V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute
Justice of the Peace and Constable for Precinct 2 will be getting a new office building as Commissioners approved spending $49,500 of the LATCF Revenue funds for construction. Jefferson Custom Built will be providing construction.
Four quotes were submitted and two were removed from consideration as they did not have all the finish work required and Commissioners did not want to spend additional funds to complete the buildings.
Commissioners considered quotes from Jefferson Custom Homes and McDonnell Construction. McDonnell’s quote did not include a hot water heater and a porch and ADA compliant ramp.
The new building will replace the existing structure in Smithland.
Construction costs continue to go up as Commissioners received and accepted bids for Road and Bridge supplies and fuel for 2025.
ArklaTex Oil Co submitted the only bid for fuel with unleaded at $2.94 per gallon, dyed diesel at $2.65 per gallon, and clear diesel at $3.11 per gallon. This was an increase from $2.65, $2.55, and $2.56 respectively.
Seaton Construction will provide Flexbase-crushed iron ore to the County at prices ranging from $25.25/yard to $33.65/yard depending on delivery location. Prices did not change from last year.
Longview Asphalt provided the only bid to supply Hot Mix at $110-125/ton, Cold Mix of 102-117/ton, and Oil Sand from $90-105/ton depending on pickup or delivery. This was an increase of $4-10/ton.
Bryan and Bryan Asphalt will provide Road Oil to the County at a rate of $682/ton delivered. There was no change from last year.
Commissioners voted against approving the Marion Central Appraisal District budget for 2025, citing the disproportionate salary increases as compared to other County employees.
The City and JISD have already approved the budget.
Commissioners approved the contract with USACE for the Summer Lake Patrol on Lake O’the Pines. Lake Patrol provides additional law enforcement to the lake and park areas from May 17-September 2.
Commissioners also approved submitting the annual request to the Texas Comptroller’s office to receive unclaimed property capital credits. Since 2015, the County has received $267,640.88 from this fund. Those funds provide an emergency and development fund for the Cypress River Airport. They have also been used as a grant to the Martin House and this fall’s Crappie Tournament.
Lastly, the County heard from Jefferson Municipal Attorney Jim Finstrom over a concern that the County was not suppling the City with fines on tickets written by Constables, Deputies, or DPS officers that are within the City limits.
Finstrom indicated he had spoken with the County Treasurer BJ Westbrook and had been unable to find where the fines had been passed on to the City.
JP Clerk Cynthia Simmons told Commissioners that per “the Texas Justice Court Training Center, any traffic stop within the City limits … belongs to the City, but, any state owned highway or road, then it belongs to the County.”
The item was tabled to get some additional information and research for a future meeting.