The Kent County commissioners court met multiple times in regular and special meetings during September and October, also incorporating several closed sessions. This issue’s coverage picks up at the second meeting of September.
Regular meeting, Mon., Sept. 25, 2023. According to minutes read on Oct. 11, during the meeting of Sept. 25 the Kent County commissioners court held an audience with Kent County 4-H students, who described their Fair projects; and held an audience with nursing home consultant Tracy Woodward, who presented the aging report, reviewed private pay accounts, and noted a shortage of registered nurse coverage throughout this area.
The court approved payment of monthly bills, and also approved an investment of $176,124,87 in the Indigent Care Fund into a one-year certificate of deposit at 4% interest.
The court held an audience with the Kenty County Nursing Home administrator.
The court heard a presentation on supplemental health insurance, with no action taken.
The court approved election judges, approved a reinvestment of Permanent School Funds in the amount of $600,000 into a one-year certificate of deposit at 4.25%; approved amendments to the 2023-24 county budget; approved sherrif and constable fees; and approved Indigent Health Care standards for the county.
Regular meeting, Wed., Oct. 11, 2023 (rescheduled from regular Mon., Oct. 9, due to Columbus Day holiday). 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.
The court entered into a 45-minute telephone conference call with Brett Anderson of the Texas Association of Counties to review insurance claims arising from the June 23 storm. Anderson explained which of the county’s insured properties had sustained “aesthetic impairment” alone from the large storm and which had suffered functional damage, to aid the county in making decisions about which roofs and structures to repair at present.
Questions centered on howtodeterminenewdamage versus old damage (Anderson said that sediment and dirt buildup, and also what’s been damaged around the hail marks, figure into the determination.) If the county doesn’t file a claim in a particular instance, Anderson explained, the building remains fully covered — but general wear and tear are not.
Anderson said that Kent’s library, community, vehicle storage, some of buildings at golf course suffered aesthetic damage; the courthouse, show barn, gym, nursing home, Sparrow’s Nest, airport large hangar, fire station, and law enforcement center were all functional damage. There was minor damage to other hangars at the airport.
The county faces decisions about which work to have done, then whether to go through normal bid or procurement practice—noting that the courthouse and the Sparrow’s Nest had just recently replaced roofs after a previous storm.
The court confirmed that the nursing home and airport hangars One and Two would be priorities.
No funds from insurance claims have been received as of yet.
Next discussion centered on the Kent County Nursing Home, with an hour and 45 minutes in extended discussion of a wide array of procedural issues.
A decision was made via motion and vote to write off $12,253.48 in adjustments from Medicaid Hospice that had not been timely billed.
Discussion also focused on a recent “IJ” (Immediate Jeopardy) incident requiring a report to the state Department of Health and Human Services. A resident was injured while being moved, was transported to the hospital, and treated; subsequently state policy calls for a “plan of removal” to address the facility’s training and procedures. Administrator Maggie Mc-Ghee reported to the court on how the notification had been addressed via further staff education.
The court approved authorization of a county purchasing card for the nursing home administrator’s use.
The court approved payment bills and the treasurer’s report, and approved a budget amendment to correct a figure of $1,392.12 over budget before adjourning for lunch 12:10 p.m.
Other items that remained on the agenda for the court’s attention after the lunch break were Discuss Private Construction of Airplane Hangar; Approve Surety Bond for Deputy Treasurer; Application for use of road machinery; Sheriff Report, J.P. Report; Maintenance of county services, equipment, bridges, roads, buildings, communication tower. Consider Vehicle Purchase for Road & Bridge; County/School Investments.
The court convened at 8:30 a.m. and adjourned into executive session at 8:35 a.m. The closed session was noted in minutes as adjourned at 8:50 a.m. with no action taken.
Present were County Judge Layne Coulter, Commissioners Roy W. Chisum, Ray Hall, Daryl Ham, and Robert Graham. County Clerk Craig Harrison was absent.
Special meeting October 20, 2023.
According to minutes read at the October 23 meeting, the court went into executive session at 9:40 a.m. with Brad Chisum, Rosanna Chisum and Maggie Mc-Ghee present. Discussion centered on EMS receiving a nursing home resident for transportation to Stonewall Hospital, issues with response time, and how the accident happened. “Measures will be taken for cooperation to void future conflicts,” minutes noted. The meeting reconvened into open session at 11:05 a.m. and the special meeting was adjourned.
Present were County Judge Layne Coulter, Commissioners Ray Hall, Daryl Ham, and Robert Graham, and County Clerk Craig Harrison. Commissioner Roy W. Chisum was absent.
Regular meeting October 23, 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.
Invoices were approved for payment, and the county’s calendar of holidays for 2023-24 was approved.
There was discussion on airport improvements, with no action taken, and discussion on the possibility
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