V. Hhugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute
Marion County election duties will now be handled out of one office after Commissioners transferred the duties associated with the operations of elections to Marion County Tax Assessor-Collector Karen Jones.
Until now, elections have been conducted by the Marion County Clerk Vickie Smith and voter registration was handled by Jones.
“I’ve been after y’all ever since I’ve been County Clerk to get an EA [Elections Administrator] for the County which has been met with lots of opposition,” said Smith. “Karen has stepped forward asking for those duties to be transferred to her office. Which I’m in favor of that. I think the voter registration and election duties all needs to be combined.”
“Do you feel like you’ll have adequate help to get this done?” said Commissioner Charlie Treadwell.
“At this time, we had a meeting, and at this time I believe so,” said Jones. “I have Ira and Peggy does the bulk of voter registration part and Ira knows the election part. So I think I have the help I’ll need to get through the first part of the election.”
“We’ll help her get through it,” said Smith.
Commissioners approved the transfer of duties effective immediately. As a part of the transfer of duties, Commissioners also approved two contracts for Joint Primary Election Services between the County Elections Officer and the Democratic and Republican Parties of Texas.
Commissioners also expressed their intent in hiring Brevard Architecture to do the preliminary design work on expanding the Marion County Jail, utilizing the existing structure and the Courthouse Annex building. The cost for the study is $29,950. The study hopes to add 14 new beds to the jail, bringing the total to 48 beds.
“With the numbers we’re putting together. Now we’ll be fine,” said Marion County Sheriff David Capps. “It’s one jailer per 48 beds, and we’re at that number now.”
The study is the initial first step to produce the drawings and other documents required to move forward, according to Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur. The funding for the study will come from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds being provided to the County.
Commissioners were unable to act on the proposal due to the wording on the meeting agenda, but will take action at the December 27 meeting.
County employees will again have 18 paid holidays in 2022 as Commissioners added Columbus Day to the 2022 schedule. According to Smith, due to the way the calendar fell employees would have had 17 holidays, one less than 2021.
“For some reason giving everyone a four day weekend in the middle of the fall is a great idea,” said Commissioner J.R. Ashley.
JP Abernathy and Kevin Thompson were reappointed to the Cypress River Airport Board. Their terms end December 31, 2023
John Nance and Ted Barrow were reappointed to the Cypress Valley Navigation Board. Their terms end December 31, 2023.
What firm will oversee administration of the ARP Act funding was again delayed due to wording concerns and items which have come up since the proposals were received.
Interlocal agreements with the City of Jefferson were approved for another year but a review of the Shared Services and Responsibilities agreement will be reviewed before the next renewal. Currently the County bills the City $12,000 per year for services like dispatch and jail services. There was no change considered for the agreement providing funding for the Jefferson Carnegie Library.
All non-departmental services contracts were also approved. Non-departmental contracts include the various volunteer fire departments, child services, Community Healthcore, child services, soil and water conservation district, historical commission, navigation district, and the East Texas Council on Alcohol and Drugs.
Commissioners approved a multi-county cooperation agreement to handle the state requirements of having an Adult Sexual Assault Response Team. A plan has to be in place by the end of the year, and a team in place by the beginning of 203.