Commissioners Court Plans Executive Session, To Receive Annual Inspection from SSFD, Sulphur River Resolution
Hopkins County Commissioners Court will hold a special Tuesday meeting for public comment on the proposed tax rate. The first public hearing for the tax rate, held during the regular Aug. 26 court session, passed with no public comment.
County Tax Assessor/Collector Debbie Pogue Mitchell reported that even though the proposed rate will remain $0.624892, the county is required to hold a public hearing because that is above the effective rate. It’s also below the rollback rate. The second public hearing will be conducted during the Sept. 3 Commissioner’s Court meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. The tax rate is then scheduled to bee presented to commissioners on Sept. 9 for approval.
With a public hearing conducted, the commissioners court also on Aug. 26 approved allowing the district clerk’s office to continue collecting a $10 technology fee as part of regular court fees to apply toward preservation and restoration of the office’s records.
While the county tax rate won’t change, some county fees will change. The road and bridge fee will continue to be $10, but a $1 child safety fee will be charged to benefit Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center starting Jan. 1, 2020. Constables fees will increase, with the $60 that goes to the state increasing to $65.
The commissioners court during the Sept. 3 meeting will be asked to consider approving a resolution from Senator Bob Hall and Rep. Reggie Smith asking state agencies to take action to resolve an obstruction on the South Sulphur River to help alleviate flooding and environmental hazards to the FM 71 bridge, highway and surrounding farmlands.
An executive session is slated in which the court is to discuss a real property matter and contract negotiation. They will reconvene in open session and take action, provided the matter is ready for a vote, following the closed session.
The court is slated to review an annual inspection report compiled by Sulphur Springs Fire Department.
The meeting is being held on Tuesday instead of the usual Monday because Sept. 2 is Labor Day. The Sept. 3 court session is slated to begin at 9 a.m. in the Commissioners Courtroom, located on the first floor of Hopkins County Courthouse, 118 Church St. in Sulphur Springs
Following the regular court session, commissioners will move to the Meeting Room on the third floor of the courthouse for a work session.
Tom Glosup is slated to discuss maintenance and construction of county buildings. Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley is slated to discuss fire department operations, revenue and expenditures, and any proposals for improvements and repairs for HCFD.
Commissioners then will have the option of entering into a routine budget work session.
