting Dolls, who currently cleans county buildings, for $19,335 total. The bid included $16,860 to clean the Johnson City Courthouse and Annex and $2,275 to clean the South County Annex.

The bid was accepted. The county intends to keep in better communication with the cleaning service to provide more feedback.

Since the current burn ban is still in effect through the next Commissioners Court, there was no discussion to change Blanco County’s burn ban status. The burn ban continues.

Budget Discussion

Discussion on the 2018/2019 budget continued.

Judge Bray reported that some salaries in the Sheriff’s Department did not add up right since changes were made in a budget workshop last week.

In the previous workshop it was reported that while Sheriff Jackson proposed raises in salaries, a change in pay schedule equaled a cut in pay for many deputies and Sheriff’s office employees. Sheriff Jackson proposed a salary budget Tuesday that would prevent anyone in the Sheriff’s department from getting a pay decrease and allow some deputies to receive raises. Other proposed changes are a reduction in overtime funds and promotion funds.

Changes to the budget will officially be made after discussion in the Public Hearing later this month.

The meeting adjourned.