October will once again be recognized as Czech Heritage Month in Ellis County, the proclamation having been approved during Monday’s regularly-scheduled meeting of the Commissioners’ Court.

“In the primary period of migration from Czech lands, over a quarter of a million people of Czech ancestry arrived in Texas to make this place their home,” said Commissioner Bill Dodson, pct. 2, reading from the Court’s proclamation. “The Ellis County Commissioners’ Court recognizes the great lengths the Czech descendents have taken to preserve the records of their ancestry, their traditions, and their history.”

“It is a rich culture, and one we treasure,” added County Judge Carol Bush.

Victor Havel of Ennis, current president of the Ennis Czech Heritage Society, was among those present to receive the proclamation.

“We are here to thank you for this annual recognition – but what is the state of Czech heritage in Ellis County?” Havel said. “The heart of our culture is the Czech language, and unfortunately our ability to speak the language is dying out.”

Havel noted that all of the chapter members present at the meeting were at least two generations removed from their ancestors who were the original immigrants from Czech lands. All had some knowledge of the language passed down from their ancestors, but no instruction from outside the family.

“Our challenge is to find other means of instruction,” he added. “We thank you again for this honor.”

The group presented each member of the Commissioners’ Court with a lapel pin bearing the U.S. flag and the Czech flag before posing for a photograph.

Moving on to the next agenda item, Bush told the Court that a recent inspection by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards had resulted in a highly favorable report.

“We have Chief Sullins and Chief Brearley here – thank you for your dedication and commitment to excellence in operating that facility,” she said. “I know you take great pride in it. It is safe, it is secure, and it is clean. You deserve to be recognized.”

A resolution in support of Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis County was also approved by the Court, in order to enable that organization to make application for additional funding through the Texas Department of Agriculture.

“It is always an honor to come before the Court,” said Charlie Morton, a member of the organization’s Board of Directors. “We thank you for the support that you have provided to us.”

In other business, Commissioners:

• Appointed Jerry Crawford to the Emergency Service District #6 Board to serve the unexpired term of Jack Dineen, expiring on December 31, 2010;
• Approved interlocal cooperation agreements with the City of Garrett, the Avalon Independent School District, the City of Ennis, the Ennis Independent School District, the City of Bardwell, and the City of Alma for the period of October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010;
• Approved the list of presiding and alternate judges for the November 3, 2009 Amendment Election as follows: Precinct 101 & 102, Alex McCracken Presiding, Harold Rudd Alternate; Precinct 103, 137, &138, Charles Morton Presiding, Magella Brooks Alternate; Precinct 104, 109 &110, Margaret Comer Presiding, Ginger Cole Alternate; Precinct 105 & 140, Angela Korthauer Presiding, Alice Wiley Alternate; Precinct 106 & 143, Sue Turner Presiding, Charles Connor Alternate; Precinct 107, 108 & 142, Kenneth Rowland Presiding, La Rue Miller Alternate; Precinct 111, 119, 134 & 136, Don Wilson Presiding, Barbara Fudge Alternate; Precinct 112 & 118, Neil Sims Presiding, Gayla Gatling Alternate; Precinct 113, 114, & 115, Doloris ‘Jean’ Woods Presiding, Margaret Spalding Alternate; Precinct 116, 117, & 128, John Waters Presiding, Joice Price Alternate; Precinct 120, 135 & 145, Alicia Hamm Presiding, Yvette Gallagos Alternate; Precinct 101, 122, 126 & 127, Barbara Liska Presiding, Syble Willingham Alternate; Precinct 123, 124, and 141, Penny Ragland Presiding, Marjory Early Alternate; Precinct 125, Jan Riley Presiding, Katie Bouska Alternate; Precinct 129, 139 & 144, Jay Benton Presiding, Judith Schuster Alternate; Precinct 130 & 131, Maureen Kennedy Presiding, Vicente Guerrero Alternate; Precinct 132 & 133, Tommie Worthy Presiding, Lucinda Martinez Alternate;
• Approved the Early Voting Ballot Board for the November 3, 2009 Constitutional Amendment Election as follows: Republican Party – Dan Altman Presiding Judge, Laurie Jones, David Hunnicutt, Paul Perry; Democratic Party, Billy Roberts, Virgil Black, Ron Moore, Rex Carey;
• Approved a contract with the North Central Texas Council of Governments for funding for the Cities Readiness Initiative for the year running August 1, 2009 through July 31, 2010 and authorized posting of a job announcement for the temporary position of volunteer coordinator funded by that grant;
• Authorized a continuation in Cause No. 71-181-00458-08, City of Midlothian and County of Ellis vs. Kehe Foods, presently pending before the American Arbitration Association;
• Approved purchase of a used 2008 Ford F150 pickup for Precinct 1 from Waxahachie Autoplex at a total cost of $20,400;
• Awarded a contract to Lindsey Construction for installing a 2-inch asphalt overlay on Victorian Drive based on bid pricing through Texas Procurement and Support Services (TPASS) at $64.42 per ton for approximately 1000 tons;
• Declared a Hyster pad foot roller, a 2000 Ford F250 Pickup, and a 2002 Terex TV1400 as surplus for Precinct 3 and authorized disposal at auction;
• Granted a variance to the Subdivision Rules Regulations and Specifications relating to the road frontage requirement to allow a landowner to construct a new home on an existing slab.