Hempstead County Quorum Court

The Hempstead County Quorum Court held their July meeting Thursday July 28th.  Following the prayer and pledge, the JP’s moved into the agenda items.

The Quorum Court considered an ordinance that would have appropriated a one-time bonus to full time and part time deputies of the County Treasurer for extra duties they covered during the treasurer’s absence during an illness earlier this year.  The ordinance failed as the vote was 7 to 1 and the ordinance had to be approved unanimously to be approved.

The Quorum Court voted to approve an ordinance calling for a special election to seek a quarter-cent sales tax for economic development purposes.  This passed unanimously as did an ordinance providing for the levying of the quarter cent sales tax should the measure pass.  Steve Harris of the Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation addressed the JP’s in support of the issue as did JP Steve Atchley.

The JP’s voted to change the funding used to purchase the vehicle for county OES (Office of Emergency Services) coordinator Cathy Aaron.  Aaron’s vehicle was purchased with 9-1-1 funds ; however, the state auditors said this would not be acceptable as the vehicle could not be used for OES matters if it was paid for with the 9-1-1 funds.  The JP’s voted to instead fund that purchase through the Quorum Court Miscellaneous Fund.

Cathy Aaron asked the Quorum Court to approve some lines defining some of the volunteer fire department areas in the county.  She noted these had been approved by the County Judge, the fire chiefs, and Steve Smith of the Hempstead County Fire Service.  These changes were approved.  The meeting then adjourned.