ETRA transitions, has fewer flights

In a time of transition for East Texas Regional Airport, Gregg County commissioners have agreed to abate list fees for American Eagle operations.

Virginia Hall, airport manager, said the fees typically net the airport approximately $2,500 per month.

In the transition, East Texas Regional Airport lost three 34- passenger propeller planes and gained two 50-passenger regional jets. Passengers have one less flight to chose from, but with the bigger jets the airport only lost 14 passenger seats.

The abatement is slated for a period of one year.

In other commissioners' court business, the court heard presentations by City of Longview officials, related to the proposed creation of a tax increment reinvestment zone in south longview. Commissioners tables any decision until further discussions have been held.

Following that presentation, the court discussed the proposed Gregg County Coliseum. The status update showed commissioners some changes made in the plans to maximize space and reduce construction costs. No firm cost estimate has been given.

Under commissioners' business, Bob Barbee, Pct. 3 commissioner, requested approval to assist the City of White Oak with the use of the county's street sweeper; approval to assist the City of Gladewater with preparing road base for overlay and with overlay on West Commerce Street, from Ferry Street west to the boundary of the East Texas Salt Water property; ratification for completing the driveways, parking lot and exit onto Williams Street at the EMS building in Kilgore; and approval to assist the City of Kilgore with hauling and laying hot mix asphalt on several city streets.

Janie Johnson, court attorney, said the request for assistance to White Oak should be provisional upon the addition of the county street sweeper to the city insurance policy.

In sheriffs' business an approval is requested for the transfer of funds from the Gregg County Sheriff 's Office insurance account and the group insurance account to the Computer Upgrade account.

Commissioners approved the Sheriff 's Office utilization of inmate labor to assist the East Texas Treatment Center and Camp Fire USA, both nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, in accordance with the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 43.10(4), Manual Labor.

Commissioners also approved a Memorandum of Agreement between the Gregg County Sheriff 's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Laurie Woloszyn, county auditor, requested discussion and approval of the Renewal Reimbursement Contracts between Gregg County and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, including the fiscal year 2009 budget, Commissioners' Court Resolution and certification. Woloszyn said these are standard agreements that have been in place for some time.

In other county auditing business commissioners are approved for the renewal/payment to Booth Insurance, in the amount $2,058.00, for tank liability coverage; acknowledged the employee reimbursement mileage rate change from $.505 to $.585 per mile, effective July 1, according to the State of Texas mileage reimbursement rate; and discussed action on the revised Gregg County Employee Reimbursement Travel/ Training Policy.

Commissioners granted Information services request for ratification for the purchase of a court reporter laptop bundle for the 307 Family District Court, with funds from the Information Services Capital account.

Commissioners approved for the county maintenance department requests for: Center Point Energy to place a one-inch poly service line within the right-ofway of Tryon Road, in Pct. 1; for Verizon-Tx Inc. to place a buried cable line within the right-of-way of CR 2339, in Pct. 3; Liberty City Water Supply Corporation to place a twoinch cased bore under the rightof way of Chad Loop, in Pct. 3; and for the Safety Council of East Texas to place a water and sanitary sewer service line within the right-of-way of Garland Road, in Pct. 4.

County budget director requests discussion and appropriate action to approve advertisement and schedule public hearings, for setting the fiscal year 2009 tax rate. The first hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, August 21; and another is slated for 9 a.m. Monday, August 25. Both meetings take place in the Commissioners' Courtroom on the third floor of Gregg County Courthouse.