On October 14, 2013, the Kaufman County Commissioners met at the Kaufman County Annex building in Kaufman, Texas, for their regularly scheduled meeting and discussed a proposed inter-local agreement between the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office and Fresh Water Supply Districts (FWSD) 1-B and 1-C.
On October 14, 2013, the Kaufman County Commissioners met at the Kaufman County Annex building in Kaufman, Texas, for their regularly scheduled meeting and discussed a proposed inter-local agreement between the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office and Fresh Water Supply Districts (FWSD) 1-B and 1-C.
The three-year inter-local agreement would provide a full-time, 40-hour-a-week deputy through the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office to patrol Windmill Farms. Because Windmill Farms is in Kaufman County and not in the Forney city limits, it is the Sheriff's Office patrol area, not the Forney Police Department.
“It will be an asset to us to have somebody that they are paying for to stay there,” said Kaufman County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Bryan Beavers. The Sheriff's Office already patrols the area but is also responsible for a majority of the northwestern corner of the county, including Travis Ranch.
“One of the advantages of this would be, like Bryan said, we will have additional patrol over there and their primary responsibility will be for that area,” said Precinct 2 Commissioner Ray Clark. “However, if an emergency comes up they will be one of the first responders to it outside of that area.”
Precinct 1 Commissioner Jimmy Vrzalik asked, “This officer would be on duty 40 hours a week? Is that going to be night time, day time?” Chief Deputy Beavers responded, “We're going to mix that up.”
Windmill Farms residents will see an increase in their bill to their respective water district to fund the inter-local agreement which covers the cost of hiring a new deputy, his/her salary, purchasing his/her vehicle, purchasing all vehicle equipment, and purchasing all of the officer's equipment which totals $91,961.
Commissioner Clark made a motion to approve the agreement, Schoen seconded, and all commissioners approved the inter-local agreement unanimously.
Chief Deputy Beavers later told inForney.com the purchase of the vehicle, equipment, and hiring a new deputy will take approximately two to three months. Kaufman County Judge Bruce Wood signed the agreement and now requires signatures from the water boards before this process begins.
According to FWSD 1-C Vice President Scott Johnson, the inter-local agreement costs will be approximately $5 per household per month. However, with their solid waste disposal contract in the negotiation phases, they may be able to find savings and absorb those costs or pass on a smaller fee to the residents.
