Hempstead County Quorum Court meets

HOPE – The Hempstead County Quorum Court met in the Hempstead County Courthouse Thursday for their July session.

An ordinance transferring funds from a miscellaneous fund to a veterans’ service fund in order to increase the pay for Veterans Service Officer Donna Rosenbaum that was agreed to in a recent meeting was approved. The amount transferred was $10,826.60. $8,803.60 will go to salary, $1,349 for matching retirement funds and $674 for Social Security matching.

David Stroud, a resident of County Road 179, asked for county help in fixing the road. Judge Crane said he would look at it. Stroud asked for different material to be put on it than the red clay and for the road to be bladed differently with three passes instead of the usual two.

Judge Crane stated he appreciated Stroud coming to speak to the court.

Judy Watson spoke about the Migrant Center and Rainbow of Challenge’s plans for it. She stated they had received a grant for $3.7 million. JP Ed Darling has talked with Dennis Ramsey. Darling will come up with a nominal rent. Watson said the revenue was still provisional and she is working with the contractor to reduce the costs. She is planning to reduce the plan from 32 apartments to 20.

JP Darling talked about the hospital and Steward having agreed to sell to Hope-based Pafford Medical Services and the owner of the land selling to the city and county at the reduced price of $500,000. Darling said they are asking the state to contribute a little over $7 million to fix the roof.

County Sheriff James Singleton talked about the power being out on the second and third floor of the old Courthouse. He has talked with Hope Water and Light about the issue.