Wood County Commissioners approved the transfer of William Burge from his position as a Wood County patrol sergeant to the recently created position of environmental officer at their Nov. 19 meeting. His final day with the sheriff’s office was Nov. 6. Wood County Deputy Joshua Davis will replace Burge as patrol sergeant. 

In other sheriff’s office personnel moves, Andrew Morrison moved from jailer-sergeant to deputy replacing Lathon Miller who resigned and Jailer Kara Findley resigned her position. Sherrie Culbertson was hired as a temporary employee in the Elections Office.

Commissioners approved an inter-local agreement with the Upper Sabine Valley Solid Waste Management District (USVSWMD) for the purchase of a vehicle and a salary contribution for the new environmental officer. Wood County will purchase from the USVSWMD a 2013 Ford F150 extended cab truck for $1. Included is the USVSWMD agreement to contribute $30,000 toward the salary of the Wood County position of environmental officer for one year with an option to renew for the succeeding three years whereby they shall continue to contribute a minimum of $30,000 toward the salary of the position.

In another matter, commissioners approved a “like-kind” trade in to be able to purchase new vehicles. Approved for the trade in were two 2014 Dodge Chargers, a 2013 Dodge Charger and a 2013 Dodge Ram.

A memorandum of agreement with East Texas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (ETCADA) was approved. The agreement calls  for ETCADA to provide a recovery coach for recovery support services that may include individual, face to face substance abuse recovery coaching, support group and/or education classes, outreach contacts and referrals for ancillary services to participants who are referred by Wood County.

A grant for 2020 for regional evaluation services for juveniles with East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) was approved by the commissioners.