Commissioners prepare for 2008 business

By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER

As the holidays approach, the Caldwell County Commissioners were busy on Monday morning going about the business of preparing for next year.
With 2007 winding to a close, the Commissioners have to start thinking about policy changes regarding employee holidays and inclement weather policies.
Winter months often bri

ng a day or two of dangerous weather. To address employee safety, County Treasurer Lori Rangel-Pompa presented a possible change to County policy spelling out the County”s bad-weather policy. Under the proposal, the County Judge or his designated representative must, based on the recommendations of the Office of Emergency Management, decide whether the County will open for business or not in the event of bad weather. The policy calls for the Judge to notify local news stations by 6 a.m. of any decision regarding closure or delayed opening. However, if information regarding County offices is not relayed by at least one of the five Austin local networks, it will be assumed that offices are open for business, and employees should make safe arrangements to be at work.
Commissioners began discussing this policy in February 2007, after a rash of freezing storms dragged Central Texas to a halt for several days.
The Court also discussed which holidays to close County offices in 2008. In 2007, county employees were offered 12 regular holidays and one half-day holiday. Those holidays will remain the same in 2008, and include New Year”s Day, MLK, Jr., Day, President”s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, a day and a half for Thanksgiving, and three days for Christmas.
In other business, the Court was approached this month by representatives from the Texas Department of Transportation regarding right of way acquisition. Under a 2004 agreement, the County is responsible for a 10-percent match of the cost of right of way acquisition for construction on Highway 183. Several negotiations about the project have taken place over the last several years, including the County”s adoption of maintenance of a newly-paved FM 3158 in exchange for waiver of payment for right of way acquisition.
In brief news:
The Court discussed participation in the State of Texas Comptroller”s local management review process.
They considered an in-kind contribution in Gonzales County to help with the construction of a site pad for an existing radio tower. Some emergency services in southern Caldwell County have radios that broadcast concurrently with Gonzales County Emergency Services.
They discussed the creation of, and right of way grants for, the Forister Ranch subdivision off FM 1854.
They opted to leave an outdoor burning ban in place.
The Caldwell County Commissioners meet on the second, third and fourth Monday of each month at 9 a.m in Room 100 of the Caldwell County Courthouse.