County Red Cross with storm costs

Gregg County Commissioners authorized a $20,000 donation to the American Red Cross during their meeting Monday morning.

The money is slated for use within the county to offset costs incurred with evacuee assistance following hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Bill Stoudt, Gregg County judge, said the county could be reimbursed for the donation by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"The Red Cross has done an outstanding job in the community," Stoudt said.

Anne Brooks, executive director of East Texas Piney Woods American Red Cross, said the agency could use the money in the wake of the storms, because a lot of expenses have been incurred — twice as much as with Hurricane Katrina — for training and the agency would like to double its shelter count.

Brooks said the agency is 100 percent funded by local contributions and the money received from Gregg County will be used in Gregg County.

The court awarded a bid fo video security at East Texas Regional Airport for$34,124. A grant from the Federal Aviation Administration will cover all but $1700.