Due to several schedule conflicts, The Texas Spur missed the opportunity to cover several recent meetings of the Kent County Commission—during a time when decisions have been made regarding tax rates, budget, nursing home management, and other crucial matters.
We’ll summarize official minutes of those meetings for you below, before moving on to our coverage of September meetings.
Regular meeting, July 24, 2023. The court discussed, considered, and took action in open meeting on the following agenda items. Present were County Judge Layne Coulter, Commissioners Roy W. Chisum, Ray Hall, Daryl Ham, and Robert Graham, and County Clerk Craig Harrison.
Following discussion with Emergency Management Services manager Brad Chisum, the court approved a 15% rate increase for billing.
The court heard from Kent County Nursing Home consultant Tracy Woodward, who reported a census of 39 residents, an update on billing and collections, an update on the employee handbook, and a request for budget items including parking lot lighting, tires and air conditioning repair on transportation vans, and covers for fire alarms.
In other business, the court received the treasurer’s report, approved paying claims against the county, approved a request from Jayton-Girard ISD for $327,251.53 from Permanent School Funds for capital improvements. Surety bonds for Stacy Burchett, County and District Clerk, and Craig Harrison, County and District Clerk, were approved. Judge Coulter announced to the court the SB22 Law Enforcement Grant for Kent County, with no action taken.
The court approved County/School investments, with Bank of Texas CD #8148 closed and a new certificate of deposit opened with the Bank of Texas, $809,278.77 at 3%, to mature July 12, 2024.
A bid was accepted from contractor Michael Benavides for a total of $115,034 for sweeping/cleaning, patching, seal coating and striping the Kent County Airport.
Special meeting August 7, 2023. The court convened at 9 a.m. to hold a budget workshop and consider a brief agenda of action items. Present were County Judge Layne Coulter, Commissioners Roy W. Chisum, Ray Hall, Daryl Ham, and Robert Graham, and County Clerk Craig Harrison.
The court convened in executive session at 9:02 a.m., which lasted until 1:55 p.m. Afterward, the court approved payment of bills.
Regular meeting August 14, 2023. The court convened at 9 a.m. for its regular semi-monthly meeting. Present were County Judge Layne Coulter, Commissioners Roy W. Chisum, Ray Hall, Daryl Ham, and Robert Graham, and County Clerk Craig Harrison.
The court met with Kent County Nursing Home consultant Tracy Woodward to discuss operations. A resident census of 38 was reported, and an updated employee handbook draft was distributed. Nursing home administrator Maggie McGhee was also present to report on operations, including the decision about how best to replace residents’ in-room television service following Cap Rock Telephone’s discontinuation of cable TV. Various repairs were reported, and employee retention credit was discussed. The financial report was distributed by Linda Daniels.
The court heard from Paul Scioli to discuss issues with the solar energy project currently under construction in the county. According to minutes, many issues were brought to the court’s attention; Scioli explained through his research the solar farm “has many problematic situations such as a future water and soil contamination to the immediate area,” has “hindered all of the wildlife hunting” and has “been a great inconvenience to his ranch.” No action was taken.
In other action, a request from Jayton-Girard ISD for $574,392.17 from Permanent School Funds was approved.
No action was taken on a request regarding usage of the South Plains Communications Tower or a proposed lease with Velocity Water Solutions in Dawson County.
The financial audit report for the year ended Sept. 30, 2022 was presented by Tony Fidelio of the Scott Northam CPA firm. Following discussion, the audit report was approved. Details of the full 48-page audit report are on file in the official minute books of the county clerk.
The court convened at 9 a.m. for its regular semi-monthly meeting. Present were County Judge Layne Coulter, Commissioners Roy W. Chisum, Ray Hall, Daryl Ham, and Robert Graham, and County Clerk Craig Harrison.
The court met with Kent County Nursing Home consultant Tracy Woodward to discuss operations. A resident census of 38 was reported. Woodward distributed an updated financial aging report, and discussed hospice, Medicare and QIPP payments, with possible additional staff training suggested. The updated employee handbook was not approved, due to further corrections needed.
Woodward, who has served as consultant to the facility throughout recent transitions and efforts to update procedures and billing, submitted a 30day notice to terminate the services of her organization, MSC Associates, noting that “during the last ninety (90) days, challenges have been brought before the Court related to ineffective communication between the nursing home and MSC Associates impacting resident care and billing.”
Nursing Home administrator Maggie McGhee met with the court to report on facility operations. The financial report was distributed by Linda Daniels.
In other action, applications for the use of road machinery were approved, and claims against the county for payment were approved.
No action was taken on a request regarding usage of the South Plains Communications Tower, a proposed lease with Velocity Water Solutions in Dawson County, dump ground usage, or the roof of the former Sparrow’s Nest facility. Extra coverage on the airport runway was discussed, with no action taken.
The court convened into executive session at 2:30 p.m. The minutes reflect that afterward the court reconvened back into regular session, and then adjourned, but no time of these action is recorded and no action is noted.
September 11, 2023.
The court convened at 9 a.m. for its regular semimonthly meeting, a public hearing on the proposed 2023–24 budget, and a public hearing on a proposed tax increase for 2023–24. Present were County Judge Layne Coulter, Commissioners Roy W. Chisum, Ray Hall, Daryl Ham, and Robert Graham, and County Clerk Craig Harrison.
No members of the public were present for the budget hearing or tax increase hearing.
On recorded votes, the budget was approved as presented, with total county revenue of $6,191,950 and total county expenses of $6,191,950, representing a 9.5% increase over 2022–23. The judge noted that the budget includes $26,524 tax revenue from approximately $3 million in new property added to rolls this year.
The court then adopted the tax rate to fund the budget, as reflected in 2023-24 budget. The motion passed unanimously.
The court approved payment of bills including the final payment on airport work.
In the Kent County Nursing Home report, consultant Tracy Woodward presented details of writeoffs totaling $119,536.76 in unbilled Medicaid billings, noting that Medicaid and Medicare must be billed within a year. Hospice billings to be collected total $24,010, she said.
Discussion followed, among commissioners, Woodward, and administrator Maggie McGhee, regarding best remedies to avoid future billing problems. Extended discussion of staffing, expenses and training followed, with some dispute about whether or not a previous contractor had fulfilled obligations with billing services.
The court discussed combining polling places for the upcoming November 7 general election (on constitutional amendments) and approved one consolidated polling place in Jayton and one in Girard, with none in Clairemont.
By time for the lunch break, the agenda had not been completed, so this report will pick up next week where matters left off.
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