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Court appoints three ESD commissioners, tables request to recover formation costs and authorizes ambulance grant agreement
Summary
The Newton County Commissioners Court appointed three commissioners to ESD No.2, tabled active recovery of county expenses tied to ESD No.6 until itemized documentation is provided, and authorized a letter allowing the county to seek a $350,000 ambulance grant that would be transferred to ESD No.6.
Newton County commissioners approved several items concerning Emergency Services Districts during their regular court session, including appointments to ESD No.2, a request for more documentation on past ESD6 expenditures, and authorization to pursue a $350,000 grant to purchase an ambulance for ESD No.6.
The court appointed Wayne Mororrow, Robert Samuel and Tommy Mullen as commissioners for Trout Creek ESD No.2 by unanimous voice vote. Later, commissioners discussed a follow‑up item about recovering county funds spent during formation of ESD No.6. ESD No.6 President Charles Duckworth told the court the district had just begun receiving sales tax receipts and requested a line‑by‑line accounting of prior payments before repaying the county; the court tabled further action and asked staff to provide documentation.
The court also authorized a letter of agreement that allows Newton County to apply for a $350,000 grant to purchase an ambulance that the county would transfer to ESD No.6 upon acquisition. The agreement specifies that ESD6 must maintain, insure and operate the ambulance for the benefit of Newton County residents and may not sell or transfer it without county consent, although trade‑in to acquire a replacement at end of useful life is permitted under conditions set in the agreement.
Commissioners said the ESD relationships and accounting should be handled transparently. "We just need some kind of breakdown of it," Duckworth said, asking for clarity before the ESD begins repayments.
The court approved the appointments, tabled the recovery action pending documentation, and authorized execution of the ambulance letter of agreement. Staff are to return with the requested accounting and the grant application materials when available.
