Schleicher County Commissioners gave Tom Brown with Nasmith Engineering thumbs up to file an application for a Colonia grant. The grant funds will be used to install 8,800 linear feet of new 8-inch gravity line to three subdivisions outside the Eldorado city limits. The application will be for $500,000 in grant funds and the total project can total up to one million dollars.
Brown also gave the court an update on the park and swimming pool project. Brown told the court several designs for the pool will be presented soon. One included a horseshoe design with some unique features as splash pads and lap lanes. Brown said the first part of the project would be to install new playground equipment and landscape the park.
County Extension Agent Courtney Redman was granted paid month leave this summer to attend college course in Abilene. She is attempting to get her Master’s Degree in guidance counseling. The court also approved refunding some travel expenses.
Sheriff David Doran spoke to the court about a law enforcement grant from the Concho Valley Council of Governments to replace the backup generator at the jail and run back up electrical service to the bottom floor of the courthouse.
The grant will be approximately $56,000. The Kohler Model 380 80KW Generator cost comes to $32,965 and another $23,000 is for cost of new electrical lines to service the new generator and move service to the courthouse and new generator. The court discussed moving the other generator to the Civic Center.
The court approved hiring an oil and gas attorney with funds from the Schleicher County School fund to determine mineral ownership on Schleicher County School Land in Gaines County. By law, the Schleicher County Commissioners Court, is the caretaker of the land and manages funds it generates on behalf of the school. More than a million dollars has recently been placed in the school’s fund from oil and gas companies leasing the minerals on the property.
Road Superintendent Mark Graves updated the court on his plans for several paving projects.
Graves informed the court he purchased a tank to hold road primer and will locate the tank at the county barn. Graves asked the court to approve a request from High Mount to distribute a chemical that will hold the dust down on a 2 mile stretch of caliche on County Road 119. The court instructed Judge Charlie Bradley to sign the document.
Graves future plans include moving his road crew to precinct #2 , pave the parking lot at Schleicher County Civic Center and fix the shoulders in spots on County Road 412 (Rabbit Road).
Jhett Norman and Lindsey Parker received the contract to run the swimming pool and concession stand this summer.
County Commissioner Johnny Mayo informed the court the 4-H Shooting Sports received a grant for $5,500 to build a cement slab at the Sheriff’s Department Shooting Range, but did not include labor in the bid and is looking for volunteer labor.
County Treasurer Karen Henderson distributed February Funds and Money Market accounts to the court .
Present for the March 28, 2011 meeting were County Judge Charlie Bradley, Commissioners Matt Brown, Kirk Griffin, Lynn Meador and Johnny Mayo. Also on hand were County Clerk Peggy Williams and County Treasurer Karen Henderson.
Ford Oglesby (center) of Eldorado received the 2011 Conservation Rancher of the Year Award from the Eldorado-Divide Soil and Water Conservation District. He is shown accepting the award from Vaden Aldridge (L) and Mike Lux (R) at the San Angelo Area Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 24, 2011 in Wall.