County Clerk Notes Deadlines For 2010 Election Calendar

For anyone wanting to put a local option election or an Emergency Services District election on the ballot in May, heed this advice from Van Zandt County Clerk Charlotte Bledsoe:

The deadlines are probably earlier than you think.

In Tuesday’s county commissioners’ court meeting, Bledsoe spoke about the amount of time necessary to set special elections in May.

"I’ve already been contacted about the possibility of other local option elections," Bledsoe said. "Because it would be an election in May, people may be thinking they have plenty of time."

That is not the case, she said, noting that the initial application for a petition would have to be turned in to the county clerk’s office by Nov. 16. That application requires 10 signatures of registered voters in the area (city, justice of the peace precinct or county) concerned.

There is a 60-day period for signatures to be obtained on a petition for a special election. However, the order for an election, as Bledsoe explained, has to take place in a regular session of the commissioners’ court.

The last such meeting set before the March 8 state-mandated deadline is Feb. 23. Bledsoe said that accounted for the need for an earlier start for any would-be petitioners.

"You really have to start with the election day in May and work your way backward when determining where to set deadlines," she said.

The same goes for any possible ESD elections in May. Bledsoe said the completed petition form — it requires at least 100 signatures of registered voters who are property owners in the proposed district — would have to be in the county clerk’s office by Jan. 11.

A local option election for Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, with three different alcohol sales proposals, has been set for Nov. 3. Bledsoe briefly discussed that and the state constitutional amendment election on the same date.

Early voting for those elections will take place from Oct. 19-30 in the law library at the courthouse. Oct. 27 is the last day to apply for a ballot by mail in those elections.

Also in the meeting, the commissioners were informed about the recent reopening of the kitchen in the Van Zandt County Jail.

The kitchen, which had been closed July 29 by Sheriff Pat Burnett due to health concerns about the plumbing beneath it, was reopened last week and served its first meals on Wednesday, jail administrator George Flowers said.

"Everything looks great and is working great," Flowers added.

Later in the meeting, the court approved a settlement payment of $13,428.15 to Champion EMS for past hospital transports of prisoners at the Van Zandt County Jail.

The action, however, does not cover any charges from Champion EMS in the last three months since discussion began on a formal contract for continued service at the jail.

Champion EMS Director of Operations Arnie Spears said the contract offer "has been in limbo" during that time.

"I don’t know how many transports have been made in the last three months," he added.

In other matters, the court took the following action:

— Adopted the District Clerk’s Office Records Preservation and Restoration (Archive Fund) Plan after holding a public hearing on the matter.

— Authorized a grant application on behalf of Reclamation Station. Theresa Leftwich, executive director for Reclamation Station, gave a short presentation on its recycling efforts and needs.

— Tabled a discussion on changes to county employees’ life insurance.

— Adopted a resolution authorizing a county grant for the Texas Department of Agriculture Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program.

— Established a Local Data Advisory Board pursuant to House Bill 2730 and appointed District Clerk Karen Wilson as board chair.

— Authorized maintenance of TCDRS (Texas County and District Retirement System) plan provisions for plan year 2010 for Van Zandt County No. 333.

— Approved to change the deduction frequency to all 26 paychecks from 24 for county employees on the Nationwide retirement plan.

— Approved a three-year contract through Dec. 31, 2012, with Graves, Humphries, Stahl Ltd. for collection services for the county clerk and district clerk offices.

— Approved an ordinance adopting Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 343, providing procedures for abatement of public nuisances.

— Tabled action on setting fees charged for civil services of the sheriff and constables effective Jan. 1, 2010.

— Adopted an order setting Van Zandt County Commissioners’ Court regular meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.

— Renewed an employment contract for the on-site sewage facility designated representative. The vote was 3-1 with Precinct 1 Commissioner Ricky LaPrade opposing.

— Approved the construction of a county firing range for law enforcement officials on 30 acres of county-owned property in Precinct 3.

— Approved taking bids for one used 4x2 Telescopic Wheel Excavator meeting or exceeding certain specifications for Precinct 3.

— Tabled action on revisions to comply with the Model Subdivision Rules of the Texas Administration Code for Van Zandt County subdivision regulations.

— Approved an emergency budget amendment to transfer $2,500 to Precinct 1 Road and Bridge for materials used on the road in Starr Cemetery.

— Accepted a contribution from Ray Davis of Dallco Marketing Inc. for $6,300 for use in Precinct 4 on material for Van Zandt County Road 4906. In a separate motion, the court approved an emergency budget amendment for that money.

— Ratified a payment to Michael Lunsford, Precinct 1 foreman, for a cell phone reimbursement paid in error to Precinct 1 Commissioner for $50.

— Approved an agreement between the county clerk office and Safeguard Imaging Solutions for daily indexing.

— Approved a regular license plate for a transport vehicle in the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office.

— Approved an interlocal agreement between Van Zandt County and Martins Mill ISD. The county will furnish labor and equipment and Martins Mill ISD will furnish all materials for a school bus parking lot on the school district’s property.

— Approved the purchase of a tractor and Boomax for Precinct 1 and financing through Government Capital.

— Approved budget amendments for the following offices: county library, Precinct 1 commissioner, Precinct 2 commissioner, code enforcement officer, county extension agent, county treasurer and county auditor.