Wood County Commissioners approved additional funding for the Juvenile Probation Department after detention and placement costs exceeded the amount budgeted for the year.
Juvenile Probation Chief Thomas Vick told commissioners the department had budgeted $71,400 for the expenses but had already spent $92,000 with two months remaining in the budget year.
“With the influx into our department we have exceeded our budget. I had budgeted $71,400 this year and we are already at $92,000 and we have two months to go. We currently have one youth sitting, and waiting to go to the state facility and they have been waiting 58 days,” Vick said in a letter to commissioners.
Vick also reported that one juvenile was going to a placement that had not yet been agreed upon and another was awaiting additional charges.
Commissioners also approved compensation for the county auditor’s office and 402nd District Court reporter following a request from District Judge Brad McCampbell.
The approved annual salaries are $121,259 for county auditor, $97,259 for the 402nd District Court reporter, $72,232 for first assistant auditor, $64,235 for second assistant auditor and $59,717 for third assistant auditor. The fourth assistant auditor will receive $29.41 per hour, and the fifth assistant will receive $28.60 per hour.
Commissioners also approved schedules for Commissioners Court meetings, county pay dates, holidays and compensation for county positions.
In other business, commissioners approved a sanitary control easement between Wood County and Jones Water Supply. The easement is intended to protect the water supply of a well while allowing the county to continue maintaining the roadway and right of way on county-owned property.
Commissioners also approved Nov. 3 as the general election date and approved interlocal agreements for the election with Hawkins ISD, Harmony ISD, Union Hill ISD and the city of Quitman.
The court awarded an asphalt base crude oil agreement to Eastex Crude Co. of Leesburg and approved the 2026-27 Routine Airport Maintenance Program grant from the Texas Department of Transportation for maintenance at Wood County Airport.
In personnel matters, commissioners approved the discharge of Deputy Chase Tustin, the hiring of Wacey Warren as a jailer and the promotion of Ashley Latham to jail sergeant.