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Commissioners court approves equipment purchase, oil and gas lease

Commissioners court approves equipment purchase, oil and gas lease
  • PublishedOctober 26, 2021


Pct. I commissioner Mickey Barker talks about equipment purchases

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The Hopkins County Commissioners Court discussed equipment purchases and the towing advisory board, among other items of business at their regular Oct. 25 session.

CITIZEN COMMENTS

Citizen comments lasted from 9:01 a.m. to 9:10 a.m. [see related story].

EQUIPMENT PURCHASE

The court then discussed purchasing several pieces of equipment. 

  • The court unanimously approved the purchase of a Case brand backhoe from Associated Supply Company for precinct 3. 

“We had a backhoe that had problems in the summer… so we’ve been short a backhoe now two, three, four months,” Pct. 3 commissioner Wade Bartley stated. Funds will come from the American Rescue Plan Act. 

  • The court unanimously approved the purchase of a Caterpillar brand 140 Motor Grader from Holt Cat for precinct 1 

“This will be for a motor-grader… to replace one that I had for many, many years. I will be looking into possibly selling the old one in the near future,” Pct. I commissioner Mickey Barker said. Funds will come from the American Rescue Plan Act. 

  • The court unanimously approved the purchase of a Bomag RS360 from RB Everett & Co. for precinct 1

“Bomag is the brand-name, this is actually a deplaner that tears up the road and mixes the existing oil sand,” Barker said. “I have been leasing, and now would be looking to finance this particular unit.” Funds will come from the American Rescue Plan Act. 

  • The court unanimously approved the purchase of a 2022 Mack Dumptruck from East Texas Mack for precinct 1

REGULAR BUSINESS

The court unanimously approved an oil, gas and mineral lease at Rushing Cemetery. County Judge Robert Newsom noted that although he attempted to find the parcel of land indicated in the William Gregg Survey as between Birthright and Tira, had been unable to locate it. 

“My son and I went out there looking one afternoon, we never did find it,” Newsom stated.

The lease has been in place since 2004 Newsom said, and renewing the lease was “a regular thing.” 

The court unanimously accepted $39,365 as part of a lawsuit settlement against Johnson & Johnson and Perdue Pharma for their role in the opioid crisis, according to Newsom. 

“We did have quite a problem with the opioids, it’s better now,” Newsom said. He noted the settlement funds will go towards drug prevention programs, and that the county has other outstanding lawsuits they expect settlements from regarding the opioid epidemic. 

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The court unanimously appointed Calyn Flores as a member of the Hopkins County Non-Consent Towing Advisory Board, as a previous member of the board had died before reinstatement.  


The court unanimously reappointed Judge Robert Newsom, Beth Wisenbaker, Jason Cunningham and Corley Weatherford to the Hopkins County Non-Consent Towing Advisory Board.

“We haven’t had a meeting in just a while, so we’re fixing to have one soon,” Newsom said. 

The court had no budget amendments or line item transfers.

The court unanimously authorized payment of bills.

The court had no personnel matters.

The court had no disposal of assets. 

The court approved a continued yearly allocation for 2022 to Texans Feeding Texans, a Lamar County home-delivered meal grant program which provides 3,000 meals in Hopkins, according to coordinator Carly Welch. 

With no further business, the court was adjourned at 9:25 a.m.

By Taylor Nye

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Written By
Taylor Nye

Taylor Nye is the editor of Front Porch News. She has degrees from the University of Wisconsin in human biology, Latin American studies, and public health. She has previously worked at the Wisconsin State Journal, Tucson Weekly and Sulphur Springs News-Telegram. As a sixth generation Hopkins County resident, she loves celebrating our heritage and history.