Wood County commissioners last week approved the Bassmaster host agreement for the four-day Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest at Lake Fork in May.

The agreement between Bassmaster and Wood County spells out the host’s responsibilities. As a part of the contract, Wood County Industrial Commission will pay a host fee of $65,000 to Bassmaster.

Addendums to the agreement were made to share the cost with the Quitman Development Corp. (QDC), City of Emory and Lake Fork Chamber of Commerce as co-sponsors of the event.

QDC, on behalf of the City of Quitman, agreed to contribute $10,000. Lake Fork Chamber agreed to contribute $5,000. City of Emory, on behalf of the tourism department, agreed to contribute $10,000.

Texas Fest is scheduled May 2-6 as one of nine regular season tournaments in the Bassmaster Elite Series this year. Sabine River Authority lakeside complex will be used as the event headquarters.

WCIC has agreed to be the lead host on the 2019 Bassmaster Texas Fest at Lake Fork in conjunction with Emory Tourism, QDC and the Lake Fork Chamber. Emory Tourism is responsible for the cost of the meeting room at the Best Western-Emory during the week of the tournament.

May 4 will be used as a celebration day for visiting anglers and other attendees. The day will feature music, vendors and booths promoting each of the cities of Wood County, WCIC Executive Director Kiki Bettis said.

“We do want everyone to be involved,” Bettis said.

In other action last week, commissioners approved a contract with JPJ Construction for the new annex building at 207 Smart Street in Quitman. This annex will house the election office, early voting, IT offices and a conference room. A proposal from Braun Intertec for soil and concrete testing for the annex building was approved as well.

Danny Hightower House Movers was awarded the bid to move an existing house from county property, where the annex will be placed. Hightower’s bid was the lowest, which was $6,000. Lennon Construction bid $6,750 and Southline Services bid $7,900.

Hightower did not fill out the conflict of interest questionnaire prior to the bids being opened. Commissioners awarded the bid on the condition that the questionnaire would be filled out within the next seven days.

An interlocal contract between the Department of Information Resources and Wood County relating to the use of DIR shared services master service agreements for the county election office was approved.

A revised flood plain ordinance with a fine and permit fee of $25 was approved. An updated Wood County Accident Prevention Plan was approved.

Charles Mohan was approved as a precinct 4 representative for Upper Sabine Valley Solid Waste Management District.

Commissioners agreed to exclude Osmolex ER from Wood County pharmacy benefits plan since there is a medical equivalent available to employees.

A public hearing was set for April 19 at 10 a.m. f or the revision of lots 395 and 396, section 8, of Holly Lake Ranch.

Equify Online Auction to sell surplus equipment for precincts 1, 2, 3 and 4 on March 27 was approved by the commissioners.

Mandatory bullet proof vest wear policies for Wood County Constable’s and Wood County District Attorney’s Office was acknowledged by the court. A policy is required for the county to receive a grant to assist in funding bullet proof vests. Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act training was also acknowledged.

The following items were also approved in court:

•Angela Albers was hired as Wood County criminal district attorney and resigned from her former position as first assistant criminal district attorney;

•Ray Peavy’s temporary help ended for the Lake Hawkins RV Park effective Jan. 31;

•Debra Carpenter’s temporary help was transferred from Lake Hawkins RV Park to Road and Bridge Precinct 3;

•La’Dawn McGee transferred from deputy to bailiff/ courthouse security officer under the Wood County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) effective March 2;

•Kay M. Phillips resigned as a jailer at WCSO effective Feb. 28;

•Release of security from BTH Bank;

•Treasurer’s report on October to December 2018;

•Constable February reports;

•Line-item transfer of $5,000 from Road Oil to the equipment fund under Precinct 4 Road & Bridge department;

•Budget amendment of $13,010.06 for unbudgeted revenue;

•Payroll of $359,985.01;

•Health and dental claims of $90,880.29;

•Accounts payable of $596,202.10;

•Voided checks of $3,157.05.