Animal Control and a Freestone County employee Covid-19 policy were two important topics during the Commissioner’s Court regular and special meetings.
During the regular meeting on Monday, February 1, 2021, a discussion over a Covid policy that would be for all Freestone County employees was began that led into the special meeting that followed a week later.
The policy is to help employees who have been exposed to Covid, or are needed to take care of a close family member that was exposed or has the virus.
It is set up to help people not have to use all their sick time, but nobody is required to use the Covid policy either.
Animal Control was also discussed during the meeting with the idea that the person who is hired for Environmental Deputy/Emergency Management Coordinator will also be responsible for handling any dangerous or aggressive animals in the county.
Freestone County Sheriff Jeremy Shipley stated, “So basically we are just going to operate as normal?” The Sheriff’s Department is already responsible for those sorts of dogs, so that is no change for the department as a whole.
The decision on which voting machines the county will go with was tabled so that the Commissioners have more time to look over the material and make the best decision for the county going forward.
One of the grants received last year was the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF), which allowed the county to buy multiple laptops for the various departments.
The laptops allow employees to work from home when necessary due to Covid-19.
Other items discussed during the meeting where:
–The specially called meeting allowed a discussion where Freestone County was able to join with other counties in stating that High Speed Rail does not qualify for eminent domain
–The Sheriff’s Department presented their Racial Profiling report
–Authorization of Fireworks sales for Texas Independence Day was approved
