HB 2073 prompts county to adopt fi rst responder policy

Grimes County Commissioners Court approved Human Resource Director Talitta Coleman’s request to adopt an Emergency Responder Paid Quarantine Policy at its Wednesday, Aug. 18, meeting.

Referring to the 87th Texas Legislative session, Coleman said, “They passed a bill and made it effective June 15 that any first responder, peace officer, detention officer or medical technician will be paid quarantine or isolation time no matter how much they need. We can’t deduct from their banked hours and it’s for any communicable disease, not just Covid.”

According to Coleman, the proposed policy drafted by TAC (Texas Association of Counties), applies only to county employees and infection must have occurred while on duty.

Coleman continued, “It’s my understanding it can be when they’re out of the state if they’re picking up an inmate. For us, mostly it’s going to be related to our jail staff and our police officers. So, anytime they come in contact with any type of bodily fluid from an inmate or transport, and their supervisor or health provider says they need to quarantine, then they’ll have to notify the supervisor and the supervisor can notify us.”

The policy also states, “Eligible employees who are on qualifying paid quarantine leave shall receive all employment benefits and compensation, including leave accrual, retirement, and health benefits for the duration of the leave.”

Appraisal data released to county

Grimes Central Appraisal District Chief Appraiser Mark Boenhke, and Assistant Chief Appraiser Shannon Sanders, presented 2021 certified values and tax rate information to commissioners. According to Boehnke, the taxable value of $3,242,033,144 reflects an increase of 7.21% over 2020.

Comparing Grimes County to College Station and Washington, Montgomery and Waller counties, Boehnke called Grimes County, “the best value for your dollar.” According to the Assessment Grand Roll Totals Report, tax exemptions or value lost, totals $149,746,954.

Included in the sixteen possible exemptions are Over 65 at $35,713,851; Disabled Persons at $1,977,964; 100% Disabled Veterans at $25,955, 348; Other Disabled Veterans at $2,251.600; and Disabled Veteran 100% Surviving Spouse at $1,216,440.

Additional exemptions include abatements, pollution control, and religious.

In 2020, Grimes County commissioners reduced the tax rate to $0.0526933 per $100 valuation.

The “No New Revenue” tax rate for 2021, or the tax rate which would provide the County with about the same revenue it received last year on property taxed in both years, is $0.505874 per $100 valuation.

The 2021 “Voter Approved” tax rate, or the maximum tax rate allowed by law without voter approval through an election, is $0.558488 per $100 valuation.

The tax rate must be approved no later than September 30.

Other court action:

•Approved consent agenda items which included the Treasurer’s list of claims and bills, payroll, and budget amendments and/or line-item transfers.

•Presented service awards to Barbara Kimich, 10 years, and Rolando West, five years.

•Approved GrantWorks, one of five bids received, as the grant administrator for the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 at a cost of $274,500.

•Approved the 2022 Texas Association of Counties Silver Choice Retiree Medical Program and AMWINS as the program administration, with no change to benefits for Plan F, and a premium reduction from $275.83 per month for to $261 per month.

•Approved the firefighting services contracts with the Anderson, Bedias, Iola, Plantersville, Richards, Shiro, Todd Mission and Whitehall volunteer fire departments and authorized the county judge as signatory.

•Approved the 2021-22 contract with Grimes County Emergency Medical First Responders, Inc. with no change from the previous contract, and authorized the county judge as signatory.

•Approved authorizing Road & Bridge to seek bids for the following annual contracts: flexible base material, contract hauling, culverts, bridge construction labor, tree trimming services, cold mix material, fuel and mowing.

•Approved a replat of Lot 4, Block 13 in Mill Creek Estates in Pct. 2.

•Approved the plat of The Oaks Subdivision comprised of fourteen lots on 57-acres off CR 190 and CR 192 in Pct. 2.

•Approved the plat of the Estates of Grimes County in Pct. 2 and the variance request related to depth versus width ratio and reduction of number of lots from seven to three.

•Approved a waterline installation permit for Wickson Creek SUD on Piney Oaks Lane in Pct. 1.

•Approved renewal of a Special Road Use Agreement with Blue Jay Solar for 90 days.

•Received the Road & Bridge report.

Burn ban:

The burn ban remains lifted.