The Hockley County Commissioners’ Court held a regular meeting Monday, holding discussions with the Texas Association of Counties (TAC).
Additionally, the group discussed health insurance, heard the monthly assistance report, and act on TAC insurance renewal rates and wrapped up the meeting by creating the regional public defenders office.
The court approved the minutes from the special meeting held on March 27 and approved all bills posted through April 3.
The court approved the motion to move forward in the steps to participate in the High Plains Regional Public Defenders Office.
The court emphasized the importance of having an exit provision ensuring the county is able to back out if they decide it is no longer beneficial to the county in the future.
The court approved to extend the mandatory time frame a county officer must deposit all money collected to the county treasures office from five days to 15 days.
Counties with a population of less than 50,000 residents are allowed, with Commissioners’ Court approval, to extend the time frame to bring deposits to the county treasurer.
Katy Davenport, employee benefits consultant with TAC, provided the court with a synopsis outlining how health insurance claims in Hockley County are currently running.
Davenport explained TAC is a non-profit organization that utilizes health insurance risk pool to calculate premiums as a group.
Davenport explained to the court that $153,000 has been returned to Hockley County from TAC based on the longevity of the pool and how the claims have been run.
Hockley County had 10 public assistance approvals for the month of March. The county aided seven households with utilities assistance and three households with rental assistance.
The county will refer those needing public assistance to The Salvation Army if the monetary amount needed is too high for Hockley County public assistance to make a substantial contribution to the balance. The Salvation Army will now come to Levelland twice a month to offer aid.
South Plains Community Action is only accepting first time applicants and members of social security for consideration of financial assistance.
The court voted to not raise the content replacement costs by 24% as recommended by TAC insurance. The court was not able to approve or decline the 32% increase on building structure insurance.
The appraisal value is determined by the State of Texas and the county is not able to change the value of building structures.
The court approved the trade-in of one 2018 Caterpillar 140M3 and the purchase of one 2023 Caterpillar 150 Motor Grader through the Buyboard for use in Precinct four.