Wood County commissioners unanimously acknowledged the application on a local option in justice of the peace Precinct 1 for the sale of beer and wine. Precinct 2 Commissioner Jerry Gaskill led the meeting last Tuesday in the absence of Judge Lucy Hebron.

The application was submitted by Red Beard’s Tobacco of Yantis owned by Garrett Landers. The effort requires 2,200 legal signatures.

Election administrator Laura Wise commented on the effort. “They are circulating a petition now for the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption only,” Wise said. “If they get the required amount of signatures (2,200) it will be on the November ballot. That number is determined by the last governor’s election and the turnout was high at that time.”

Commissioners approved the like-kind trade-in request from the Wood County Sheriff’s Department. Those vehicles include a 2018 Chevy Silverado and seizure vehicles a 2007 Chevy Malibu, a 2001 Toyota 4-Runner, a 2008 Ford Taurus and a 1999 Ford Mustang. The department will receive a 2018 GMC SLT 4X4 crew cab. 

Commissioners made the decision to table a request from the sheriff’s department to transfer a 2020 Chevrolet 1500 truck from the sheriff’s office to the Wood County jail commissary. The truck would be used to transport inmates and equipment to needed locations to learn trades and skills being taught to the inmates. The commissary would pay the sheriff’s office $15,000 for the truck.

In personnel matters, commissioners approved the transfer of Daphne Carter from the auditor’s office to the county treasurer’s office where she is the new county treasurer. Also in that department, former county treasurer Becky Burford stays on the payroll as a deputy treasurer.

Commissioners approved the retirement of Angie Monk after many years as the county extension agent. Taylor Stevenson resigned as a jailer, Stephanie Tidwell was promoted to first assistant in the auditor’s office, and Amelia Turner was hired as a student intern in the district attorney’s office. 

Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding for a donation from Operation Underground Railroad for $6,680 to be used in the purchase of data pilot equipment for the Sheriff’s Office. With this service, instead of waiting, a cell phone analysis can be done immediately and not have the lengthy wait. This can be used in cases such as child pornography. 

The Angler Shores Subdivision in Precinct 1 was approved for 39 lots from one to five acres on FM 2966 in the Yantis area. Also approved was the revision of lots 156 and 157, Section 9 at Holly Lake Ranch.

In other business, commissioners approved the first renewal of a bid for road oil and approved to advertise for bids on road materials.

This month’s claims included payroll at $399,275, health and dental $147,423 and accounts payable $297,345.

A workshop with Jessica Johnstone from GrantWorks followed concerning the $8,447,917 the county receives from the American Rescue Plan.  

Four projects are being looked at. They are the Mineola septic recycling system, additions to the county jail, UT-Health for premium pay and broadband expansion. 

The county jail request is for upgrades and changes at the facility, including the addition of an isolation wing. The UT Health request is for premium pay for staff that was provided during the pandemic. The final project is for broadband access to rural areas.

No decisions were made and commissioners will continue to study the projects.