Court sets guidelines for laying temporary waterlines

The Lavaca County Commissioners’ Court met in a regular meeting Monday morning and implemented a permit for the use of laying a temporary waterline in the county road right-of-way.

Commissioner Kenny Siegel said the implementation of the permit mainly affects Precincts 2 and 3.

“Anytime they (oil company) drills a well, they run frac holes along the county roads and we haven’t been able to follow one vendor or oil company,” Siegel explained. “Basically, this is just to make oil companies tighten up their jobs and follow a few rules.”

Commissioner Wayne Faircloth further explained that it has created some obstruction issues when it rains by causing erosion and they never know when that’s going to happen.

“There is no communication with the process and the companies just go out and do it,” Faircloth said. “I think this (setting guidelines) will help the communication process so we understand how our roadways and right-ofways will be used.”

Sheriff’s Office Activity Report:

Sheriff Micah Harmon presented his department’s activity report for the month of October.

Harmon said they had a total of 685 service calls for the month and conducted 189 traffic stops.

He said they served 61 civil/criminal papers and answered to 86 calls involving cattle or horses on the roads.

Harmon reported they had 23 incident reports with 14 involving felonies, six misdemeanors and three miscellaneous.

Regarding the jail, Harmon said during October there were 43 persons booked into the jail and had an average population of 38 inmates.

According to Harmon, as of Oct. 31 there were 21 unconvicted felons, one parole violator, one convicted felon, eight who have been sentenced to TDCJ waiting on beds to open at those facilities as well as two convicted misdemeanors, one convicted Class C, three pre-trial misdemeanors and two out of county inmates confined to the jail.

Concrete/Labor Bid:

The court approved the advertisement of bids for the purchase of concrete and labor for low water crossings and concrete repair.

Bids are to be received in the County Auditor’s office by 10:15 a.m on Wednesday, Dec. 13.

The bids would be opened by County Judge Keith Mudd, or his designee, on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 10:30 a.m. and would be discussed and possibly awarded at the Friday, Dec. 22 Commissioners’ Court meeting.

Canvass of Votes:

Lavaca County interim election administrator, Tenia Hudson reported that 3,470 registered voters out of 13,699 voted in the Nov. 7 amendment election.

In breaking down the votes Hudson said there were 309 absentee ballots counted, 1,156 early votes and 2,005 votes on election day.

In responding to a question from Commissioner Faircloth regarding an age breakdown Hudson said listed:

• 18 year old – 9

• 19 - 29 – 73

• 30 – 39 – 235

• 40 – 49 – 301

• 50 – 59 – 530

• 60 – 64 – 387

• 65 and over – 1,633

Hudson said the next election will take place on March 5, 2024 for the Republican and Democrat primaries.

In other action taken by the court:

• Approved a certificate of exemption from subdivision requirements for Jeffrey Menking.

• Approved an application for materials FY 2024 Lavaca Government Assistance program assisted by TxDOT. It was decided the materials would be equally divided between all four precincts.

• Approved all consent agenda items.

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