The Hockley County Commissioners’ Court held a regular meeting last week in the Commissioners’ Courtroom located at the Hockley County Courthouse.
The group made quick work of the meeting starting with the approval the minutes of the last regular meeting held Monday, December 18, 2023.
Additionally, the court approved all monthly bills and claims submitted to the court and dated through January 8 without extensive discussion.
The group was presented the monthly and annual public assistance report. It was reported that the total expenditures totaled $7,957 for 2023.
Charity referrals for the past year included Ministerial Alliance totaling $6,187.07 for assistance. The Salvation Army is currently bringing in a social worker twice a month which is totaling $12,670. Church on the Rock has provided the county office with an excess of diapers and wipes. Love Levelland has also aided the office with diapers and wipes.
The office has also seen 27 new veteran applications that are currently in the pipeline.
The court reviewed the documents and moved forward in the agenda.
The court then considered to accept the donation of $15,000 from Occidental Petroleum Corporation to the Hockley County Sheriff’s Office for the purchase of radio equipment for patrol vehicles.
Hockley County Sheriff Ray Scifres explained to the group that this was the seventh year that the corporation has donated and the second time they have donated $15,000 for radio equipment.
The donation money this go around will allow the department to replace three vehicle radios and two repeaters which also covers the installation costs.
The item was approved without further discussion.
Discussion was had concerning the resolution and designation of sponsor, authorizing 10 percent matching funds for the Levelland Municipal-Hockley County airport lighting project.
City of Levelland Secretary Andrea Corley explained to the council that the 10% will be split between both entities and not each group paying a matching 10%.
Details and clarifications regarding the pay and coverage amount were discussed.
Ultimately, the court approved the resolution with the city manager being the representative of the project.
Moving along in the meeting, the court approved the 2023 audit engagement letter from Atlas CMMS CPAs & Advisors PLLC.
A quick item at that was approved was a lease and maintenance agreement with Advanced Business Solutions for a printer/copier/fax unit to be used in the Elections Office.
The group also approved the appointment of Matt Evans, Cochran County Commissioner, to serve on the High Plains Regional Public Defender Oversight Board.
As per usual, the court reviewed the November and December 2023 fire runs as submitted by the City of Levelland and approved the overall report with little discussion.
A discussion and review of the preliminary parking lot site plans for the Ave. H parking lot project were conducted. The board was presented with multiple plans with options that could be added or taken away.
After further discussion, it was decided that the new lot would not contain any cosmetic items such as islands at that would take away from the parking capacity.
Wrapping up the meeting, the group moved forward with advertising for bids per belly dump truck load for hauling 75 belly dump loads (minimum of 22 tons per load) of rock from R.E. Jane Gravel Company’s pit in Slaton, Texas to Blackgold Road in Precinct 2, with a minimum of four trucks hauling at the same time.