Wood County Commissioners heard a positive report from a representative of Linebarger, Goggan, Blair and Sampson on the history of fines and fees collected by the firm.

Jim Lambeth gave commissioners an overview of collection fees since the firm became involved with Wood County in August 2007. According to Lambeth their efforts for the county in collections of fines through the justices of the peace have resulted in a solid recovery rate.

“As of March 2021, our collection efforts on behalf of the county have resulted in more than $1.6 million and reaching a recovery rate of 57.8% for all dollars placed over the life of the contract,” Lambeth said. “Working together, we have resolved over $1.8 million, representing 66.5% of all dollars placed by the county”

In the 14 years the firm has worked with Wood County, they have sent out 52,493 letters and made 75,356 outbound calls in efforts to get payment for delinquent fines.

In another matter, Environmental Officer William Burge reported 15 cases of illegal dumping from March 1 through May 17, including two from the Winnsboro area, four from the Quitman area, two from Alba, four from Hawkins and three from Mineola.

In personnel mattes, Tiffany Elizabeth Smith has been hired in Judge Lucy Hebron’s office as the county court administrator and administrative assistant at $20.54 an hour. She is replacing Catherine Clayton. Also in the judge’s office, Pamela J. Bennett has been hired as a temporary part-time employee.

In other personnel actions, Sarah Tucker has resigned her post as a jailer. Also resigning was Amberley King from her post as deputy clerk in the district clerk’s office. Kaleigh Sauer has been hired as a student intern in a temporary position in the district attorney’s office.  Hired part-time were Ashley Hammer in Precinct 4 and Holley Nicole Stiefer in the tax office.

Commissioners approved a “trade-in for like kind” for a 2018 Ford van and a 2015 Chevrolet van in order to purchase two new vans. The vans are primarily to be used in the transporting of prisoners.

In other business, commissioners approved auditor Terri Sellars to take necessary action to apply for funds in President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act.

“This is very similar in nature to the corona virus relief funds that we applied for last year as a county. We secured those funds in a very lengthy and arduous process of documentation,” Hebron said. “This would be for a total amount of $8.8 million our county would be eligible for.”

Sellars clarified where the money would come from. “The difference would be this comes directly from the U.S. Treasury,” Sellars added.

Two public hearings were held concerning property at Holly Rand Lake Subdivision. One was for lots 65 and 66 in Section V, Holly Lake Subdivision and the other concerning lots 154, 155, 156, 166 and 167. Both of those revisions were approved.

Commissioners approved public hearings set for July 13 for lot 22, block 1 in the Golden Acres subdivision and for revision of lots 358, 359 and 360 in section 9 at Holly Lake Ranch.

In another matter commissioners approved a modification of agreement for ambulance service between Wood County and ETMC EMS doing business as UT Health East Texas EMS. 

Commissioners approved payroll at $377,301; health and dental payments of $111,981 and accounts payable of $310,010.