County reappoints health authority

Dr. Georgia Hay will continue serving as the county’s local health authority – but only for a few more months.

The Lampasas County Commissioners Court approved the reappointment Monday in a 4-0 vote, with Precinct 2 Commissioner Jamie Smart absent.

The term for a local health authority is two years.

County Judge Randy Hoyer said Hay “has graciously agreed” to serve as health authority until the school year ends in May, although she will step down from the county post at that point.

Hoyer noted the doctor’s professional and family commitments, and he said because of COVID-19, the health authority position has become “a full-time job.”

Precinct 1 Commissioner Bobby Carroll said Hay has done “such a wonderful job” as health authority.

“She got a whole lot more than she bargained for,” Carroll added.

Hoyer praised the doctor and those who help her with COVID-19 contact tracing. Hoyer said Lampasas County has fared well throughout the coronavirus outbreak, and he said one of the many reasons for that is the work of Hay and other contact tracers.

“I know that when I tested positive, that afternoon I already had a call from one of the contact tracers, wanting to know where I’d been and who I’d been around so that they could, in turn, notify people – and they’ve done a great job,” the judge said.

County officials have not identified a replacement for Hay as local health authority, Hoyer said.

COVID-19 CONTACT TRACING

While discussing accounts-payable items, County Auditor Tragina Tallant said the county has received invoices for more hours of contact-tracing work than an agreement stated the county would pay.

In July, the Commissioners Court approved a document stating that contact-tracing compensation to the local health authority – or others who work at the doctor’s direction – shall not exceed 20 hours per week.

Tallant said one recent invoice showed 90.5 hours in a two-week period, and another reflected 26.25 hours.

The Commissioners Court set the 20-hour limit when the county had far fewer COVID-19 cases than it does now, Tallant said.

The county is not being reimbursed for contact tracing, the auditor said in response to a question from Carroll.

Carroll and Precinct 4 Commissioner Mark Rainwater said county officials might need to adjust the contact-tracing contract to ensure the county follows what is written. Because the county received documentation for the work done so far, however, Rainwater seconded a motion to pay the contact-tracing invoices and other accounts-payable items.

One contact tracer has been working without receiving payment from the county, Tallant said.

"So it kind of works out [if other hours exceed 20 in two weeks],” Rainwater said.

Rainwater said he is not questioning the work being done. He said though, that from a legal standpoint, the county either needs to abide by the current agreement or adjust the terms.

INFRASTRUCTURE WORK

On another matter, the Commissioners Court authorized a variance from county requirement so the city of Lampasas can cut into County Road 1045 – also known as Old Lometa Road – and run a 2-inch water main down the right of way for 150 feet.

The city is working to provide water service to three lots in a proposed development, said Van Sims, the city’s water/wastewater operations manager.

Carroll expressed concern about cutting across the paved road.

“It’s so hard to ever get them back [in good condition],” the commissioner said.

City representatives said if crews bored under the road instead of cutting, either the bore pit or the receiving hole would be in the road.

“So, at this point, we’re not saving anything by doing a bore,” Sims said.

City staff members have discussed the possibility of renting or buying a bore machine so the city won’t have to cut into roads, Sims said.

“I’m mean, because we have to cut our roads, too, and it’s just a pain …,” Sims said.

The Commissioners Court voted 4-0 to approve the city’s variance request to allow for the road cut.

OTHER MATTERS

In other business, the court:

• OK’d a final plat for River Hills Ranches, Phase III. River Hills Ranches contains about 200 lots on approximately 1,600 acres. The subdivision lies in Burnet County and in portions of southeastern Lampasas County.

• took no action on an item that would have authorized the sale of fireworks for Texas Independence Day – which is March 2.

Carroll said he does not think vendors ever have set up in Lampasas County to sell fireworks for Texas Independence Day. The commissioner said because of recent fires and his observation that “nobody’s really looking for [fireworks] this time of year,” the county should not allow the sale of fireworks for the March 2 holiday.

• voted to let Kempner Water Supply Corp. perform infrastructure work on two county roads in the southeast end of the county.

KWSC plans to improve a water main on CR 4717, and that work will involve a bore under the road, Rainwater said. To lay a water line across CR 4700, KWSC will perform a saw cut, he said.

• approved public-official bonds for the county auditor and Precinct 1 Constable Dennis James.

• approved a contract for a copier for the Lampasas County Sheriff’s Office.

• agreed to pay a mileage reimbursement to Precinct 2&3 Justice of the Peace Camron Brister’s clerk when she drives to and from Lampasas to assist in Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Andrew Garcia Jr.’s office.

The Precinct 2&3 clerk originally was hired to work just in Lometa, although the Commissioners Court later decided to have her assist as needed in the justice of the peace office in Lampasas.

Officials on Monday discussed concerns about whether granting a mileage reimbursement would set a precedent for having to reimburse other county employees for their drives to work. Brister and Rainwater, however, said the Precinct 2&3 clerk was told at the time of her hiring that she would work in Lometa. The change to periodic duties in Lampasas came later, officials noted.

Rainwater, Carroll and Precinct 3 Commissioner Lewis Bridges voted to grant the mileage reimbursement. Hoyer cast the dissenting vote.