Wood County commissioners authorized an application for participation between the Wood County Sheriff’s Office and an affiliate company used by the Department of Justice (DOJ) Feb. 13.

The partnership would supply a grant which allows law enforcement to essentially borrow DOJ equipment for law enforcement use. The commissioners’ authorization requires that the sheriff submit a State Plan of Operation between the state and the Wood County Sheriff’s Office.

Commissioners also authorized Winnsboro’s branch of APET to apply for a spay and neuter program grant through the Texas Dept. of State Health Services. The grant money of at least $50,000 must be paid by the county and then reimbursed. According to County Judge Kevin White, there is already a line item in the budget for APET, so fronting the money is not a problem.

The commissioners also discussed and approved an application for the House Bill 3000 Rural Ambulance Service Grant. 

According to Wood County Fire Marshal Tully Davidson, the county will not be purchasing their own ambulance; rather, the grant would enable the county to purchase lifesaving equipment for the CHRISTUS and UT Health ambulances already present in the county.

Despite going into executive session for nearly double the length of their 15-minute open meeting, White said there would be no action taken afterward.