Hard work does pay off most of the time, as it did Monday when Commissioners unanimously approved a supplement to the administrative salaries for county employees Valerie Williams and Jayme Madsen for the work they will continue performing on the Violence Against Women Act Grant (VAWA).

Williams and Madsen have been working after hours completing administrative tasks to meet requirements of the Violence Against Women Act Grant.  The previous administrator was unable to fulfill his duties due to an illness; however he had received pay for work not completed, leaving the grant behind schedule and new administrators needed.  Williams and Madsen stepped up to the challenge and have been working without knowing if there would be available funds to pay them for the three months extension given by the grant.  Monies were only allotted for the original term of the grant.

Discussion at the previous commissioner’s court had tabled this item due to a limited budget and needing time for the county auditor, Nina Cox, to research if any funds could be located to help pay these salaries.  After doing this research, Cox was able to determine that a portion of available funds from the county’s workman’s compensation could be moved within the budget.  The amount of salary approved for both administrators combined is $7656 for the three remaining months of the grant extension.

*Commissioners approved a bank depository contract with TexasBank which was amended with revisions from a previous draft of a contract submitted for approval last week.  These changes included loan rates at 2% rather than the original 2.75%; interest rate to be paid to the county on funds deposited at the greater of either the index or posted Now Account rates; and interest on CDs to continue as they are in the current contract.

*County Court at Law Judge Frank Griffin tabled his request for a camera system that would allow him to see into the outer office from his private office within the court room for security reasons.  Judge Ray West suggested that Griffin also needed a lock to be installed on his office door.  These matters were to be placed on the next week’s agenda.

*County Attorney Shane Britton received unanimous approval for his office to apply for the Victim’s Assistance Grant.  This grant is the same one that the District Attorney’s office uses to employ Michail Cox and will work the same way in Britton’s office is granted.  The grant pays the salary of this employee and the employee is not restricted to only working on assault cases and family violence.  According to Britton, there is no financial obligation to the county, nor is there any obligation to the county to continue the position after this two year grant ends.  The total grant monies per year that could be received equal $42,000.

*Unanimous approval was granted for the renewal of the agreement for assistance in arbitrage and rebate assistance with First Southwest Asset Management Inc.