Based upon Election Administrator Jane Anderson’s certification of qualified signatures on a Local Option Petition submitted for the City of Palmer, Ellis County Commissioners ordered that an election be held in the City of Palmer “TO LEGALIZE THE SALE OF BEER AND WINE” on November 2, 2010, the next uniform election date. The City of Palmer will be responsible for the election cost.

Commissioner Ron Brown, Precinct 4, said, “ If they have followed all the proper channels, then we have no choice but to approve this item.”

Commissioners also approved the polling locations for the November 2, 2010 general election as well as the early voting schedule and locations for early voting.

Polling locations will be as follows:

• Pct. 101 & 102, Midlothian Church of Christ
• Pct. 103, First Baptist Church of Ovilla
• Pct. 104 & 110, Acorn Building/Old Junior High, Red Oak
• Pct. 105 & 140, Eastridge Elementary, Red Oak
• Pct. 106 & 143, Ferris ISD Administration Building
• Pct. 107 & 142, Midlothian Conference Center
• Pct. 108, Creekside Church of Christ, Midlothian
• Pct. 109, Red Oak City Hall
• Pct. 111 & 136, Waxahachie Bible Church
• Pct. 112 & 118, Church of Christ, Maypearl
• Pct. 113 & 115, Graham Street Church of Christ, Waxahachie
• Pct. 114, First Baptist Church/Epton Hall, Waxahachie
• Pct. 116 & 128, Fundamental Baptist Church, Palmer
• Pct. 117, Bristol Community Center
• Pct. 119, Buffalo Creek Baptist Church, Waxahachie
• Pct. 120 & 145, Farley Street Baptist Church, Waxahachie
• Pct. 121 & 127, Refiner’s Fire Ministries, Ennis
• Pct. 122, Church of Christ on Country Club Road, Ennis
• Pct. 123 & 141, Bright Morning Star Baptist Church, Ennis
• Pct. 124 & 126, Trinity United Methodist Church, Ennis
• Pct. 125, Ellis County Sub-Courthouse in Ennis
• Pct. 129 & 139, Park Meadows Baptist Church, Waxahachie
• Pct. 130, Milford Community Center
• Pct. 131, Italy City Council Chamber
• Pct. 132, Avalon High School
• Pct. 133, Bardwell Community Center
• Pct. 134, First United Methodist Church, Waxahachie
• Pct. 135, Ferris Heights Methodist Church, Waxahachie
• Pct. 137, Longbranch Community Church, Midlothian
• Pct. 138, Oak Leaf City Hall
• Pct. 144, Living Hope Church of the Nazarene, Waxahachie

Early voting for both the General Election and the Local Option Election will begin on October 18, 2010 and continue through October 29, 2010. Locations for early voting will be the Elections Office in Waxahachie, the Ellis County Sub-Courthouse located in Ennis, the Midlothian Conference Center, and the Acorn Building in Red Oak. For specific hours of operation at each location, visit the county website at www.co.ellis.tx.us.

Commissioners also reappointed Dr. Thomas Ledbetter to a second two-year term as the Ellis County Health Authority.

Emergency Management Coordinator John Patterson said “Dr. Ledbetter has provided us with support & guidance on health issues in the county for the last two years, including the H1N1 crisis and we are looking forward to the next two years.

According to the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 121.021, a Local Health Authority is a physician appointed to administer state and local laws relating to public health within the appointing body’s jurisdiction, performing those duties necessary to protect the public health.

In other business, Commissioners:

• Took no action on contract with BAT Security for installation and monthly maintenance for an alarm system in the Waxahachie tax office;
• Approved a contract with West Publishing for the law library to use West Complete for print publications, with a yearly savings of approximately $1,300;
• Approved an amendment to the existing contract between Ellis County and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding a grant relating to expenditure of Low Income Vehicle Repair Assistance, Retrofit, and Accelerated Vehicle Retirement Program (LIRAP) funds for Local Initiative Projects under Texas Health and Safety Code, Section 382.220;
• Approved a replat in Emerald Forest, Section One, pct. 3.