Harrison County commissioners approve routine payments, $300,000 transfer for medical claims and road bond

HARRISON COUNTY, Texas ' The Harrison County Commissioners Court met Jan. 1 and unanimously approved a series of routine financial and operations items, including payment of regular bills, a $300,000 transfer to cover medical claims and a two-year road bond for a subdivision street.

Auditor Haynes presented unaudited November 2022 financials, reporting "a fund balance of $21,104,494." Haynes told the court general fund revenue for the comparable period was about $1,400,000 and noted an increase in general administrative expenses of roughly $400,000 attributable to medical claims.

The court approved payment of regular bills in the amount of $326,142.21 and approved payroll for Dec. 22, 2022. The motions and seconds were recorded on the docket and each vote was unanimous (5-0).

The court also ratified a $300,000 transfer to cover medical-claim payments. Haynes and commissioners discussed recent larger stop-loss reimbursements (Haynes cited an approximately $120,000 stop-loss payment) as context for the transfer.

Road and Bridge representative Mr. Davis gave the department's biweekly report for Nov. 30'Dec. 27, saying crews issued 54 road permits during the two-week period and 893 permits year-to-date. Davis said crews have been responding to storm-related flooding and tree debris and have been placing barricades on regularly flooded roads such as Cox Road and Birmingham.

Under road business the court approved personnel items for Road & Bridge and a set of utility applications for work by providers including Etech Telephone Co-op, Tops Pipeline LLC, East Tex Telephone Co-op and the City of Marshall/Durham Springs WSC; one Tops Pipeline crossing on Tom Woodley Road will be bored at a seven- to ten-foot depth due to right-of-way constraints, Road & Bridge staff said.

The court approved a two-year construction and maintenance bond (BX0022951) for Suite P Lane (0.194 miles) in the Noonday Estate Subdivision in the amount of $29,010. Road & Bridge staff reported the road met county standards and said the bond is part of the procedure before acceptance into the county's road inventory after the two-year period.

Road & Bridge staff also presented the county maintenance certification as of Dec. 28, 2022, listing recently updated roads including Lewis Cemetery Road and County Roads 4439 and 4440 and reporting total county-maintained mileage as recorded in the report; the court approved the certification.

Sheriff's office and Fire Marshal summaries were provided: the sheriff reported roughly 2,294 calls for service, 58 criminal reports, 70 arrests, a jail population near 230 and 27 contracted inmates; the Fire Marshal reported inspections, illegal dumping cases and permit-fee collections totaling $10,840.

Purchasing staff Sadie presented an award of bid No. 2022-09 for county right-of-way mowing (without litter removal) to HX Farms Inc. for $235,337.04, covering two mows (current and summer); commissioners approved the contract unanimously.

Under new business the court approved an addendum to the county's claims administration agreement with GPA/Imagine 360 Administrators LLC. The court was told the addendum reflects an internal name change and legal-language cleanup and does not change rates or member billing.

All formal motions taken during the session passed by a recorded unanimous voice vote (5-0). The court adjourned at 9:23 a.m.

Votes at a glance

- Payment of regular bills: $326,142.21 ' motion and second recorded; outcome: approved 5-0. - Payroll for 12/22/2022 ' motion by Commissioner Hatfield, second by Commissioner Ebarb; outcome: approved 5-0. - Transfer of funds for medical-claim payments: $300,000 ' motion by Commissioner Mould, second by Commissioner Timmons (as recorded in transcript); outcome: approved 5-0. - Utility permit applications (multiple providers) ' outcome: approved 5-0. - Two-year road construction/maintenance bond BX0022951 (Suite P Lane), amount $29,010 ' outcome: approved 5-0. - County maintenance certification (as of 12/28/2022) ' outcome: approved 5-0. - Award of bid No. 2022-09 (right-of-way mowing) to HX Farms Inc., amount $235,337.04 ' outcome: approved 5-0. - Addendum to claims administration agreement (GPA / Imagine 360 Administrators LLC) ' outcome: approved 5-0.

Next steps: items approved are administrative or ministerial in nature; road acceptance procedures remain subject to the two-year warranty period where applicable. The court adjourned at 9:23 a.m.