Court designates April as Child Abuse Prevention Month

The Lavaca County Commissioners’ Court met in its regular meeting Monday and designated April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Reading from the proclamation, County Judge Keith Mudd said, “Approximately 270,000 Texas children and 162 Lavaca County children were reported as victims of abuse or neglect in 2023.”

The proclamation stated that child abuse and neglect is a serious problem affecting every segment of the community and finding solutions requires action from the entire community.

Mudd read from the proclamation that effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships among agencies, schools, religious organizations, law enforcement agencies, youth service organizations and the business community.

“With over 7 million children in Texas, the safety net that exists to protect children begins at home and includes family, neighbors, schools and communities,” Mudd read from the proclamation. “Everyone in the community should become more aware of child abuse prevention and consider helping parents raise their children in a safe, strong, nurturing environment.”

Regional director with St. Jude’s Ranch for Children (SJRC), Nicole Nguyen informed the court of what her organization does in caring for children and families who have been affected by trauma, abuse and neglect.

She informed the court that SJRC covers 27 counties, including Lavaca County and they find places for the children to be placed away from an abusive situation.

Nguyen said due to times when kids are placed in far away places, they try to find placement locations closer to this area, or at least in their sub region that runs from Gonzales to Colorado County.

“Currently, we have eight Lavaca County children who are placed in their conservatorship, which means they have actually been removed from their parents,” Nguyen said. “Of those eight, five are in homes in Lavaca County. They are kinship places meaning relatives have stepped up to care for these kids. That’s huge because the kids are kept in this community.”

Proclamations:

In addition to designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, the court also declared April as Autism Acceptance Month.

This proclamation read that Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders caused by a combination of genes and environmental influences. It is characterized in varying degrees by communication difficulties, social and behavioral challenges and repetitive behaviors. An estimated one in 68 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum.

The third proclamation signed by the court involved designating April 15 through 20 as National Telecommunicators Week.

This proclamation listed the various duties performed by public safety dispatchers and the number of first responder agencies that rely on their work.

Service Awards:

The court recognized 19 county employees/officials, who were awarded with years of service certificates ranging in five-year increments.

Those recognized include:

5-year -

• Susan Opela – County Clerk’s office

• Kerry Peterson – Pct. 4 Constable

10-year -

• Lisa Lowe – Records Archives

• James Blaschke – Pct. 3 Road Hand

• Christy Wilson – County Clerk’s office

• Carol Rogers – Tax office

• Mark Kalich – Pct. 2 Foreman

• Francis Bludau – Pct. 4 Road Hand

• Tim Decker – EMS

• John Schultz – EMS

• Daniel Beasley – LCSO

• Travis Hill – Pct. 2 JP

15- year -

• Charline Garza – LCSO

• Krystal Rose – LCSO

20-year -

• Adrian Kubicek – Pct. 2 Road Hand

• Dennis W. Kocian – Pct. 4 Commissioner

25-year -

• Gina Dvorak – LCSO

• Karen Bludau – Treasurer

30-year-

• Russel Sciba – Pct. 1 Road Hand

Miscellaneous:

Due to the second monthly May meeting scheduled on Tuesday, May 28 and also the date for holding primary run-off elections, the court decided to move the meeting to Wednesday, May 29 at 10 a.m.

On the election run-off, the Commissioners’ Courtroom is used as one of the voting sites.

The court also voted to remove the word interim from the election administrator and chief deputy for Lavaca County election positions.

Tenia Hudson will now be serving as the election administrator and Brandy Stuckey will serve as the chief deputy for county elections.

In other action taken by the court:

• Approved bonds for Tammy Koerth, Lavaca County treasurer and Hannah Cervenka, Deputy treasurer.

• Renewed the Affordable Care Act Reporting and Tracking Service (ARTS) with Texas Association of Counties Heath and Employee Benefits Pool for 2024.

• Approved the transfer of a 2013 Dodge 4500 truck from the Lavaca County EMS to Pct. 3.

• Approve a division order between Baytex Energy and Lavaca County Matocha 1H, 6H unit.

• Approved a TDIC grant budget adjustment request.

Approved a service agreement between the county and Local Government Solutions, L.P. to add one TB image storage.

• Acknowledged a proclamation from Governor Greg Abbott renewing the Disaster Proclamation concerning border security.

• Heard a telecommunications committee update from EMS director Michael Furrh.

• Approved a tower license agreement between Baytex Energy USA, Inc. and Lavaca County EMS.

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