The Hill County Commissioners Court heard an update from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension District 8 Administrator Jay Kingston during a meeting held Tuesday, October 28.
Kingston thanked the county for its partnership on Extension efforts and provided an overview of the impact of those programs in Hill County.
Extension agents Zach Davis and Tyler Mays lead programs that assist Hill County agricultural producers. Over 200 farmers have participated in recent row crop programming, resulting in an impact of 110,000 acres and an anticipated $1.6 million economic impact to their operations through up-to-date production practices.
Livestock and forage programs included 248 participants, with an economic impact of 40,000 acres and 8,000 head of livestock represented and an estimated $472,000 benefit to producers.
The county’s feral hog bounty has resulted in over 1,000 hogs being harvested.
Kingston said that the county has an active 4-H program with participants who are successful across a number of areas, including shooting sports, livestock projects and other life skills programs.
Extension Agent Angie Nors also reached over 2,000 children through agricultural literacy programs at schools and sponsored youth leadership opportunities.
Kingston said that Hill County has an active Master Gardener program, with volunteers providing support throughout the county and presenting horticultural programming to the community.
The court approved an agreement with Vested Networks for a VOIP phone system at the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Hunter Barnes said that the department currently has an analog phone system, and many of the phones don’t work well.
The upgrade will supply the office with modern equipment and technology. The expense was previously budgeted, and the $440 per month will cover 30 phone lines, phones and all related installation.
The sheriff’s office was also authorized to pay for materials to upfit recently purchased vehicles with equipment like lights, sirens and radios. The cost for materials came to $134,260. The sheriff said that the department’s 10 new trucks have been received and will soon be on the street.
The court approved expenditures over $5,000 in accordance with its purchasing policy for Hill County Emergency Management. The department will spend approximately $28,000 in budgeted funds for portable message board signs and 10 more radios for public safety communications.
Commissioners also accepted a $450 donation from Chris Clark for the Hill County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
In open forum, John Crawson introduced himself to commissioners after he was hired as the director of Development Services.
County Judge Shane Brassell presented the plan to combine several offices into one Development Services department during the court’s recent budget hearings. The office will work on permitting, plats and related matters.
Hillsboro resident Robbie Anderson also spoke to the court about problems with his road, which he said used to be a paved residential street but was pulverized by Precinct 4 in August. He said that the commissioner pulverized a paved street and ruined it.
County Attorney David Holmes also spoke during the meeting, commending the leadership that was displayed by the county team that came together to pull off the November election.
The court was expected to meet in a brief special session Tuesday, November 4, and the next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, November 11, at 8:30 a.m. in the county courtroom of the courthouse.
