FY21 Budget Hearing set for Sept 14

Many discussions have taken place about the upcoming fiscal year’s budget for Falls County. Amendments were made to the budget, originally proposed on Aug. 10, on Aug. 13, Aug. 10, and Aug. 24. Major points include increasing the contingency budget, insurance savings, and a raise for employees. 

Because Falls County has entered into an interlocal agreement with the Falls County Appraisal District for insurance services, the county will be saving about $15,000. The appraisal district has also seen increased saving because of the endeavor. 

Employees of Falls County will see a $600 raise across the board, something that was discussed in-depth by commissioners. There are two employees that have been in their position for less than a year, with both positions having had raises during FY20 when being moved from part-time to full-time positions. Despite concerns from Falls County Judge Jay Elliott, the four commissioners voted to allow these two positions the same salary increase as everyone else. 

The increase will bring the judge’s salary to $37,746, Falls County Sheriff Ricky Scaman’s salary to $52,608. The county clerk, county tax assessor/collector, county treasurer, and district clerk move up to $37,200. The justice of the peace for each of the four precincts will now make $31,086. Each of the four constables will make $28,902 and the four commissioners will make $28,560 per year. These changes will go into effect as of Oct. 1, as long as the budget is approved. 

A public hearing for the proposed FY21 budget has been set for Sept. 14 at 9 a.m. in the Falls County Courtroom. The budget will be voted on during the Sept. 28 meeting.

Hail Damage

Sealed bids were opened by County Commissioners for multiple needs of the Falls County Jail in the aftermath of May’s storm. 

There was no action taken, but commissioners were surprised at the variance of the bids. The contractor assisting the county with the Falls County Courthouse will summarize the bids before the next meeting to help the commissioners decide which to go with. It was stated that if none of the bids were acceptable, they would plan to go out for bids a second time. The Falls County Road and Bridge building and Falls County Museum building were not spoken about.

Burn Ban Extended

There were two flame inducing incidents in Lott this past weekend. 

On the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 21, Lott Fire Volunteer Department officers were called out for a grass fire, which burned over five acres of land. 

This fire violated the burn ban currently in place in Falls County. The second incident is shaping up to be an explosion in a barn, happening after dark that same day. The cause of this fire is currently unknown. 

County Commissioners mentioned this during their Aug. 24 meeting just before moving to extend the burn ban on Falls County until Sept. 12. Citizens can have controlled fires only with approval from the County Judge, as well as a member of a fire department or volunteer fire department present throughout the course of the burn.

Gravel Donation

Property owner Jim Collins has offered to donate multiple loads of gravel in order to pave a portion of County Road 459. Collins plans to sell the property, but has expressed that he does not feel a new owner will want a property on a badly graveled road. Conner’s Rock will be providing the materials  and Falls County will bill Collins for hauling. During discussion on the subject, Commissioner Milton Albright voiced that he worried that allowing donations of this sort would give the donors an inkling that they would have further control in the matter. The donation was approved with the understanding that Collins had been informed of the fact that the gravel may wash away with increasing rainfall. 

Road Closure Finalized

A petition was filed to close a portion of County Road 491, encompassing the section from State Highway 7 until the dead end, where the old bridge is out. It is a distance of about .4 miles according to the petition. The petition, filed by Terry W. Hurst, has a total of eight signatures from the landowners on the surrounding properties. After waiting the 20-days required by the transportation code, the motion to approve the request was approved unanimously. There were no contenders present.

Other:

Minutes from the Aug. 10, Aug. 13, and Aug. 20 meetings were approved, as did the bills and financials with minor changes. Election Judges were approved as presented, with a minor change of moving Cara Sue Albright, as her husband, Milton Albright is on the ticket for the Nov. 3 election. An agreement between Falls County and the Falls County Tax Office as part of the process for the boating grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was signed and approved. The FY 2020-2021 budget for ESD #3 was approved. Commissioners were updated that the yearly cycle for the Annual Cybersecurity Compliance Training with the Texas Association of Counties was coming back around. Falls County engaged in an interlocal agreement to allow the use of county maintenance equipment to combat drainage issues in Rosebud.