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The Wichita County Commissioners Court passed an incentive plan for the Pamlico Air plant Tuesday.
The plant, located in the former Stanley Tool building in the city’s business park, makes air filters. It has already surpassed its promise to employ 200 workers.
The county’s incentive package includes abating most taxes the first year and then increasing taxes in increments over the next 10 years.
Under law, counties cannot offer abatement on taxes to its sinking funds or road and bridge fund, but county Judge Woody Gossom said that would have little impact on the deal.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Commissioner Mark Beauchamp said the jail portion of the new Law Enforcement Center has earned a certificate of occupancy from the city of Wichita Falls.
Masks will continue to be required in most of the Wichita County Courthouse for the time being, despite a directive from Gov. Greg Abbott that mask mandates be lifted.
Eighty-Ninth District Court Judge Charles Barnard told county commissioners Monday that areas of county buildings that contain courtrooms remain under a ruling from the Texas Supreme Court that requires face coverings. Barnard said he anticipates the supreme court will lift its restrictions June 1 or earlier.
In Wichita County that means for at least the next week, masks will not be required on the first floor of the courthouse but will be required on the second and third floors. County Judge Woody Gossom said that applies to the District Attorney s Office, which is located on the third floor.
Commissioner Mahler goes on rant about IT worries
County commissioner worried needs outpace capabilities
Wichita County Commissioner Barry Mahler warned fellow commissioners he was going on a rant - and then he did.
The blast came just before commissioners began a work session Friday. The subject of Mahler s wrath was the state of the county s information technology. In the last two days I ve lost every one of my emails. They just disappeared. They re gone. Can t seem to get em back. Don t know why.
Mahler questioned whether needs have outpaced capabilities. He said after the meeting his frustration was not aimed just at the county but arose from his personal experience with the high-tech world.
Who were those unmasked men?
County commissioners thumb uncovered noses at their own mask mandate.
A standing policy that all in the Wichita County Courthouse wear facemasks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 fell by the wayside Monday as county commissioners took a relaxed view of the policy as it applied to them.
Gov. Greg Abbott dropped the statewide mask mandate March 10, but Wichita County buildings abide by an order imposed by a panel of local judges that says masks are required until June 1.
One week after affirming the county mask mandate, commissioners Barry Mahler and Mark Beauchamp thumbed their uncovered noses at the policy by going sans-mask throughout the entire meeting. Other masks fell away as the morning wore on, revealing an assortment of bare cheeks, mustaches, goatees and beards.