WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE CHHS FUNDING REQUEST, PROCLAIM CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH
Washington County Commissioners approved the allocation of Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funds to recoup the cost of advertising for the Bluebonnet Festival in Chappell Hill at their meeting today (Tuesday).
Commissioners agreed to provide the Chappell Hill Historical Society $6,000 in HOT funds to offset costs for advertisements in online and print publications, on the radio and on social media, as well as physical promotional materials like banners and posters.
While the historical society initially requested $9,000 in HOT funds, Commissioner Candice Bullock said only $6,000 is needed because of a limited timeframe to advertise due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Commissioner Kirk Hanath said these funding requests are normally handled through the local HOT board, but the board did not meet to produce a budget last year because of the pandemic. He said the court should make sure requests like these do not have to come individually before it, as commissioners are not accustomed to dealing with these requests. Bullock said “extraordinary circumstances” led to the situation being handled this way.
Also at today’s meeting, commissioners proclaimed the month of April as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. Mandy Wright, Executive Director of CASA for Kids of South Central Texas, and Christi Yackel of Child Protective Services discussed the importance of educating the public on child abuse within the community, as well as the resources available to victims.
Commissioners also:
- Proclaimed April as Fair Housing Month.
- Adopted a resolution authorizing submission of an application for the 2021-22 Texas Community Development Block Grant program. The court also adopted a citizen participation plan relating to the grant program.
- Approved an amended and restated transmission facilities easement agreement and letter agreement involving Concho Valley Solar, LLC. County Judge John Durrenberger said this agreement pertains to a solar farm adjacent to Washington County-owned land in Tom Green County. The easement will apply to Washington County’s end of the property to assist in running a line from the solar farm to a nearby substation.
- Approved on-call pay for Washington County jailers.
- Approved formal notices from AMP Texas Pipelines, LLC for natural gas pipelines on Hoddeville School Road and Wauls Legion Road in Precinct 3.
- Approved a formal notice from GeoSouthern Chalk II, LLC for a temporary lay flat water line on Mayer Cemetery Road and Wickel Road in Precinct 4.
- Approved a new bond for reserve deputy sheriffs Jimmy Morgan and William Scott Atwood.