At the next meeting of Milam County Commissioners Court, County Judge Steve Young won’t have to request that visitors “put their microphones on mute.”
That’s because after months of meeting by videoconferencing or cell phone, commissioners are returning to an “in-person” form of gathering in the courthouse.
But with restrictions. Everyone, commissioners, the judge, county officials and the like will be wearing masks.
IN-PERSON—The court met Tuesday morning by videoconferencing/phone and Young started off the discussion of setting the next session—in non-COVID times a routine item—by saying he was ready to again begin meeting “in person.”
He told commissioners several options were on the table.
“If we meet at our regular locations—commissioners courtroom on the first floor of the courthouse—we will only be able to have eight visitors attend, and have the required spacing,” Young said.
That would enable visitors to sit in that courtroom’s chairs and leave empty rows and spaces to follow meeting guidelines.
Young said another possibility would be to move to a larger venue such as the Yards of Cameron.
Commissioners discussed several possibilities and Young noted acoustics in the larger venue “are not the best.”
OPTIONS—Commissioner Jeff Muegge asked if visitors who are to make presentations before the court could sit in the first floor hall.
“Rotate them in and out,” he said.
Young noted that several seats just outside the commissioners courtroom have been removed to ensure that persons using them would maintain the social distancing.
He said the court, county officials and visitors would all be required to wear masks.
Young also said that persons desiring to enter the meeting would be screened.
“We can take their temperature with a forehead scan,” he said. “We can ask them about symptoms. If they have any symptoms we are going to send them home.”
He noted that masks are seen as a way to prevent persons who don’t show any symptoms from spreading the incurable, potentially fatal, disease.
“That’s the reason we need to wear masks in the first place,” he said. “So people who don’t even know they have it won’t spread it.”
CORNERSTONE—Commissioners heard Young report on efforts to “rededicate” the historic cornerstone in the county courthouse.
He noted when the courthouse was formally dedicated in 1891 a Masonic cornerstone ceremony was held by members of the San Andres Masonic Lodge.
After several rounds of renovations and restoration, a new Masonic cornerstone was dedicated in the early 2000s.
But, the exact location of the cornerstone has been lost, according to Young, and the San Andres Lodge wants to donate a new cornerstone and hold another re-dedication ceremony.
“I’ve lo0ked for it, (former County Judge) Dave Barkemeyer has looked for it and we have not been able to find the location,” Young said.
Young said the idea is to “slide a new one in.”
Young said he had contacted historical architect, and Milam County native, Stan Graves about the project and is awaiting final word although initial reports are that the project would be slowed.
In other business, commissioners:
• Ratified their previously submitted application for Texas Infrastructure Grant funds.
• Approved various requirements from the General Land Office as part of infrastructure work on a Rockdale bridge and Brushy Slough Bridge. Requirements included designating signatories for Hurricane Harvey CDGB disaster recovery.
• Okayed civil rights policies.
• Named April as Fair Housing Month.
• Okayed a resolution to seek $142,000 in 3 separate grants through the CARES Act and Help America Vote Act grant funding to assist with the election cycle and voting amid the COVID-19 crisis.
• Accepted employee health and dental insurance. That insurance package increased by over $150 per employee per year and will cost over $9,100 per employee per year in total.
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