Wood County Commissioners approved a request by District Attorney Angela Albers seeking a grant for the continued full-time victim assistant coordinator, Kiki Bettis.

Inter-local agreements with various county entities were approved for May 7 elections: city of Mineola, city of Winnsboro, Mineola ISD, Quitman ISD and Alba-Golden ISD. 

Commissioners approved the sale of a mixer to Van Zandt County for $5,000.

They also approved a letter of intent with EMA Engineering for mechanical, electrical and plumbing services for the new HVAC system for the county courthouse.

The fee includes professional liability insurance, travel, per diem, telephone, fax and printing of plans/specifications for coordination purposes.

In personnel moves commissioners approved Sharla Price full-time as a jailer at $21.36 per hour; John Middleton a salary increase from $21.36 to $22.14 per hour; Sheila Jones moved from deputy clerk II at $20.03 per hour to deputy clerk III at $21.36 per hour; Kim Carpenter changed positions in the juvenile probation office from administrative assistant at $15 per hour to data coordinator at $17.50 per hour; and approved the resignation of jailer Ahneka Tullos.

A workshop with GrantWorks representative Jessica Johnstone was held after the meeting. After a lengthy discussion it was decided another workshop was needed to discuss the disbursement of the money Wood County is receiving from the American Rescue Plan. 

Wood County is set to receive $8.8 million and has received $4.4 million. Mineola City Manager Mercy Rushing was on hand seeking consideration receiving funds for septic improvement. The probable project cost is $897,200. UT Health – Quitman is also seeking funds for added personnel costs brought on by the COVID pandemic. 

Commissioners also discussed the needs for local water companies and spending some of the grant money for improvements needed at the county Jail.

County Judge Lucy Hebron left after the regular meeting and Precinct 2 Commissioner Jerry Gaskill presided over the workshop.