Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 107, No. 70, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 31, 1989 Page: 2 of 54
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PAGE 2A-THE POLK COUNTY ENTERPRISE, THURSDAY AUGUST 31. I!M»
Hospital given Dec. 31 deadline
from page 1
The only mention Monday of the
court’s intent to seek $1.2 million in
time warrants for the hospital came
through a request from Precinct 3
Commissioner James J. “Buddy”
Purvis to amend the minutes of last
week’s special-called meeting. Dur-
ing that meeting, commissioners
voted unanimously “to go out for a
$1 million time warrant to pay the
existing debt at Polk County
Memorial Hospital and a $200,000
time warrant for supplies and new
equipment for Polk County
Memorial Hospital.”
At Purvis’ request, the court
minutes were amended to reflect his
stipulation that the hospital be clos-
ed if there is no improvement in
hospital finances by Dec. 31. In an
interview with Corrigan Times col-
umnist W.O. “Zero” Lewis, Purvis
said he would not have voted for the
time warrants without that stipula-
tion and that, during last week’s
meeting, he poll<jd each commis-
sioner and the county judge, all of
whom agreed.
“I asked each one of them
specifically if they agree to close the
hospital Dec. 31 if it is not paying its
way,” Purvis said. “They went
along with that. In my opinion, ail
we need there anyway is an
emergency ability such as an
emergency room. We do need to con-
tinue the ambulance service if possi-
ble. As far as I’m concerned, the
hospital no longer will exist by Jan.
1, 1990 if it is still depending on the
taxpayers and not making its own
way.
Aging sen ice finances
Commissioners approved an in-
crease in the suggested contribution
for meals served'at the four senior
citizen nutrition centers in the coun-
ty. The contribution, which is paid
only by those able to do so, will rise
from $1.50 to $2 per meal.
Polk County Committee on Aging
Director Virginia Smith said when
she became director eight years ago
lunches were served to 76 people dai-
ly at centers in Livingston and Cor-
rigan. In July, 1989, an average of
252 senior citizens were served
meals at the four centers now in the
county. Full-time centers have been
opened in Onalaska and at the
Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reser-
vation, both of which are run and
managed by volunteers, with two
full-time and one part-time cook
working in Onalaska.
Over 58,000 meals have been serv-
ed during the past year, she said. In
addition, the senior citizen program
provided transportation, informa-
tion and referral and outreach ser-
vices.
“I give you this information to
point out to you that big things can
be accomplished on little money
when dedication is shown,” she said.
“Dedication is one thing the senior
citizens of Polk County have proven.
We have 252 volunteers in this coun-
ty who have given 68,854 hours the
past year to various programs to be
able to have the type of programs we
have.”
Expenditures made by the Com-
mittee on Aging during the past year
total $212,296. The county con-
tributed $25,353 toward that amount,
participant contributions totaled
$81,985, $73,698 in Older Americans
Act funding and $5,000 in Omnibus
funds were received and the USDA’s
contribution was $26,260.
Coring budget meetings following
the county tax rollback, the director
said she told commissioners, “the
senior citizens’ program would
make cuts where needed and we
would survive.”
Funding for insurance, utilities,
and a part-time employee at the Cor-
rigan center, a total of $16,098 which
was previously paid directly by the
county, was shifted for payment to
the Polk County Committee on Ag-
ing budget.
“We have no other resources to
look to for this funding, so I am ask-
ing the court to approve an increase
on the suggested contribution from
$1.50 to $2 per meal effective Sept.
1,” the director said. She said stan-
dards dictate that “no eligible per-
son will be denied a service because
he or she will not or cannot con-
tribute to the cost of the service.
“If we cut the number of days we
arc open, we will be cutting service
to everyone. However, if the sug-
gested contribution does not bring in
the amount needed to meet the
budget, it will be- necessary to asx
you to approve cutting the days of
service.” .
Direct deposit, indigent care
County Treasurer Cheryl Henry
introduced Biil Perceval of First
State Bank, who explained a direct
deposit program in which Henry felt
the county might be interested.
Through the program, paychecks
would be deposited directly into
employees’ bank accounts, no mat-
ter where those accounts are
located. Through electronic
transfer, the employees would be
saved a trip to the bank and would be
sure the money is credited on pay-
day. The primary savings is to the
employer, he said. The program
could be adapted for those
employees who do not have bank ac-
counts.
The county’s present paycheck
forms cost 12-16 cents each, he said.
