Published: February 13, 2007 12:55 am      

County appoints new fire marshal

GREENVILLE — The Hunt County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to appoint a current Hunt County employee to the role of county fire marshal and emergency management coordinator.

Richard Hill, who was a county environmental enforcement officer, was named as both fire marshal and emergency management coordinator Monday. The both posts had been vacant.

“I was very, very happy,” Hill said of the decision. “I feel like I have 110 percent backing from the Hunt County Commissioners Court, and I’m going to try to do the very best job possible. I’m really excited about working for the citizens of Hunt County.”

County Judge John Horn said Hill will be paid a base salary of $39,425 — which is the same salary long-time Fire Marshal Dorsey Driggers made at the time of his retirement.

Hill said he is very excited about his appointment to both posts, but said there is a lot of work to be done. He said most of his time will be spent as emergency management coordinator — as required by the grants the county receives.

“I’ve got to get into high gear,” Hill said. “I’m going to have to hit the ground running at a very fast pace.”

Hill said though the previous Emergency Management Coordinator Dorsey Driggers did a great job before his retirement in September, there are several deadlines fast approaching that the county needs to meet and more work that needs to be done.

The Court had been officially searching for a replacement since Jan. 8, when Horn recommended forming a hiring committee, composed of himself, Commissioner Jim Latham and Hunt County Fire Fighters Association President Steve Bowen, to find a qualified candidate to fill the vacancy. Bowen, however, was unable to serve due to a conflict of interest so HCFFA representative Lloyd Knowles served instead.

Horn said he was pleased with the selection and said working with Hill should be “a positive experience.”

“We’re excited about working with him,” Horn said. “Richard’s got a lot of work ahead of him.”

Hill said he hopes to work closely with all of the entities around the county including the Greenville and Commerce fire departments to continue to develop emergency management plans.

“We want to have everything there in case we have an emergency,” he said.

Since the committee announced its plan to appoint him to the position late last week, Hill said he has already received a lot of support from Hunt County city officials and residents.

“It’s overwhelming to me how much help and support I’ve gotten,” he said. “It’s going to go a long way.”

In other business the Court unanimously approved:

— a proposal from Eagle Scout Thomas Keysor to build a dock at Camp Harlow.

— the Hunt County Extension Office Plan of Work for 2007.

— the annual report for the Historical Commission.

— the report from the fire marshal hiring committee.

— the completion of required 20 hours of continuing education for 2006 for Hunt County Clerk Linda Brooks.



— setting the common area at the base of the central stairway on the second floor of the Courthouse for all sales of real property.

— a new polling location for Precinct 428 to be at the new City Hall (1119 Alamo St.) in Commerce, which will replace the current one at Commerce Middle School.

— changing County Road KCJ’s name to Garrett Road.

— naming an unnamed road in Precinct 1 off of Farm-to-Market Road 903 Coffey Lane.

— the Cities Readiness Initiative Contract Amendment, FY 2007 County Work Plan, and Budget Sheet for emergency preparedness.

— the use of City of Greenville 4A Funds for Project Salary within the county.

— allowing seized property that was placed in the care of the Audie Murphy Cotton Museum to be refurbished and put on display.

— a waiver of county taxes on the properties R37622 and R70327 now owned by the City of Commerce.

— a waiver of all taxes due and the execution of deed vesting full and absolute title in the City of Hawk Cove for Whiskers Retreat Installment No. 1, Block 5, Lot 453A and 454A, tax account No. R87130 and R87131.

— a request to construct electrical power distribution facilities along and across County Road 3529 in Precinct 3.

— the final plat for Risley Farm Addition Phase 2 in Precinct 1 by a 4-0 vote with Commissioner Ralph Green abstaining.

— upgrading dirt to rock on County Road 1026, County Road 1085, County Road 1088, County Road 1089, and County Road 1102 in Precinct 1.

— a $5,750 open bid for sale of 72 foot by 18 foot used steel deck banister bridge in Precinct 1.

— a $6,690 bid for sale of 17 foot by 60 foot used steel deck banister bridge in Precinct 1.

— all bids for recycled concrete.

— all bids for recycled asphalt.

— to construction of wall in the voter administrator office to create an office for Mina Cook.

— the purchase of a copy machine for the Hunt County Health Department.

— the purchase of printers and bar code readers from HAVA Team compatibility funds.

— a contract between the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshal’s Service.

— the purchase of 2007 Ford 15 passenger van out of the Federal Inmate Program Funds to be utilized by the Hunt County Jail transport of federal inmates.