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Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Volume 32, Issue 29
Chambers County ESD No1 Nearing Completion of Renovations to Fire Station
By Wade Thibodeaux The Chambers County Emergency Services District No1 Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 and approved a couple of change orders pertaining to the remodel of the upstairs living quarters of the Fire station. The change orders were for the updating of the outside lights of the station and also for new wired in smoke and CO2 detectors in the renovated rooms. The project is nearing completion with a finish date in the next two weeks. The rest of the meeting was mostly routine with the approval of the payment of the bills and a $1,124,047.68 balance of total cash assets.
The District did approve the rental of bunker gear for a member that was attending the fire academy as the intense training tends to be extremely hard on bunker gear and the board felt like it was better to pay the $450.00 rental fee than to damage the District's gear. The Fire Department reported 47 calls for assistance in June which brings the total for 2021 to 275 calls. The District's Administrator Wayne Wilber reported to the board that over 20 resumes had been received for the opening for an administrative assistant and that Michelle Hardy had been hired and she was introduced to the Commissioners at the beginning of the meeting.
By Wade Thibodeaux The Trinity Bay Conservation District Board of Directors met in regular session on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at 1:00 pm. at their offices located at 2500 State Highway 124 in Stowell, Texas. During a report from staff members, the board was informed that Chambers County was making good on their commitment to assist the district in drainage projects. Chambers County has a large machine working on the East side of the County and they are coordinating the work with Trinity Bay to get the most out of the County machine while it is available. The rest of the meeting was mostly routine with the exception of The Hometown Press publisher Wade Thibodeaux asking for a clarification on the reason that the board went to executive session. The Board President Scott Kahla announced at 1:08 pm. that they would be retiring to executive session to discuss the job duties of the Accounting Manager that would need to be shifted due to an expected short term absence. When the board returned at 1:35 pm., the President announced that Les Hankamer would
be appointed to fill the position of the vacant board seat that was created when Tommy Gilbert resigned a couple of months ago. When questioned about any action taken for the reason that they went to executive, board members mumbled around and said that no action was being taken on that topic. State law is very clear that you must announce the reason for executive session and then must return to announce any action on each subject matter that is discussed in executive session. Director Greg Turner left the meeting after executive session leaving President Kahla, Director Mark Mitchell, and Director Jeffery Jenkins to finish the meeting. The financial report was approved with a total cash and CD's balance of $7,487,429.62 and a couple of budget workshops were discussed with dates to be determined after everybody was able to check their calendars. The next regular meeting of the Trinity Bay Conservation District Board of Directors will be Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at 9:00 am. in their offices located at 2500 State Highway 124 in Stowell, Texas.
Chambers County and TBCD Working on Drainage
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CCSO Grieving Death of Detainee
Sheriff Brian Hawthorne reports that on July 14 at 11:00 a.m. Dontriel Javon Coates, 37, was booked into the Chambers County Jail for two Motions to Revoke Probation felony warrants. Mr. Coates was placed in a holding cell to await arraignment. At approximately 2:20 p.m.
he requested to speak to the Jail Administrator because he wanted an explanation of why he was not allowed bond. Mr. Coates was told that he was being held on a nobond warrant. He thanked the Jail Administrator for listening to him and was returned to the holding cell
without incident. Mr. Coates remained within sight and sound of Jail staff throughout the day. During a routine check that was performed at approximately 4:34 p.m. Mr. Coates showed no signs of distress; four minutes later, Jail staff noted Mr. Coates in an odd position
and sweating profusely and took immediate action by directing Jail medical staff and EMS to be notified. Mr. Coates was transported by ambulance to Bayside Community Hospital shortly after 5:00 p.m. where the Bayside emergency medical team performed lifesaving measures for over two hours, but sadly, Mr. Coates was pronounced dead at 7:19 p.m. Chambers County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5 Judge David Hatfield has ordered an inquest and as is standard for all in custody deaths, Sheriff Hawthorne contacted the Department of Public Safety’s Texas Rangers to conduct the investigation. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Dontriel Coates at this most difficult time”, said Sheriff Hawthorne.
Chambers County Gets Clean Audit Opinion
The Barbers Hill Baseball and Softball programs were recognized in Commissioners Court last Tuesday, July 13, 2021 for their accomplishments of winning State Championship titles in the same year. Pictured left to right is Commissioner Tommy Hammond, Judge Jimmy Sylvia, Head Baseball Coach David Denny, Commissioner Mark Tice, Commissioner Jimmy Gore, and Commissioner Billy Combs.
By Wade Thibodeaux The Chambers County Commissioners Court met in regular session last Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at 9:30 am in the County Courtroom of the Chambers County Courthouse in Anahuac, Texas. One of the first items discussed was the presentation of the annual audit by outside auditors Pattillo, Brown, & Hill, LLP. The auditor went over the report with the Court and advised them that in the auditor's opinion, Chambers County received an Unmodified Opinion, which is the best that can be achieved. The Court also presented a proclamation to the Barbers Hill Baseball and Softball programs for their accomplishment of
winning State Titles in both sports. This was the first time that this had been accomplished on a 5A level. In other action, the Commissioners approved the use of golf carts on a
roadway with a speed limit of 35 MPH or less and only golf carts and only in unincorporated areas of the County. The Court granted the request of the Texas Rice Festival for $25,000. in HOT(Hotel Occupancy
Tax) funds as well as approving a temporary park use agreement for the festival from September 7 until October 18, 2021. The Court also approved a change from turf infields to grass infields on the 16 new ball fields that will be constructed in the near future and this will save the County about $2 Million in construction cost. A group from Stowell had requested the ability to paint a mural on a County Building in the park and the Court first wanted to establish a policy on painting on County Buildings. During court last Tuesday, the Court reviewed a policy that had been created and approved the policy, basically clearing the (contd on page 8)
Members of the Chambers County Historical Commission were in court last Tuesday, July 13, 2021 to receive their award for Distinguished Service. Historical Commission members and Commissioner Tommy Hammond are on the front row and the remainder of the Court is on the back row.
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