No mandatory septic surveys
BY GLORIA JENNINGS

Cherokee County Commissioners decided Monday morning not to impose a mandatory maintenance policy for septic system users. A new state regulation states that homeowners may maintain their own systems.

Mike Pledger, county inspector, asked that commissioners require that a service contractor be employed to maintain residential systems. Several homeowners, mostly those living at Lake Jacksonville, met with commissioners to voice their opposition to having to pay for the service contract.

Jimmy Going asked if he would be required to pay the regular $300 plus another $200 to the county for maintenance.

"If you have a maintenance contract they will check your system," Mr. Pledger said.

Marlene Jowell said she had been told there are different providers. Some charge as little as $50 a year and others as much as $300.

"There are only two maintenance providers in Cherokee County," Mr. Going said. "And, they don't do a lot of work."

Mr. Pledger said the contractors must own certain equipment to perform septic maintenance work.

"I have not seen any fancy equipment. They bring a plastic pipe and then put three little tablets into the system. It probably takes 15 minutes at the most," Mr. Going said.

J.W. McDonald said, "I am opposed to a maintenance requirement. My system has a red light that comes on and when it does I put some pills in the system and the light goes off. I have a contract with someone. They come down and collect $200. But, I don't know what they do."

"When you install a new system you are supposed to get two years' maintenance," Mr. Pledger said.

County purchases new vehicles

In another matter, commissioners approved the purchase of four police cars for the sheriff 's department from Bill McRae Ford in Jacksonville for $20,548 each.

Commissioners also approved the purchase of one or more pickup trucks from Bill McRae Ford for $23,895.

County holidays approved

County holidays approved for 2008 include Martin Luther King birthday, Monday, Jan. 21; President's Day, Monday, Feb. 18; Texas Independence Day, Monday, March 3; Good Friday, March 21; Memorial Day, Monday, May 26; Independence Day, Friday, July 4; Labor Day, Sept. 1; Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 13; Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11; Thanksgiving, Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27-28; Christmas, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Dec. 24-26; New Year's Day, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.

Interlocal agreements

An interlocal agreement was approved between the Cherokee County Health Department and the City of Alto for food service inspections/ permits.Another interlocal agreement was approved between the Cherokee County Health Department and Region VII for vaccinations for Head Start children.

The county will provide a dumpster for the Crisis Center for disposal of items donated to the facility that were unusable.

CCAD votes cast

The county's 1,485 Cherokee County Appraisal District votes were divided between board candidates John Mark Lester and Tammy Treadwell.

Judge Chris Davis read a letter from John DeLeon of FEMA thanking the county and especially Commissioners Kevin Pierce and Byron Underwood for their assistance to FEMA workers. Attending the meeting were Judge Davis, Commissioners Mary Gregg, Pierce, Moody Glass III and Underwood; County Clerk Laverne Lusk and County Auditor L.H. Crockett.

Commissioners will meet again at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 26, in the county courtroom. Commissioners regularly meet on the second and fourth Mondays of the month. However, there will probably be only one meeting in December, that being on Dec. 10. Agendas are posted three days prior to the meetings on the courthouse door.