Freestone county extension agent in home economics, Sara Moat, will leave her post as of May 14, and county commissioners heard from state extension representative Ron Wooley at their regular meeting Monday morning.

Wooley asked commissioners for an increase in pay for the extension office, which is subsidized by the state, but before a decision could be made, commissioners and county judge Linda Grant whittled down the talk to get at the meat of the subject: the state offers a set salary to prospective extension agents. A request from counties for more money actually means that the state would have to provide less in subsidies. It does not mean the county agent receives more money.

County agents are recruited and hired by the state offices, and are offered $31,000 a year, plus travel and benefits, if they have a bachelor’s degree, and $35,000 a year if the applicant possesses a master’s degree. Part of the salary comes from the county and part from the state.

Wooley’s job on Monday morning was to get the county to commit to a higher portion of the salary, saying that the state budget has problems and is looking at a five percent across the board expense reduction.

“We have problems, too,” Freestone county precinct three commissioner Stanley Gregory said.

Commissioners declined to offer an increase in the funding for the future county extension agent, and asked Wooley when a replacement would be available. Wooley said no hiring would be done until the new budget year starts September 1, which leaves Freestone county without a home economics agent for the summer, specifically through the county fair next month.

“This puts us in a bad position,” precinct two commissioner Craig Oakes said. “It means Nick Hoffman will have to work his butt off.”

Hoffman is Freestone county extension agent in agriculture.

Ms. Moat says she is leaving to be closer to her family.

Freestone county chief of courthouse security Isaac Durham earned congratulations from the court and assistant county attorney Michael Stratton on his completion of Advanced Law Enforcement Readiness Training (ALERT).

The training is provided by retired U.S. Marshalls to enhance the security of courtrooms and courthouses, and to update security personnel on available options. “There have been lots of advances made in courthouse security,” Durham says.

New Leash on Life animal shelter asked the county for help in paying their bills. NLOL representative Sharon Speering told commissioners the organization needs $10,000 to make it through June.

Judge Grant pointed out that most of the animals picked up by the volunteers come from Fairfield and Teague. “We’d sure like to see them step in,” she pointed out. Mrs. Speering says NLOL has received some funds from the City of Fairfield, but have yet to receive any money from the City of Teague.

The commissioners approved paying NLOL $4,000 that is left in the “animal” budget.

A veterans service report was noted at the meeting, pointing out that Freestone county currently has 1,812 veterans living in the county, and almost $9 million has been received in veteran benefits.

“Mr. Neely from Teague is here every Friday morning from 10 a.m. to noon to answer veterans’ questions,” Judge Grant said. “There is always a line waiting to see him.”

Bids for precinct one equipment were opened and included two bids for a county dump truck. Casey Propane offered $3,150 for the truck, and J.W. Johnson offered $2,611. Johnson also bid $101.51 for a roller, as opposed to a bid received from Ralph Lambert for $151.35. High bidders were awarded the vehicles.

A bid from J.W. Johnson of $761. for a pickup truck was rejected.

An agreement with Limestone county was signed for care of prisoners at a cost of $42 per day, and an agreement was approved with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, who will pay for 75 percent of a $93,421 bill to repair slopes around the bridges and culverts damaged after extensive rains. An additional cell phone line for county senior services was also approved.