Better access to healthcare resources will be coming to Marion County soon as the Community Conversations on Health grant gets rolling.
Lesley Taylor and Lesia Manning spoke to Commissioners Tuesday morning about the two year grant and how it can help county residents. They are with the Texas Department of State Health Services.
The grant is provided by DSHS and funded through the CDC.
“Marion County was picked due to it’s health disparities,” Taylor said. “This grant allows us to come to you and ask what can we do to help you build a program that you can sustain after we’re gone. So it’s really driven by the community members as to what they’d like to see and what they need. We need to hear from you want you want and need in your county.”
Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur put Taylor in touch with Hugh Lewis at the Jimplecute and Susan Anderson who serves as the president of the Marion County Hospital District Board.
According to material supplied by Taylor, the grant is designed to help residents obtain information on what resources are available to help with health care needs.
Taylor hopes to establish a monthly meeting with interested parties to discuss needs. If anyone is interested in helping, they should contact Taylor atlesley.taylor@dshs.texas.gov or 903-539-2945.
The ballots for November voters will be focused on contested races after Commissioners approved the County Elections Officer’s certification of unopposed candidates declared elected.
“This puts the non-contested races at the end of the ballot,” said LaFleur. “It is good to see our local officials be unopposed and ready to start working.”
The Precinct 4 barn building was declared salvage at the recommendation of Pct. 4 Commissioner Charlie Treadwell.
“The building was 20 years old when we got it,” Treadwell said. “And add another 32 years I’ve been in office. I talked with movers, but they said the building was to bad to move.”
Precinct 3 will be getting a new home for their Precinct Barn and waste disposal site after Commissioners approved the purchase of 10 acres of land from Kevin Thompson for $25,000.
“The land is on the same road as the current dump location,” said Pct. 3 Commissioner Ralph Meisenheimer. “This will also give me a place to store materials, and we won’t be renting property any more.”
Commissioners estimated they’ve spent over $50,000 in rental fees over the last 20 years and this will ultimately save the county money.
Precinct 3 is also the recipient of a Drag-A-Box Asphalt Spreader following accepting the donation. Meisenheimer said the equipment needs some minor work, but will be very helpful.
The road out to the Precinct 1 yard will be straightened as Commissioners approved a property easement exchange. Farmers Road from Victory School Road to the county yard will now run along the edge of Clay Crawford’s property.
Commissioner J.R. Ashley said the current road is too narrow and follows a “trail” instead of going straight. Ashley indicated in some spots the road is less than 8 feet wide and has high banks with blind corners making it difficult for traffic.
“On the way here I had to get off the road for a motorcycle to pass,” Ashley said.
Crawford and the county will share the work required to straighten the road.
In other business:
• LaFleur declared October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
• approved the expenditure of funds for a survey and appraisal on the old hospital building
• approved the General liability, Auto. Liability, and Auto physical liability insurance for $18,074
• approved the District Attorney’s Asset Forfeiture report for 2021-22
Following the meeting, the Jimplecute discussed the potential for another burn ban for the county with LaFleur.
LaFleur said that “since we’ve not had any significant rain since September 3,” and unless there is some received in the next week or so, he would have to institute another burn ban.
LaFleur also reminded residents to be extra careful if they choose to burn.