Gillespie County Commissioners on Monday approved purchases and payments in the county Elections Department ahead of the Nov. 5 general election. The court held its regular meeting at the county courthouse.
The purchases cover the cost of equipment ordered in August and ballots for the various precincts, totaling 18,565 based on an estimate of how many registered voters will participate, said County Elections Director Jim Riley.
The purchases also include 4 Verity Duo voting machines, Americans with Disabilities Actcompliant machine, preventive maintenance supplies and a cart to transport items. The $19,903 in costs also included licenses and support fees, Riley said.
Commissioners also increased the bond amount for County Clerk Lindsey Brown from $99,000 to $175,000, based on the increased number of fees collected by the clerk’s office.
“This will reflect the maximum amount of fees that could be collected in our office over a year,” Brown said. The amount also reflects the increase in the number of fees due to increased activity in the clerk’s office over the past several years.The motion passed unanimously.
Vehicles
Commissioners also voted to purchase a wheel loader for Precinct 1 for $277,465.
Truck beds for vehicles in Pct. 1 and Pct. 2 were also approved for $13,700 each.
Victims’ assistance
The court also approved a grant contact with the Statewide Automated Victim Notification System, which provides $6,981 for costs associated with maintaining Gillespie’s part of a statewide notification system that keeps track of abuse cases. That includes costs to the county jail and court proceedings.
Airport grant
A drainage study at the Gillespie County Airport was OK’d for $500,000, of which the county will fund 10%, or $50,000. The Texas Department of Transportation and its aviation division will fund the majority.
Commissioners also approved modifications to a memorial bench and flagpole at the county airport, to be installed in honor of the late pilot Lou Defazio, who died in a plane crash in Florida in March of 2023. Modifications will be made pending approval of the Airport Advisory Committee.
In other business, the commissioners court also:
• Judge Daniel Jones proclaimed Oct. 20-26 as Texas Native Plant Week in Gillespie County. The proclamation encourages residents to learn about, plat and preserve Texas native plants for the benefit of wildlife, wild spaces, agriculture and tourism, and water supplies.
• Jones also proclaimed Nov. 10-16 as Gillespie County 4-H Week, commending its students, volunteers and staff of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
• Approved job descriptions and postings for openings for assistant treasurer and human resources generalist.
• Approved new hires, including Aaron Canada as a Gillespie County Sheriff’s Deputy, and Chad Ledford in the Pct. 4 Road and Bridge Department, pending security checks.
• OK’d submitting applications for 2024-2025 salary assistance from the Texas Legislature for the Rural Sheriff’s Office Salary Assistance Grant Program and the Rural Prosecutor’s Office. The supplements boost the pay for the rural offices to keep them competitive.
• Approved a contract with Tyler Technologies for $18,600, a shared cost with the City of Fredericksburg, to add monthly updates of GIS data received from GeoComm into the county’s computer- aided design system.
• Approved an interlocal agreement for the Hill Country Regional Public Defender’s Office between Gillespie, Bandera, Kendall, Kerr and Medina counties. Commissioner Charles Olfers said the agreement saves the county in costs associated with providing public defenders.
• Approved a septic setback variance for property located at 511 E. Kroll Road in Harper.
• Postponed its Nov. 11 meeting to Nov. 12 (Veterans Day). Commissioners will still hold their regular meeting on Dec. 23 after discussion about holding a meeting during Christmas week.
Treasurer’s office help
Commissioners also met briefly on Monday, Oct. 7, and approved temporary contract help for the County Treasurer’s Office.