Shackelford County

By Melinda L. Lucas

Following extensive discussions on several subjects at the Shackelford County commissioners’ meeting Jan. 10, action was taken only on routine agenda items while other decisions were tabled until more information is received.

Lease options or outright purchase of a new 2023 Tahoe to replace an older vehicle in the sheriff’s office fleet were discussed, with Mike  Cuba of American National Leasing explaining how the lease options would work.

Partially because delivery is months away, commissioners opted to study the choices and look at it again at the next meeting.

Jail Fees

Sheriff Ed Miller also reported that he has learned that most area jail facilities are planning to raise their prisoner daily rates in the near future. He is proposing to possibly increase local rates to $75 for male prisoners and $125 for females in the next budget year.

No action was taken.

Other Business

•County officials again considered a $41,000 proposal to replace four aging multiport switches at the Courthouse, LEC, and JP buildings, but with final guidelines just released for using recovery funds, the decision was tabled.

•A county burn ban was extended for 45 days.

•A request for use of the courtroom for an April wedding was tabled until more information is learned from the requestor and from legal counsel about possible fees.

•A $50,000 donation to the county from the C.E. Jacobs Foundation was accepted for a yet-to-be determined project.

•The death of county employee Monte Lewis due to COVID was announced, and county judge Robert Skelton commented that Lewis would be difficult to replace both as an employee and as an active member of the community.