“You can do a direct deposit tran-
sition for about a nickel.” In Lub-
bock, which he noted has a larger
payroll that Polk County, direct
deposit cut the annual cost for
distributing paychecks from $101,000
to $3,800. Direct deposit also
eliminates the handling problems
often associated with paper checks.
He said direct deposit is a service.
It is not designed to “make the bank
rich.” He said, “First State would
pick up $7.31 per payday, total.”
Perceval suggested, if the county is
interested, that it wait until Jan. 1 to
convert to direct deposit.
Bass and the commissioners in-
dicated they would like to look into
the plan further.
Commissioners approved an in-
digent care contract with University
of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB).
Indigent Care Director Eddie Dale
Johnson said she tried to negotiate
for a $10,000 per month contract, the
amount currently charged, but that
UTMB wants $12,500 per month. The
county has received its money’s
worth from the contract, she in-
dicated. Since Aug. 1, J988, UTMB
has provided $962,000 in indigent
care services for Polk Countians,
she said.
Other than the cost, she said there
is little difference between the old
and new contracts, other than the
new contract is a “little more
liberal.”
Commissioners also approved
Johnson’s request that a state audit
be performed on the county’s in-
digent care program.
Bingo, jailers, etc.
Although exact figures concerning
the revenue which would be
generated through a county tax on
charitable bingo games are still
unavailable, Baker said it has been
determined that the county would
have to hold a referendum election
to levy the tax. He suggested the
matter be placed on the ballot for the
November general election.
With voter approval, the county
could collect a 2 percent tax on
games played outside incorporated
city limits. In instances where the
games are held inside a city, the city
would receive 1 percent and the
county would receive 1 percent.
Ray Lasley, who is a trustee of the
VFW Post in Livingston, said his
figures indicate the county would get
about $4,000 a year from bingo
games held by his post. “Your
money and the city’s would come
right off the top,” he said. The ex-
pense of bingo supplies, utilities and
other costs would have to be
deducted before the percentage
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spent on charitable causes sup-
ported by the post could be
calculated, he said.
Baker said it has been suggested
that bingo tax revenue be used to
fund the veterans service officer
salary, which was among the post-
rollback cuts. He explained that the
county is still willing to furnish an of-
fice, furniture and electricity for the
veterans service officer, if the
veterans’ organizations wili cover
tne cost of the salary .
In other business, commissioners
approved the hiring of two jailers by
the sheriff’s department. No new
positions have been created, Sheriff
Leamon Cain said. He said two per-
sons are needed as replacements for
jailers who have left the department
and that, at the present time,
deputies are being taken off the
streets to fill the jailer vacancies. In
response to a question from Angela
Bickford, who has applied for a job
with the sheriff’s department, Cain
said two male jailers are needed at
this time.
Because of overcrowding at the
jail, 13 jailers are now needed, the
sheriff said. After the first of the
year, an additional jailer will likely
be needed. Overcrowding has been a
problem all year, but the closest
place to transfer inmates is Center,
which charges $70 per day per in-
mate, Cain said.
Dorothy Faye Hodges of I^eggett
came before the court with com-
plaints concerning a railroad switch
change, allegedly authorized by
commissioners, which she said has
increased the number of trains
which come by and has left some
residents with no way to leave their
homes at times.
She also expressed concern over a
gas pipeline which was installed on
Feagin Farm Lane Road, which she
said was also approved by the com-
missioners’ court. After checking
later in the meeting, Baker confirm-
ed the pipeline was approved by the
commissioners’ court back when
R.D. Cunningham was commis-
sioner of that precinct.
Executive session
Much of the executive session
which followed the completion of
regular business Monday, was spent
discussing personnel problems at
the hospital, Baker said after the
court reconvened in open session.
Specifically, he cited an instance
of “misuse of an ambulance” Satur-
day. The judge said Hospital Ad-
ministrator James Molsbee will take
action either by suspension or “ter-
minating some jobs.”
Also following the executive ses-
sion, commissioners approved pay-
ment for two bionic blades, one pur-
chased for Precinct 1 and the other
for Precinct 3, providing the com-
missioners have the money in their
budgets.
New laws
effective
from page 1
district aide, said. “The bill states
that no one may stand in the road-
way to solicit rides, contributions,
employment, etcetera.”
•House bill 1507, sponsored by
Rep. Al Granoff (D-Dallas), con-
cerns the regulation of anabolic
steroids and human growth hor-
mones under the Texas Controlled
Substances Act and requires schools
to post a copy of the law in gym-
nasiums.
“Basically, there was a code in the
Dangerous Drug Act and this code
left a massive loophole,” Dan Alex-
ander, Granoff’s legislative aide,
said. “Through the new bill, the
responsibility is placed with the
Texas Department of Public
Safety.”
