January 27, 2003

Galveston County Commissioners Court
by Jinelle Boyd

Galveston County Commissioners Court approved several budget amendments for Emergency Management, including  items to "close out" tropical storms Faye and Allison.  

Commissioner Eddie Barr complimented Emergency Management Coordinator Tessa Duffey, Connie Nicholson and John Simsen for their work in gaining federal reimbursement for damage caused by the storms.

"You have brought millions (of dollars) into this county that we normally wouldn't have gotten," Barr said.  "It's a long, hard road, and you've done a great job."

The commissioners court awarded a bid to Safety National Casualty for Specific & Aggregate Excess Insurance for Worker's Compensation Program.  

"The rates are up on Worker's Compensation, but that's to be expected for the climate that we're in," said purchasing agent Bruce Hughes.  "I'm real pleased that we did access $2 million aggregate coverage, which is $1 million in improvement over last year, so I feel good about the coverage we've obtained."

The commissioners court approved a contract with UTMB for indigent health care services.  

"There may be amendments forthcoming; we're not ready for those yet," noted County Judge Jim Yarbrough.  "In as much as the legislature is in session, we don't want UTMB to be in a position to say that Galveston County has not got a renewal contract in place."

The commissioners court approved a Sanitary Control Easement to Texas City for the new water well at the Juvenile Center.  

"There will be a 150 foot radius around the new well," said County Engineer Mike Fitzgerald, explaining that the easement will prevent the building of cemeteries, or septic tanks within that distance, to protect the new well from pollution.

The commissioners court authorized Hughes to seek competitive bids to maintain and repair the Geotube projects on Bolivar Peninsula and Pirates Beach.

The commissioners court deferred action on the approval of the salary administration policy, and the approval of an amendment for local customer service and state case registry with the attorney general's office.

The commissioners court drew names from a hat to fill the positions on the Elected Officials Salary Grievance Committee.  Henry Coger, Jerry Campbell and Tommy Lynox were appointed, with Elmer Peaks serving as alternate.

All other agenda items were approved.  All votes were unanimous.

"We'll have another workshop in the upcoming weeks and have a decision in February," said Yarbrough.  "Then we'd be in a position, at the very least, to do the refunding, and settle the balance of what is authorized sometime in March or April."

Monday afternoon there was a commissioners court workshop on employee health insurance.

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