County May Divide Road Personnel
At their Jan. 10 meeting, Glasscock County commissioners discussed splitting the road crew into two five-man units, each of which would be shared by two precincts. There are currently eleven men on the county road crew, and they work as needed in all precincts. Newly elected Commissioner Marck Schafer suggested the change, saying he thinks it would be easier to manage fewer people in fewer precincts. The one dozer driver would continue to work in all precincts, and from time to time, all or some of the men would work on one project, as needed. Commissioner Michael Hoch said commissioners had used two-precinct sharing years ago. Hoch said any such plan would have to accommodate all the work done by the road crew, such as mowing at the courthouse and along Hwy. 158 one day a week as needed. No decision was made regarding the change, but it will apparently continue to be considered.
Schafer also said he wants to make changes at the north landfill so people can dump their trash there anytime they choose, and he plans to acquire right-of-way so that what he termed a “dangerous double curve” on Sherrod Road can be straightened.
County May Buy Haul Trailer
Commissioners discussed purchase of a $23,000 used haul trailer to replace the existing one, which Hoch said has a welded axle and can’t haul some pieces of equipment. The trailer being considered is a 1998 50-ton, triple-axle type that can haul a maintainer, dump truck or a dozer. Commissioners decided to have it brought from Midland for them to look at and to test.
The court discussed storage for a fire truck, which was given to the county years ago by the U.S. Forest Service. After the addition of the county’s new rescue vehicle, the truck has been sitting outside. Commissioner Mark Halfmann said the truck can only be used when connected to a water hydrant, making it useful only for school or house fires in Garden City, and he said few people know how to operate it. Bednar said the county spent a lot of money on a new engine for the truck, but said storage space needs to be found and people trained to use it, or the Forest Service will want it to go elsewhere. No action was taken.
Historical Commission Members Selected
After asking for volunteers to serve on the county’s historical commission last month, County Judge Wilburn Bednar reported that Randy Sanders had volunteered. The court decided to ask Sanders, Alan Dierschke, Janie Branham, Helen Wilkerson and Laura Huitt to serve on the commission. Bednar was to contact each person regarding willingness to serve.
Bednar reported that someone had suggested that trash collection be provided in Garden City so that trash burning could be stopped; payment for collection would then be added to water system billing. But commissioners said not everyone in Garden City uses the water system, and a burn ban would be hard to enforce. They seemed to agree with Schafer, who said the plan would create headaches, and the matter was dropped.
Cemetery Entrance/Fence Progressing
Joe Calverley reported that work on the new entrance and fence for the Garden City Cemetery is progressing, with welding on the arch and gates nearing completion. After the arch and gates are installed, rock will be put columns and the fence installed. She said work done with volunteer labor is, by necessity, slower than that done by traditional contract.
A representative from the group that handles the county’s retirement system will hold meetings Jan. 18 at 11 a.m. and at 1:30 p.m. in the courthouse to familiarize county employees with the system.
The commissioners’ court will meet Jan. 18 at 9 a.m. in a workshop to discuss possible changes to the county employee handbook. They will also set holidays for the courthouse and for the county road crew. Holidays being considered for the courthouse are: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday (Friday and Monday), Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving (Thursday and Friday) and Christmas (Monday and Tuesday).
Engineer Dan Glass said he would provide an updated map showing when various county roads were paved and seal coated.
The commissioners’ court meets at 9 a.m. on the second Monday of each month upstairs in the courthouse. Meetings are open to the public.