•Senate bill 381, sponsored by Sen.
Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo), con-
cerns the compensation of certain
crime victims.
“This bill would provide the Texas
crime victim with compensation
through the Crime Victim’s Com-
pensation Act,” Todd Taylor,
legislative aide to Zaffirini, said.
“The statute is currently not in com-
pliance with the Victims of Crime
Act, which is funded by a grant from
the U.S. Department of Justice. This
bill would put it back in
compliance.”
ENTERPRISE PHOTO BY KENN SCHMIDT
LUV YA GREEN - Members of the Lions members, football players and cheerleaders
Pride Drill Team show their spirit during the from Livingston High School were introduc-
Greenbackers Rally held Tuesday night in ed to the crowd.
Lion Stadium. Drill team and band
Grant funds are possible
from page 1
“Right now all of our funding
comes from Polk County and if we
could be placed under the Profes-
sional Prosecutor’s Act it would
save the local taxpayers $100,000 a
year,” he said.
“Right now there are 27 counties
around the state under this act and I
feel we have a good chance of being
included if we can get the governor
to agree to put it on the special ses-
sion agenda.”
In addition, Brown said there is a
possibility that grant funds might be
made available through the Gover-
nor’s Criminal Justice Committee.
“However, we won’t know if or how
much funding would be available un-
til sometime in December.”
The parole board decision not to
act in the Penry case came after the
federal court formally sent the mat-
ter back to the trial court on Aug. 22
with instructions to either retry him
or commute the death sentence to
life in prison.
U.S. District Judge William M.
Steger sent the same order to the
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in
Austin. The order gives the state 90
days to decide whether to retry the
33-year-old Iivingston man.
The Penry case gained national at-
tention eariier this year when the
U.S. Supreme Court agreed hear the
case and decide whether subjecting
the re tattled to the death penalty
was “cruel and unusual
punishment” under the U.S. Con-
stitution.
While the court ruled on June 26
there was no constitutional prohibi-
tion to executing the retarded, they
overturned Pemy’s death sentence
on the grounds that Texas law did
not allow the trial jury to fully con-
sider his retardation as a mitigating
factor.
Mason said Wednesday that as his
last official act as Penry’s attorney,
he filed requests in both Polk County
and Trinity County that the court ap-
point a new attorney for Pemy.
“I wanted to cover all the bases,”
Mason explained. “Polk County is
Hew law allows
for easier payments
of vehicle sales tax
AUSTIN - State Comptroller Bob
Bullock said Friday night that pay-
ing motor vehicle sales tax will soon
be as easy as using a credit card.
A state law passed this year allows
county tax assessor-collectors to ac-
cept cred’t card payment beginning
Monday, Aug. 28, for the state’s
motor vehicle sales tax.
The law also permits credit card
payment of motor vehicle title
transfers and registration fees; pro-
perty taxes; alcohol license and per-
mit fees; and occupation taxes.
County tax assessor-collectors will
decide individually whether to ac-
cept credit cards, and which com-
panies’ cards to honor.
“Payment of the motor vehicle
sales tax will be more convenient
than ever in counties where the tax
assessor-collectors accept credit
cards.” Bullock said.
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where the case originated and Trini-
ty County is where the trial was held
back in 1980.”
He added that because he is
employed by the Texas Department
of Corrections as an inmate counsel,
he no longer could represent Penry
once the case was returned to the
trial court.
“Basically, I’d have to resign my
job to do any more with the case,” he
said. “Obviously, I’d be happy to
discuss anything regarding the case
with the court-appointed attorney
and cooperate in any way I can.”
Penry, who some experts say has
the mental age of a 7-year-old, was
convicted in April, 1980, of the brutal
rape-murder of Livingston
housewife Pamela Moseley
Carpenter.
Trial testimony showed that
Penry had previously been con-
victed of a Polk County rape and had
been released from prison on parole
only three months prior to the Oc-
tober, 1979 slaying.
Penry, who was arrested within
hours of the attack, subsequently
confessed to having forced his way
into the Carpenter home at knife-
point. Carpenter tried to fight off the
attack with a pair of scissors but
Penry took the scissors away and
dragged her into a bedroom where
she was raped, beaten and kicked.
Before leaving, Penry took
Carpenter’s scissors and stabbed
her once in the chest. Although she
subsequently managed to telephone
for help, she died a few hours later iii
Polk County Memorial Hospital.
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White, Barbara. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 107, No. 70, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 31, 1989, newspaper, August 31, 1989; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth811110/m1/2/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.