Commissioners recognize Miller Grove & Saltillo cross country, discuss Sulphur Bluff road

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The Hopkins County Commissioners Court discussed Hopkins County cross country and Sulphur Bluff roads at their regular February 14 meeting, among other topics of business. 

The meeting commenced at 8:57 a.m. after an invocation from Commissioner Pct. 3 Wade Bartley. County Judge Robert Newsom noted that Pct. Commissioner Mickey Barker was absent from the session due to illness, but all other members were present. 

PROCLAMATIONS 

During the public comment portion of the meeting, commissioners and Newsom welcomed both Miller Grove ISD and Saltillo ISD high school boys cross country teams. 

The court recognized them for their state-winning fall 2021 season and their contributions to the sport of distance running. 

“Our county schools are exemplary,” Bartley noted. 

The boys from the teams estimated they ran approximately 65 miles a week. 

“These student athletes are amazing,” Newsom agreed. “In Hopkins County we are blessed and continue to be amazed.” 

Miller Grove ISD placed first in state cross country for the fifth consecutive year, and Saltillo ISD has placed within the top three for the past seven years.

“I’ve never seen anything like it… it’s an outstanding program,” Newsom said. “Recognized as Texas’ finest, and I’ll say that again: Recognized as Texas’ finest.” 

“It’s a year-round thing for us,” Miller Grove coach Blake Hill said. “We want good young men, good husbands, good fathers, good brothers in our future. We all share that common bond.” 

“We’re proud of our guys. They’re good guys, they’re good young men.” Saltillo coach Bill Giles agreed. 

The court “appealed to all citizens of Hopkins County” to congratulate the teams on their victories. 

PUBLIC COMMENT

During public comment, Frank Brown of Sulphur Bluff reprised his appearance in court to discuss County Road 3542. 

Brown has previously appeared in open court on October 25, 2021 and December 13, 2021. Brown also stated he had come to court on Dec. 27, and has previously stated he met with commissioners in September and November. 

Once again, Brown directed his comments at Bartley. 

“I told you we need rock on that road over there,” Brown said. “You came in on February first and you didn’t bring no rock.” 

Brown stated he was disappointed with Bartley’s repair of the road, especially in light of the February 3 winter storm which left CR 3542 “pure mud over there.” Brown brought pictures of the muddy road to distribute to the court, and did so. 

“You think I’m the only one complaining about you, but you forgot about that petition that I give you that has everybody’s signature on that from one end of 900 clear to 69,” Brown noted. 

“Let me do the judgment calls on this,” Brown said, urging the county to let him pave CR 3542. 

Bartley previously told Brown in December that misdemeanor charges can stem from completing one’s own roadwork. 

Bartley stated to Brown that four of his crew members have recently attended road paving training school. Brown contended that “the boys you have on the blade does not run that very well.” 

Bartley stated he believed his crew had learned something at training classes, and they would bring rock to CR 3542. 

“I’ll do what I want to do and Wade [Bartley] can’t do nothing about it, and that’s my opinion,” Brown concluded. 

NEW BUSINESS

Hopkins County Clerk Tracy Smith petitioned the court to reduce the number of voting centers from twelve to six for the upcoming May 7, 2022 election. 

Smith stated the reason for the request was due to the late timing of the special election, called by Texas Governor Abbott regarding two constitutional amendments about school taxes. 

The State of Texas does not usually hold spring elections, Smith noted. This is usually reserved for schools and municipalities. 

The commissioners court approved the request. Furthermore, the court will contract with the City of Cumby, Sulphur Springs ISD and Winnsboro and Yantis ISDs to support their elections. 

The court then discussed an area of road known as State Highway 11 Spur.

“It’s the old, what I call, when people bypass around the old S-Curve,” Pct. 4 Commissioner Joe Price noted. “We’ve had wrecks there over the years, and they’ve straightened it out. Well, now the county would like us to take over the old part of the highway.” 

The .7 mile stretch of road would now become County Road 4824. The court unanimously approved this request. 

The court then received a presentation from county fire marshal Andy Endsley about homeland security grant applications. 

Endsley asked the court’s permission to put in a grant application to homeland security for two 20-inch, positive/ negative battery-operated ventilation fans for Hopkins County Fire Station 20. 

The purpose of the fan is to ventilate exhaust fumes from an enclosed space without risk of combustion, Endsley said. 

Usually, the cost to purchase the fans would be approximately $13,250, but provided the grant application is approved, they would be free, Endsley noted. Endsley also stated the Ark-Tex Council of Governments would help prepare application materials. 

Newsom thanked Endsley and County auditor Shannah Aulsbrook for their diligence in finding grant opportunities. 

The court unanimously approved Endsley’s request. 

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REGULAR BUSINESS
The court unanimously approved their consent agenda.

The court approved the following utility easements:

• Farmer’s Electric Co-Op at County Road 1112
• Farmer’s Electric Co-Op at County Road 3611
• Spectrum at County Road 1110 
• Spectrum at County Road 3341
• Spectrum at County Road 4707
• Spectrum at County Road 4712
• Spectrum at County Road 4752 
• Spectrum at County Road 4737 
• Spectrum at County Road 1104
• Spectrum at County Road 1106
• Spectrum at County Road 1107 
• Spectrum at County Road 1109
• Spectrum at County Road 1110 
• Spectrum at County Road 1218
• Spectrum at County Road 1111
• Spectrum at County Road 1135 
• Spectrum at County Road 1138 

“Underground fiber is just beginning, and this is going to be a big thing to our county residents to be able to have good internet,” Newsom noted. “They’ll have the advantage like we have in the city.” 

Aulsbrook then informed the court there were no budget amendments or line item transfers. 

The court unanimously approved payment of bills. 

The court had no donations. 

The court approved the following five contracts they had received from local VFDs for the upcoming year: Arbala, Brinker, Dike, Pickton-Pine Forest and Saltillo. 

The county is awaiting six remaining contracts, and as of February 5, the deadline has passed, Endsley stated.  

The court had no personnel matters. 

The court had no disposal of assets. 

With no other business, the court entered into executive session at 9:31 a.m. Meeting minutes from the session were entered into the official record thereafter.

By Taylor Nye. Abbi Beggs contributed to this report

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