County May Change Insurance Carrier
Glasscock County Treasurer Alan Dierschke gave the commissioners’ court a report on the financial condition of West Texas Rural Counties at the commissioners’ April 13 meeting. WTRC is the county’s risk management insurance carrier, and appears to be financially shaky, with its overall survival questionable. Dierschke will present bids from at least two other carriers at future meetings, and the county may opt to change its carrier by the end of the fiscal year Sept. 31.
Brenda Bradford is the new courthouse custodian/groundskeeper and Larry Bradford is now the Garden City Water System Manager, effective March 30, according to County Treasurer Alan Dierschke. The two jobs were filled without being publically advertised, and without a vote of the commissioner’s court, according to County Judge Wilburn Bednar. Exactly who made the decision to fill the jobs, or when and how it was made is unclear.
The two full-time jobs include courthouse/community center/tax office/sheriff’s office custodial work, lawn and grounds upkeep (including the trees and grass along Highway 158), water system maintenance, meter reading and grounds care at the Garden City Cemetery. The custodian’s job pays $19,800 annually and will cost another $7,636 in benefits; the water system manager’s salary is $13,200 and will cost the county $7,636 in benefits.
The county plans to hire attorney Josh Hamby to handle details of gaining title to some lots in the Little League ball field that are available due to unpaid taxes. Judge Bednar is to contact Hamby regarding the matter. Currently, the county owns some, but not all, of the lots in the ball field area.
Don Bonify, the county’s consulting road engineer, met with the commissioners to discuss what paving they want done this year. It was agreed that Bonify would check several county roads and come back with suggestions at the May meeting. He said paving prices should be well below last year’s due to lower oil prices.