Court declares May 19-25 as Emergency Medical Services Week

The Lavaca County Commissioners’ Court met in a regular meeting Monday morning and declared the week of May 19 through 25 as Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Week.

Reading from the EMS Week proclamation, County Judge Keith Mudd said, “Emergency medical services is a vital public service where the members of the EMS teams are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In doing so, access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury.”

Mudd said the EMS has grown to fill a gap by providing important, out of hospital care, including preventative medicine, follow-up care, and access to telemedicine.

The emergency medical services system consists of first responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency medical dispatchers, firefighters, police officers, educators, administrators, pre-hospital nurses and physicians, trained members of the public and other out of hospital medical care providers.

In addition, the members engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance lifesaving skills.

Mudd encourages the community to observe the week with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities.

During the meeting, Lavaca County EMS chief Michael Furrh informed the court that the department was nominated and selected for the region for the year.

Meeting Date Changed:

At the beginning of the meeting, Judge Mudd informed the court that the next court meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 29 at 10 a.m.

The purpose of the meeting being changed is due to the previous Monday being Memorial Day and on Tuesday, May 28, the courtroom will be used as a polling site for the Republican Party primary run-off election.

County Roads:

The court approved a request from the Sweet Home Volunteer Fire Department to close county roads in the Sweet Home area during their Annual Fire Fest.

The request included closing county roads 391E, 378A, 391, 391F and 398A from 4 p.m. on Friday, May 17 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 18.

Regarding another county road matter, the court approved changing a yield sign to a stop sign at the intersection of CR 356 and CR 355A and installing a speed bump on CR 355A.

Precinct 3 commissioner Kenny Siegel said the road in question is behind Kaspar Wire Works.

“Over the past year and a half I have been getting a lot of complaints of people running through the intersection and not yielding to cross traffic and this is the purpose of my request for approval,” Siegel said.

Budget Planning Process:

Mudd presented his tentative budget planning process, key dates and time lines.

He stressed that the dates are tentative and include presently the budget packets that are available in his office and must be signed for at the time of pickup.

Mudd said June 12 is the deadline to turn in completed budget worksheets and a non-mandatory special-called meeting would be held on July 15. He said he would like to post the completed budget by July 31.

In addition, Mudd said tentatively have Aug. 12 as the date for the tax assessor to present certified values as well as the nonew revenue and voter approval tax rates to the court.

Finally, he said he hopes a budget and tax rate tax could be decided by Aug. 26.

Miscellaneous:

The court authorized Memorial Day fireworks sale beginning May 22 and ending at midnight on May 27.

The authorization of fireworks sale will be subject to KBDI reading.

The court acknowledged the 2024 Tobacco Settlement Distribution Program proceeds to Lavaca County in the amount of $646.96.

The court approved the LCRA electric transmission line project to convert 2.7 miles of existing 12.5s-kV electric distribution line, to a new single circuit from the existing Hallettsville substation near the intersection of CR 166 and Hwy. 77.

In other action taken by the court:

• Approved mandatory employee direct deposit for payroll processing.

• Acknowledged the Lavaca County election department participating in the Democracy Live DOD FVAP Ease 4.0 Grant led by the Grimes County election office.

• Approved a division order between Baytex Energy and the county.

• Declared items from Pct. 1 as surplus property.

• Approved a policy on vacation leave.

County Judge Keith Mudd presided over the meeting with commissioners Edward Pustka, Wayne Faircloth, Kenny Siegel and Dennis W. Kocian present for the meeting.