Rusk County Commissioners look at different needs for county
By KATHRYN MARTINEZ news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

Rusk County commissioners considered bids for the purchase of two pick-up trucks for the sheriff 's department, a central air-conditioning unit for Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace office and for various street and road supplies.

Glen Deason, Rusk County sheriff, recommended that both bids for the pick-ups be rejected. Gabriel Jordan Chevrolet bid more than $48,000; and Fairway Ford bid just over $45,000.

Commissioners approved of a resolution designating Sandra Hodges, Rusk County judge, authorized signator for the county's Texas Community Development Program STEP Grant in support of Jacobs Water Supply Corporation. They also approved a request from Vickie Walker, Rusk County employee, to be appointed to the Labor Standards Officer for the same corporation.

Discussion between commissioners and Carl Barber, Rusk County assistant district attorney, related to a warrantee deed on property possibly gifted to the county ended in a nay vote from all commissioners. Barber said the gift could possibly turn into a liability for the county and did not in fact serve the public at large, but only residents of Richard's Mobile Home Park.

Commissioners are slated to approve the annual report and audit for Rusk County Emergency Services District (ESD), as well as the 2007 racial profiling report. Deason reported there were no incidents of racial profiling in Rusk County last year.

Travis Prior, ESD president, said the ESD board is back up to its full five-member strength with the recent addition on Leon Glass, former Longview fire chief.

According to Prior, the ESD has participated in several 90- percent cost-share programs with different ESD departments, including Kilgore Rescue Unit and East Side Volunteer Fire Department.

In other business commissioners approved the 2007 events summary for Rusk County Depot. Hodges said approximately 30 school groups had visited the historic facility in the last year

Commissioners also approved: Rusk County Airport fourth-quarter report; re-appointment of John Cloutier to North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority Board of Directors; approval of Dick Bishop, of Henderson Insurance Agency, to have a complete property re-evaluation of county owned buildings for insurance purposes; and presenting Matt B. Johnson, Rusk County, tax assessor collector with a continuing education certificate.