Galveston County Commissioners Court today voted unanimously to approve an agreement with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department regarding Gregory Park on the Bolivar Peninsula.
"It was brought to our attention that Galveston County did not have a signed agreement with Texas Parks & Wildlife," reported Dennis Harris, director of the Galveston County Department of Parks & Senior Services. "This action is being requested since Crystal Beach was disincorporated in 1987."
The commissioners court voted to extend the county's economic development services agreement with Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership for another year.
The commissioners court voted to grant a refund of $1,089.60, which had been included in the payment of delinquent taxes by Edward and Diane Howard, who explained that they were displaced from their home at 3107 Beluch on Lake Madeline on Galveston Island; and did not get mail for a long time and thus requested that the penalty payment be refunded.
"There wasn't even a mailbox left," the couple said in a letter to the commissioners court.
The commissioners court also approved a waiver/refund of $823 in penalty and interest for a delinquent payment by Mark Searles for a condominium unit at 1401 East Beach Drive in Galveston. He said he did not receive his tax bill because of Hurricane Ike.
All other requests for waiver/refund of P&I were denied.
The commissioners court deferred action on an amendment to Third Wave's contract for document management services consultant fees.
The commissioners court proclaimed the weekend of November 14 and 15 as Commander Dennis "Mike" Barber Weekend.
All other agenda items were approved. All votes were 5-0. Agenda
County Clerk Mary Ann Daigle officially announced to the commissioners court that she will not seek reelection. Listen: RealPlayer MP3
"I've decided not to run this year and I will be retiring at the end of my term," Daigle said. "I couldn't have done it without the commissioners court and everyone that's involved in helping me get my office to where I wanted to get it to; but it's time for me to enjoy life for a little while."
Yarbrough thanked Daigle for her years of service to the county and praised her office for the way they handled Tuesday's election.
"We've got some things we are going to work on, but the pilot program was fairly well received," Yarbrough said, refering to the system that allowed all voters in the county to vote at any polling place. "I heard this morning that of all the counties in the pilot program, we had one of the larger turnouts, so that was good."
Yarbrough also recognized Jim Finan of FEMA, who is ending his assignment in Galveston County following Hurricane Ike.
Galveston Emergency Management Coordinator John Simsen advised the commissioners court that Tropical Storm Ida may form today in Caribbean.