Sheriff will replace five cars
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

The Wharton County Sheriff's Office received authorization from the county commissioners to use money not spent on salaries this year to clear the books of holiday pay owed to department personnel.

In a phone interview Tuesday, Chief Deputy Bill Copeland said the department's policy is to allow personnel to receive compensation time off if they are required to work during holiday periods. But the department has been unable to allow for that comp time to be taken, he added. To clear it off the books, the department will instead pay employees for any remaining time with their final paycheck of the year.

The commissioners approved the request, adding they expected the additional sheriff's deputies

provided in the 2008 budget would eliminate the holiday pay problems.

In a second request, commissioners approved allowing the sheriff's office to go out for bids now for five replacement patrol units provided for in the 2008 budget. The bids are scheduled to be awarded at a special meeting scheduled for Dec. 31.

Copeland said the five vehicles being replaced would probably be put up for auction after the new units are put into service. He estimated the auction would take place sometime in the Spring.

"Normally they are sold at auction," he said. "But that could change depending on the circumstances and county needs."

In a different use of remaining budgeted salary, County Clerk Sandra Sanders received court approval to use money not spent on personnel to purchase additional computer equipment for use with the new software program her department is having installed. The purchase of the new imaging software was approved by the commissioners at their Nov. 16 meeting.

In other actions, the commissioners approved:

• Approaching Fibbers Restaurant about purchasing the materials to re-paint the backside of the strip center that includes the restaurant and the county's Wharton Annex Offices.

The paint would be considered a donation with the county supplying the equipment and manpower to paint the entire back of the building. The commissioners declined to act on a recommendation from Precinct 4 Commissioner Jimmy Kainer to repaint the county's portion of the front of the building.