County reaches accord with BP on easement usage
By SHARON KERR Staff writer

Jasper County Commissioners Court met in regular session Monday, Aug. 13, recessed and resumed Tuesday, Aug. 14 as the countdown begins to approving the county budget and tax rate (see tax rate story).

Jasper School Land

The matter of British Petroleum using Jasper County School lands without an easement agreement was resolved when the commissioners accepted a contract for a temporary easement and payment of $2,500.

The contract was negotiated by county attorney Brad Miller, and is for a limited time access of 120 days. The check for $2,500 included the previous usage and future use until Sept. 30, at which the contract expires or can be renewed.

Housing contracts

Grant writer Michael Hunter received permission from the court to apply for an extension to the state-funded housing contract which would help low-income people displaced by Hurricane Rita receive assistance in obtaining new modular homes.

The county actually has been approved for two contracts for housing. The contract due to expire this year calls for replacing six homes, and while most of the recipients have passed the hurdles to qualify, lead time on manufactured housing is now 12 weeks from the order date. That is too late to fulfill the requirements on the first contract unless an extension is granted.

If the extension is denied, Hunter said he can transfer those people to the second contract, which calls for 11 homes to be replaced under slightly different terms and does not expire until next year.

Jasper County Judge Mark Allen said, "Let's try to remember there are faces and families attached to all these numbers who have been waiting since April 2006."

Programs to help

Sandy Abshire spoke to the court on behalf of Experience Works, a senior training and employment program that matches seniors 55+ with government of non-profit agencies.

This Senior Workforce Solutions program pays the seniors wages and workman's compensation while they learn on the job skills that may lead to permanent employment. The host agency who employs the senior and provides training gets an experienced worker.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Willie Stark made Abshire's case for her when he said, "I have several people working for me on temporary job assignments and they are very conscientious, have less absences, make wise decisions and are as productive as younger workers."

Abshire says Experience Works has people aged 50 - 90 who look forward to giving back to the community and having a purpose in life. She asked commissioners to recommend the program, or any seniors who might benefit from it, to her office at 936 327-0250 or apply at www.experienceworks.org.

Linda Dickerson presented to the court two agenda items regarding indigent health care contracts; one was for medical services with UTMB of Galveston for specialized care, and the other was to select specific optional services from the state approved list for indigent care.

On Dickerson's recommendation, the only change commissioners approved was adding home and community health care, which is defined by the state as: "must be medically necessary, meet Medicare/Medicaid requirements; and be provided by a certified home health agency. A plan of care must be recommended, signed, and dated by the recipients attending physician prior to care being given."

The county already provides services including such things as diabetic supplies and medical equipment.

Dickerson explained that giving a diabetic the means to check blood sugar can prevent a more costly visit to the hospital or emergency room.

The county's indigent health care program provides for people who are below 21 percent of the poverty line, who live outside the hospital district, which also provides indigent care.

Stark noted, "Not only is it our legal obligation to do so, it is a moral obligation as well."

Radio tower and other business

Robert McWhorter addressed the court on continuing problems with communication with the north and south radio towers.

"My whole concern is that deputies in the middle of the night can communicate safely with dispatchers," Allen said.

Robert Hoehn of Paul Davis Restoration gave the court a status report on completed and on-going repair projects in Jasper, Kirbyville, and the Buna sub-courthouse.

Commissioners tabled several agenda items for additional information, including appointing board members to the Jasper/Newton Health District, the dedication of a plaque for the sheriff's office, a contract change order for tires, and a request from the Jasper -Newton outreach program requesting financial assistance for Family Services of Southeast Texas.