By Libby Cluett
lcluett@mineralwellsindex.com

PALO PINTO – To comply with Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Palo Pinto County law enforcement entities must report any complaints, which have been filed alleging racial profiling by their respective personnel.

All five constables and the sheriff reported to Palo Pinto County Commissioners this week that no complaints of racial profiling occurred in 2007.

The following are figures from 2007 reports constables submitted to commissioners.

• Rodney Price, Precinct 1 Constable – 48 citations and incarcerations; no searches.

• Robert McKee, Precinct 2 Constable – nine citations and incarcerations; nine searches.

• Noah Bragg, Precinct 3 Constable – 107 citations and incarcerations; no searches.

• James Roberts, Precinct 4 Constable – 47 citations, incarcerations and traffic stops; one search with consent.

• Luis Rodriguez, Precinct 5 Constable – 58 tickets, 13 searches with consent and three searches without consent. Rodriguez reported fines and fees totaling $11,976 in issued citations .

The total ethnicity breakdown for constable citations and incarcerations were: 173 Caucasian, 7 African-American, 38 Hispanic, 1 Asian and no Native American or other.

In other business, county employees will now have a few more cents to help offset fuel costs when using their personal vehicles for county business.

On Monday, County Commissioners approved increasing mileage reimbursement from 42 cents per mile to 45 cents per mile, based on recommendations from the personnel policy board. According to County Auditor, Sharon Allen, the Internal Revenue Service recommends 51 cents per mile.

Commissioners also amended the travel section to cover out-of-town meal expenses only if county employees are spending the night. According to Allen, this is change is to align with Internal Revenue Service requirements.

Commissioners also:

• Amended the 2007-2008 Possum Kingdom Chamber Budget to add $6,000 from taxes received for building improvements.

• Approved Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Shawn Humphries’ office rental agreement, which increased by $50 because of increased utility costs. Humphries explained that the landlord covers basic utilities in the rent.

• Approved accepting $13,679 in insurance proceeds from the Texas Association of Counties for a wrecked Precinct 4 truck.

• Approved resolutions supporting applications of the Palo Pinto Masonic Lodge No. 1404 and the Mineral Wells Masonic Lodge No. 611 for tax exempt status from the county appraisal district. The two resolutions stated the county supports the applications because the lodges have incorporated charitable work and public service into their bylaws.

• Approved payment to Terry’s New Dimensions Millwork from Weatherford. The pre-payment covers materials for repair to the District Courtroom.

• Approved setting a speed limit of 30 mph on the following Precinct 4 roads: New Hope, Davenport, Knight, Nolan, Craddick and North Wilson. Setting the speed limit is an attempt to slow down large trucks, according to Precinct 4 Commissioner Jeff Fryer.

• Approved the purchase of two 30-foot tall, 5-inch diameter flag poles to stand in front of the county courthouse. There is currently a single flagpole that is now hidden behind an oak tree. The new poles will be placed in a more open and visible area.

• Approved accepting a $1,000 donation from “The Racing Post,” which is intended to offset sheriff’s department expenses for the May Bike Race sponsored by the Mineral Wells Chamber of Commerce. The bike race will be conducted on two days, May 5 and 6.

• Approved the purchase of a new computer for the county courtroom to replace one that is about 5 years old and occasionally “growls.”

• Approved for Precinct 2 to get bids and offers on junk metal, including a pneumatic roller.

• Maintained the status of a local state of disaster resulting from drought and threat of wildfires and kept the current outdoor burn ban in place.

According to Fire Marshall Barry Gill, there is a State Forest Service firefighting helicopter now located in Mineral Wells.

• Approved advertising for sealed bids to purchase P2 Emulsion. Bids must be submitted by noon on Friday, March 7, and will be opened during regular session on March 10.