Judge wants to crack down on trash haulers
BY GLORIA JENNINGS

Bascom Bentley, 369th District Court Judge, asked members of the Cherokee County Commissioners Court Monday morning to do something about the trash on highways within the county.

"We have community service workers picking up trash on Friday and then by Monday it is all back," he said. "A lot of the trash on the highways is there because it fell off the back of a pickup truck."

Judge Bentley suggested that the county require private trash collectors to obtain a county license. "We need to know who they are and where they are going," Judge Bentley said.

"I would recommend that you get with the county attorney and work out some requirements for these trash haulers," the judge said.

Master Sgt. Jimmy Foreman (US Army Retired) submitted his resignation as Veterans Service Officer and county safety officer to the commissioners court.

In his letter of resignation he said,

"Due to personal health reasons, I have decided to resign from my position effective March 15. I want to give this advance notice in order for the county to have ample time and opportunity to hire a replacement for me.

"The veterans of this county deserve the very best of representation when dealing with the Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal and state agencies. Whether the veteran needs health care, service connection for disabilities, no-service pensions or just someone to listen and care, the Veterans Service Officer needs to be ready to step up and take the appropriate action to help the men and women who have taken time out of their lives to keep our country free.

"Over the past six years, I have been blessed by getting to know these fine servicemen and women, and their families on a personal level. Their friendship, the respect for their individual military service and the battles that they have fought both in the military and afterwards will never be forgotten by this soldier.

"I will do my best to assist the commissioners court in any way possible.

"Thank you for your support of the Office of Veterans Affairs, and for me personally during my tenure at Cherokee County."

Members of the court praised Mr. Foreman for his service and the work done in veterans affairs, as well as the safety department.

In other matters commissioners approved a professional service agreement with the East Texas Medical Center Breast Center to provide services to clients through the Cherokee County Health Department.

Interlocal agreements between the Cherokee County Health Department and the cities of Rusk and Gallatin were approved to provide food service inspections/permits.

A resolution was approved to participate in the East Texas HOME Consortium agreement.

A representative of the Pinewoods RC&D Consortium met Jan. 29 with the court to discuss the consortium.

With the county entering into this program funds can be obtained locally instead of going though the state.

When a county has less than 50,000 residents, it may join with another county in a consortium and make application for housing and urban development funding. There are 11 counties seeking membership in the consortium.

Commissioners approved a resale tax foreclosure for properties located in Cherokee County and Bullard ISD. A representative of Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP met with the court to obtain the approval.

The sheriff 's and license and weight officer's monthly reports were approved.

Attending the meeting were Judge Chris Davis; Commissioners Mary Gregg, Kevin Pierce, Moody Glass Jr. and Byron Underwood; County Clerk Laverne Lusk and County Auditor L.H. Crockett.