Commissioners hear plans for regional transportation
BY GLORIA JENNINGS STAFF WRITER

A group from the East Texas Transportation Coordination Steering Committee met with members of the Cherokee County Commissioners Court to discuss plans for upgrading transportation in East Texas. Griff Hubbard, chairman of the committee, presented a 100-page final regional transportation plan document.

The East Texas Transportation Coordination Steering Committee first began its work 18 months ago.

Regions were recently established by the state. Each region was allocated $150,000 to come up with a transportation plan. Another $60,000 was given each region to get its message out to the people.

The committee is composed of 32 persons from 14 counties in the region. Among the committee members are Elton McCune, director of the Cherokee County Sheltered Workshop, and Dr. Bob Peters.

"Mr. McCune serves 105 consumers and if he didn't have transportation many would not be able to participate in his program," Mr. Hubbard said. "We have lots of transportation services in our region, but they are not connected."

Dr. Peters reported the county has between 30,000 and 40,000 residents. The average national age is 34. People are getting older. "You have large distances in your county. Many of your citizens need transportation for medical care, shopping, entertainment and religious services. As the population grows older there will be an increase in blindness and loss of motor skills. People will need a way to get groceries and get to the doctor. It will be less costly to put together public transportation slowly before you need it. We are asking for your support in the issue."

In another matter, commissioners approved laying of utility lines. The nomination of Stryker Lake Water Supply Corporation was nominated for the first round of 2007 STEP funding. The application is for a Texas Community Development Block Grant Program 2007 Small Towns Environment Program and is designated as a water improvement project.

The commissioners took no action on a request from Justice of the Peace James Morris, Pct. 3, for funding for a case management software with Net Data. Commissioners said they had heard from the other three justices of the peace who all said they were not interested in changing from Hill Country software to Net Data.

Judge Morris reported that the new system would have cost the county $53,000 and $2,000 per justice of the peace annually for maintenance.

A part-time employee was approved for the county clerk's office. Laverne Lusk, county clerk, said her office sold 33,000 copies in 2003; 66,000 in 2004; 109,000 in 2005; 136,000 in 2006 and already 120,000 in 2007. The new employee will help with making record copies and other duties of the office.

A bid from Reynolds & Kay LTD of Tyler was accepted for $156,293.28 for a seal coat contract for 102,960 square miles. Vote was 4-1 with Commissioner Kevin Pierce, Pct. 2 voting against the Tyler firm.

No action was taken concerning the collection of court costs to provide child safety funds.

The consent agenda approved included the monthly report of constable Precinct 4; expenses for Pam Davis and Ken Hannah to attend Texas Preparedness Scheduling Workshop in Houston March 29-30, Justice of the Peace James Morris to attend mandatory justice court training in Galveston April 29-May 2 and L.H. Crockett to attend the 49th annual county auditors institute in Austin May 8-11; and lots 1 and 2 of block 1 of Fairman's landing subdivision for plat purposes only.