Commissioners Court hired two new sheriff’s deputies at the court’s meeting Monday, Jan. 3, and Sheriff Skipper Osborne said that means his department is still six short of a full staff of deputies.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Bubba Cook acted as County Judge Pro Tem in Judge Nate McDonald’s absence.
The county hired Joseph Burt and Jimmy Hausler as fulltime deputies at $20.16 an hour instead of the present rate of $19.74.
Osborne said the $20 per hour salary shows the county can still attract new deputies.
Before their hiring Monday morning, Osborne said the department was eight deputies short of being fully staffed.
Osborne also told the court that the department received a $10,000 donation from Guardian Precision Services, owned by Benjamin Gibson and family.
The sheriff said Gibson appreciated the county’s response to intruders on his rural property.
“The deputies scared them away,” Osborne added.
The donation will be “put to good use” in several areas of his department, the sheriff said.
Gibson also pledged $5,000 “for the arrest and conviction for whoever shot up Blessing,” Osborne said.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Bubba Frick said the $5,000 pledge would be added to the $3,000 already committed to finding and convicting those responsible.
(See the related story below on the Blessing shootings on Dec. 29.)
In other action, the court:
- Approved revisions to the county’s tax abatement policy.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Kent Pollard said there was several time extensions made to review and “red line” the policy.
There was no other discussion before Pollard’s motion to adopt the revisions was unanimously approved.
- Approved the annual award of road materials and road construction with equipment for fiscal 2022.
- Authorized McDonald to sign a letter of support for the Economic Action Committee to apply for the Community Development Block Grant CARES Act Texas Community Resiliency Program.
EAC Executive Director Kristie Pustejovsky told the court the City of
Bay City is applying for the grant that could mean a new building with triple the space for programs.
- Approved the board appointments of Patti Frankson and Judy Davis to the Wharton-Matagorda County Child Protective Services Board through Dec. 31, 2024.
- Approved a contract agreement between the county and Markham Volunteer Fire Department for fiscal 2022-2023.
MVFD will receive $2,500 from the county.
- Approved an agreement between the county and Dr. Dane Simons to serve as EMS Director for fiscal 2022-2023.
- Authorized Frick to hire Aldaberto Rodriguez as a light equipment operator for Precinct 4, starting out at $13 an hour.
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