County moving forward with grant for training center
Milam County Commissioners tabled a request for a loan from a local fire department and heard from County Judge Steve Young about a possible Regional Training Center for the county on Monday.
During their regular meeting Monday, Commissioners elected to table a request from Minerva Volunteer Fire Department for a $30,000 no-interest loan to use as a grant match for a used fire emergency vehicle and improvements to it.
Commissioner Jeff Muegge asked that Minerva Fire Chief Ernie Glenn come before the court to get more information on the matter.
Young told commissioners Milam County is going forward with plans to file for a grant to fund a training center in Milam County.
The plan is to train those in and outside the county for non-college careers. The county has partnered with Temple College, Workforce Solutions and the Central Texas Council of Government to develop and operate the training center.
The multi-million dollar grant opportunity is provided by the Economic Development Administration.
Young said that last Friday, Oct. 8, the county was visited by Temple College President Dr. Christina Ponce and her staff; Dr. Linda Angel of Workforce Solutions; and Mr. Jim Reed, Executive Director of the Central Texas Council of Governments.
“We discussed the grant and application process and toured three businesses within the county including Butler Weldments, Whinstone and a mobile CDL training center owned by Mr. Keith Debault, aka Reliant Workforce,” he said. “This was an opportunity to see the great projects we have in the county and to see what we need.”
The initial application for the grant is due next week. This will provide funding for a think tank of professionals to draft a thorough plan for what is needed, including the teaching component.
Young said the plan is for Temple College to be the driving force for teaching at the center. After the master plan is drafted, we will submit the last application, which will be for the actual project. This will be a multimillion-dollar application.
In other business commissioners also: approved utility installations and waiver of claims; approved a subdivision replat for Rockdale Country Club Estates; approved the deputation of Bryan Lightfoot; and approved a software contract for the County Auditor. The Court also moved to table an interlocal agreement with the City of Cameron until Commissioner Donald Shuffield is present.
During public participation, former County Judge Frank Summers spoke about issues pertaining to the 2022 budget. Summers told the court they had violated several laws related to public hearings on the budget and tax rate, the timing of the public hearings and approval of the budget and tax rate, and the year quoted during the motions for the budget and tax rate approval. No action on those matters could be taken because the topic was not on the agenda.