Commissioners recognize public health department

Aug. 15--Several Cherokee County Public Health Department items topped the commissioners court meeting Monday morning at the Cherokee County Courthouse.

First, the Cherokee County Public Health Department made some updates to the Environmental and Consumer Health and Safety Branch to reflect changes to the food code by the state and FDA. Rules for the production of cottage food (food produced, eaten, and/or sold at home) have also changed. The department will no longer be inspecting items of cottage food so long as it is produced at a value below $50,000. Those selling cottage food also have to make it clearly known that their products have not been inspected by the state or the health department.

Another update states that all food establishments must self-ensure they are meeting all fire, safety and zoning code standards. Food establishments can now also face a maximum fine of $2,000 per item if they are found to be breaking the public health department's code. The measurements of fines were updated to a sliding scale instead of set amounts, to more accurately reflect the seriousness of any infringements, according to public health officials.

The public health department has also been honored, recently, with the 2017 Local Health Department of the Year Award. Cherokee County's department has been recognized as one of the best in the country, and received a plaque which they presented to the court during the meeting.

Another item on the agenda was the sheriff's monthly report. Sheriff James Campbell addressed the court to give an update on the state of affairs in the county. He said that in the month of July his office had 2,758 calls. They also had 87 animal control calls in July, and 23 cases of family violence. They took in 187 new inmates and released 209.The average prison population this past month was 94, which Campbell said he believed was the lowest it's been in 20 years. He attributes the low number to many prisoners getting out on bond. He also mentioned that the longest-serving inmates are in prison on murder charges or they have mental health issues. "Once they come in, they're hard to get rid of," he said.

The court also looked at the proposed 2018 Sheriffs' and Constables' Fees, which remain unchanged from this past year. The court approved this proposed report unanimously.

Other items approved included:

A lease between Cherokee County and Affiliated Surveyors, Inc. for records storage;

The amount of $1,500 from "office supplies" to "conference and training" in the County Treasury budget;

A resolution and tax resale deed for property previously bid in trust to Bullard ISD in a tax sale;

Listing property, which Judge Davis said was between Highways 79 and 110, as a reinvestment zone; and

The purchase of road material from Mr. David Trawick at $5 per yard for Precinct 1.

With the exception of Commissioner Byron Underwood of Precinct 4, all members of the court were present.

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