Hempstead County Quorum Court

The Hempstead County Quorum Court met in the County Courthouse on Thursday (7-27).  After the invocation by JP Jesse Henry, the pledge and the approval of the minutes two appropriations bills were voted on.

The first bill was sponsored by JP Steve Atchley and was for the Juvenile Court. $10,000 was to be set aside for labor for the court. JP Troy Lerew made a motion to approve which was seconded and passed.

The second bill sponsored by JP James Griffin was to transfer funds from ARPA Revenue Replacement Services. This was rescue money intended for infrastructure. The amount was $480,000.  This would benefit the volunteer fire departments.

Theresa Smith from the volunteer fire department organization spoke of the needs of the fire departments. She stated the need for at least one AWIN radio in each fire station and one for each truck as well. Currently there is a digital radio system which doesn’t work with the new system the police have and so communications don’t work as efficiently as they could.

Recruitment and Retention is suffering in the Fire Department and there is a desire to set aside some money.

There is a big need for new personal [rotective equipment. Coats and pants cost $2000 to $2500 a set. The Crossroads Fire Department purchased a set with FEMA funds 15 years ago which has just expired.

The majority of their first responder calls are medical and they want to update the equipment. They got a grant for that 17-18 years ago and likewise the equipment needs to be replaced.

The fire department tries to fund their own business without asking the county government for help and Smith didn’t remember having a time when they appealed to the Court before.

She was asked if they are eligible to purchase under the state and noted they can and they were tax exempt but she wasn’t very familiar with the state website. JP Atchley said if the equipment could be gotten under state contract more equipment could be gotten as the county isn’t tax exempt.

JP Jay Lathrop talked about having worked for the Fire Department and the idea of having to ask for donations which are getting less and less while costs aren’t declining.

Devin Price from David Boone Ministries spoke next and asked for Court help. The Ministries runs the Senior Center in Hope and makes deliveries to the whole county. Price talked about senior citizens having to make a choice of eating or paying for their medications. The ministry is on a freeze of accepting new clients due to its lack of funds. Six people are on the waiting list.

Boone Ministries receives $3812 a month from the state and $2000 a year from United Way. They pay $500 a month for rent. Other counties subsidize Hempstead County’s costs. The Ministries provides 380 meals a month and 62 home deliveries.

The Ministries cover 10 counties altogether. JP Henry stated the county needed to stand on its own. Price was told she should consult with Hope in Action, of which she hadn’t even heard. She was told Helen Byers was the one to contact. The issue was tabled to be discussed at a further date.

The meeting adjourned.