Commissioners approved the hiring of Nicolas Gonzales as the new 4-H agent for Brown County at Monday’s court. Brown County Extension agent Scott Anderson along with Dr. Scott Durham, District Extension Administrator, introduced Nicolas Gonzales as the selected candidate for the position.
Gonzales is from Aldine, Texas and received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and Masters Degree from Sam Houston State University. At Sam Houston State University, Gonzales was able to work with “nontraditional” agricultural students showing them what agriculture can offer and volunteered with 4-H and Future Farmers of America.
“As one of my professors taught, agriculture is more than just cows, sows, and swine,” stated Gonzales.
According to commissioners, there were three very well qualified candidates that had applied for the position. Gonzales will be a state employee as of December 1, 2010; however, his effective start date in Brown County will be January 1, 2010.
In other matters on the agenda:
*Commissioners approved the purchase of a filing cabinet requested by Suzy Young, Elections Administrator. The cabinet is used and will cost $2078.29. The quote for the same cabinet new was stated by Young to be $4700. A local bid was obtained from Jack Smith for a smaller cabinet that was $900. The difference and reason for the more expensive cabinet was because the cabinet is large enough to hold all active files, has room for future growth, and the drawers are removable. This will help the employees be able to more easily work within the files.
*Commissioners approved the written Equipment Retention Policy as presented by county auditor Nina Cox which has been in place however not officially adopted. The policy states that all equipment purchased with county money or grant money will remain property of the county even when the grant money runs out.
Commissioners also approved a county purchasing policy. Cox explained that the Council of Governments asked for a purchasing policy to be adopted for grant purposes, especially the ones that come through the COG. For purchases up to $1000, consideration must be made through the commissioners’ court and those purchases above $50,000 must have multiple bids submitted for the court to consider.
*Approval was granted by commissioners for the county to participate in the “County Choice Silver” program. This is an annual contract through Texas Association of Counties which offers a Medicare supplement for county retirees at no cost to the county. The retirees are contacted by TAC and the program bills directly through TAC.
*Commissioners approved an application to install a private line on CR 292. This is an easement for the Zephyr Water Supply Corporation from one side of the road to the others.
*Commissioner Court Administrative Assistant Amy Hamrick reported that Brown County, through the Healthy County program, can participate in the “Maintain No Gain” program during the dates of November 22nd-December 25th through the Texas Association of Counties and possibly earn thousands of dollars. Last year, Brown County joined the program at the end of its term and earned only $175. If every employee had participated and met the challenge, over $8000 could have been earned. County employees can register through the TAC website and weigh on a weekly basis to verify their progress.
Pictured above: Scott Anderson (left) and Nicolas Gonazales (right).
