Lampasas to receive mental health patient transport
Posted On: Tuesday, Aug. 11 2009 06:11 AM
By Rebecca Hertz
Killeen Daily HeraldLAMPASAS – The Lampasas County Commissioners Court approved an offer from the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation to purchase a vehicle to transport patients to the county hospital at Monday's meeting.
The unmarked car must be purchased by the end of August and be used only for mental health transports. The vehicle will be titled to Lampasas County and the county will be responsible for maintenance.
"There are no strings attached, but we may have to purchase the car and MHMR would reimburse us," Sheriff David S. Whitis said.
"They earmarked this money for us and Coryell (County)," Whitis said. "Historically they do this – it's not just something that they suddenly came up with."
Commissioner Robert L. Vincent raised the issue of the money for the tire collection for Lampasas County, which must be spent by the end of August. Collection dates need to be scheduled before the next commissioners court meeting.
The trailer can hold about 2,000 tires for approximately $200. This helps everyone by getting the waste disposed of properly, Vincent said.
"We would rather recycle the tires than have them thrown out on the side of the road," said County Judge Wayne L. Boultinghouse.
In other business, Dorothy Person, elections administrator, presented the commissioners with recommendations for precinct judges for the Nov. 3 constitutional amendment election.
The board approved the precinct presiding judges and alternate judges as submitted. Additionally, the pay rate for judges and election workers was set at $8 per hour.
The Republican Party precinct presiding judges include: Raymond Upp, Precinct 1; Marcia Wallace, Precinct 2; Bruce Crawford, Precinct 3; Diana McDonald, Precinct 4; Betty Fontaine, Precinct 5; Cynthia Zane Harry, Precinct 6; Sandi Lockett, Precinct 7; T.P. Wingo, Precinct 8; Vicki McLean, Precinct 9; and Elke White, Precinct 10.
Alternate Democratic Party precinct judges include: Carol Nunez, Precinct 1; Jane Tooker, Precinct 2; Victoria Melder, Precinct 3; Glenda "Dale" Funk, Precinct 4; Amelia Fields, Precinct 5; Barbara Burkes, Precinct 6; Jacklyn Duncan, Precinct 7; Susan Burns, Precinct 8; Warren Spivey Sr., Precinct 9; and Nadine Powell, Precinct 10.
Appointees for the early-voting ballot board are Debra Farish, Republican Party judge, and Leah Snell, Democratic Party alternate judge. Central counting station appointees are B.R. "Skipper" Wallace, Republican Party judge, and Becky Hudson, Democratic Party alternate judge.
The commissioners unanimously approved the consolidation of polling places for the election. Precinct 8, Kempner Fire Department Training Center has been consolidated with Precinct 10, Kempner United Methodist Church.
Precinct 4, Lampasas First United Methodist Church consolidates with Precinct 3, Lampasas County Courthouse and Precinct 2, Lampasas High School Library.
Precinct 7, Lometa City Hall consolidates with Precinct 9, Lometa United Methodist Church. No other locations were consolidated.
The deadline for registration is Oct. 5. Early voting runs Oct. 19-30.
In other business, Connor Bocock of Boy Scout Troop 253 in Kempner was recognized for attending the meeting to fulfill the requirements of the Citizenship in the Community merit badge. He is required to attend a council meeting and select an issue where a difference of opinion is voiced. He will decide which argument he agrees with and discuss this with his troop counselor to earn his badge.
Contact Rebecca Hertz at
rhertz@kdhnews.com or call (254) 501-7475.