As October brought the end of a fiscal year, Kent County received its annual financial figures and made minor budget adjustments accordingly, in its regular meeting of Nov. 8, 2021.
The county finished the year $211,000 over its projected budget, and passed three motions to achieve a balance: accepted a revenue increase of $620,000; approved a transfer of $92,000 from general to lateral road funds; and approved a transfer from general to Kent County Nursing Home budget of $128,000.
Also as part of the treasurer’s report, an adjustment in employees’ hourly wage rate to reflect the county’s 24 annual pay periods rather than 26 calendar periods was made, to allay confusion.
In other financial matters, claims against the county were approved and a new investment of $1,750,000 at Plains Capital Bank was reported.
County judge Jim C. White reported that following renewed activity on the proposed Texas Solar Nova project, whose new project manager reported that construction on their plant may get under way soon, the court reviewed and renewed its tax abatement guidelines and critieria.
The guidelines that were in place at the time a tax abatement was granted to TSN require a net economic benefit from the project of $1 million; these guidelines were an for an additional two-year term.
As an information item, White reported that the infrastructure bill currently before Congress would allocate funds to states, with Texas receiving approximately 10% of the overall $1 trillion proposed. The county’s portion could be used for improvements to such public works as highways, roads and internet access.
Judge White also reported on the results of state legislative redistricting, which will move Kent County into the district of Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) while keeping it in the district of Se. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock). Kent remains in Congressional District (19), represented by Jody Arrington.
Redistricting of precincts called for a slight variation, affecting about 20 votes, White said.
The Kent County Nursing Home reported on administatrive and policy matters such as responses to vaccine mandates, and renewing the facility’s Medicare license.
White reported, as an information item, that counties are now required to set up an Adult Sexual Response team, with small counties allowed to partner with other nearby small counties to form a regional team. Teams would be required to meet at least quarterly. The makeup of a team would be the county’s chief administrator, a prosecutor with jurisdiction (district attorney), the sheriff or designee, the chief of the largest municipal law enforcement office; a nurse; and a mental or behavioral health professional.
The judge reported damage to the county’s Chevrolet Equinox of $3,800 from a hog collision, with no personal injuries.
Applications for road machinery use were approved.
Kent County EMS staff reported that clinical training had been going well, though technology updgrade might be needed to improve connectivity for Zoom meetings and other remote services.
The court conducted and approved its canvass of the November 2 constitutional amendments election, reporting that all propositions passed in Kent County precincts.
Minutes from the previous meeting were approved as read. Present in addition to White were commissioners Roy Chisum, Robert Graham, Daryl Ham and Don Long and county clerk Craig Harrison.
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