County votes to speed up EC annex lines
By BARRY HALVORSON news@leader-news.com

Residents of West Wharton County can soon expect to receive faster service from county offices as county commissioners approved the installation of a new, high-speed computer line for the El Campo Annex.

Information Technology Director Joel Green presented the proposal which was approved by the commissioners Monday.

With the county's current wireless arrangement, Green said, it can take up to 15 minutes to file certain tax documents. He compared that to those filing the same documents at the annex in Wharton, saying it took two to three minutes. He said the sheriff's department was also waiting to return to Wharton to file reports because of the delay time.

The initial cost is $4,810 for equipment, which is already in the budget, with a $280 monthly payment. Green said the expense represents a cost savings for the county over the next 10 years.

The direct line will cost $33,000 while the wireless system costs $40,000.

He said the monthly payment would be split between his department and those departments using the line, including the sheriff's office, tax office, justice of the peace and constable.

In other actions, commissioners approved the early hiring an additional secretary for Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Tim Drapela.

His office was already authorized a full-time person for the 2008 budget year. Drapela's request was supported by County Auditor Sharon Boedeker, who estimated the office was three months behind in its paper work.

Drapela said by hiring someone parttime in December, the person could begin training immediately while helping clear the backlog.

In other actions, commissioners approved a payment of $125,500 and release of liability by North Houston Pole Company for damage done to the CR 235 bridge crossing Peach Creek.

Previously, the county approved a contract with Wharton County-based Wakefield Construction for the work not to exceed $135,516.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Chris King said the county will do in-kind work including the disposal of the old bridge materials, backfill and asphalt to get the cost of the bridge down to $110,000 to $112,000.

In two items involving Precinct 1, commissioners approved going out for bids for a new shop facility at the proposed Precinct 1 barn site and approved the final contract for the sale of the existing barn on the Boling Highway in Wharton.

While the actual Precision Gas Wells bid for the property was $280,000, the contract called for a payment of $294,000 with the county handling the closing costs and buyer broker fees.

The commissioners speculated the additional payment was to allow the Precision Gas to finance those costs as part of its loan rather than paying them out of operating expenses.