[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6199826,"mediaKeyId","3822913-9f7764f1fcf947ac9d79dbb0fbdf327d","parentId",3822913,"title","Wichita County moves toward central custody of vehicle titles; auditor's office to draft policy","audioSeconds",616,"startMs",3645000,"endMs",4261000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3822913-9f7764f1fcf947ac9d79dbb0fbdf327d&start=3645&end=4261","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3822913-9f7764f1fcf947ac9d79dbb0fbdf327d/thumbnail_3645000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6199826/Wichita-County/Texas/Wichita-County-moves-toward-central-custody-of-vehicle-titles-auditors-office-to-draft-policy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6199826-28d6652dded8a39a8da084e7d56a8163/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148170&Signature=E0VMuT3MVKDfV78uQqpn8O4UJeVfUjHZgZtml9V6OAFIFWHHI-6fAK09t2U85COvwnUC7Z14bkTG7ywgIvDtbTIKfong8wWH-cNj9SBY9vjkF7DkdCxMIGoivwlmhcxwZyVgDVHYFB6ghyINwlSYdd4PZBkypbZThV3R37o7snRjIH2avkMHqdOHwx1MURgQPRiVQuG5t1oLOQ65cdme-5ydY1YS2GYpqcO2~-kkdm6ejM0NH50PrKns2pMkkaDM2wayZ0qnMwOInu~FVTemBHhU0RWi7oleCfE-aJWHaceW3UUw72lpxP-kMhN~4fiyH1v-FmvIjCxV3~61PZoxcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wichita County, TX","date","2025-06-14T04:23:34Z","article","Wichita County Commissioners' Court discussed centralizing vehicle titles and fixed‑asset records on June 13 and directed staff to prepare a proposed change to county policy.

Commissioners and staff described recurring problems locating vehicle and equipment titles across departments. Several speakers said titles for some county vehicles are missing, misfiled or carry inconsistent mailing addresses that make retrieval difficult. One commissioner said recent searches found titles dating back to 1977 alongside missing titles for newer purchases. County staff proposed keeping all county‑purchased vehicle and equipment titles in a secured, centralized location at the auditor's office (Tanya's office was discussed) and organizing the files by department to speed sales and transfers.

Mister Smock (county staff referenced in the discussion) and a county office representative told the court a central custodian for titles would simplify daily transactions and reduce time spent chasing documents: \"That's what we're talking about, a custodian of title. This is a great concept.\" The court discussed exceptions for items purchased with non‑general funds: titles for property bought with forfeiture or DA funds could remain under the DA or sheriff where required, but county‑purchased assets should be titled to Wichita County to keep the records consistent.

County records staff and the auditor's office said they already index many titles and could build department folders and VIN indexes; one staff member noted trailers and some older equipment can complicate the process if VINs are missing or inconsistent. The court asked Tanya to prepare a proposed change to the records‑and‑title policy and return it for action: \"Make that as a proposed change to the policy, and court can take action on it,\" a commissioner said.

No formal vote was recorded at the June 13 meeting. The proposed next steps are that titles for county‑purchased vehicles and equipment be consolidated in the auditor's office in department folders, with elected officials able to keep copies if desired; Tanya will prepare the draft policy language for the court to consider.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Commissioner's Court 6/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners discussed centralizing vehicle titles and fixed‑asset records in the county auditor's office to prevent lost titles and simplify sales and transfers; staff will draft a proposed policy change for the court to consider.","taxTitle","Wichita County, Texas","taxId",2723,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6199831,"Wichita County weighs raising travel meal rates; staff to draft policy revision",437,3189000,3626000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3822913-9f7764f1fcf947ac9d79dbb0fbdf327d&start=3189&end=3626","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3822913-9f7764f1fcf947ac9d79dbb0fbdf327d/thumbnail_3189000.jpg","/articles/6199831/Wichita-County/Texas/Wichita-County-weighs-raising-travel-meal-rates-staff-to-draft-policy-revision","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6199831-ca250ea5df2edc75d58f9f03fdff2c4d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148170&Signature=K1QVFbFDmRp-NFYK-WczIQY8WISqatSJv~vNGEZITl8wCdukCSUv~TO1utJDUpvn2LZ99NvD9g4oOiJXgfJNHeACOq~drTWntrGPK4aOBGp2xPpmhbdZJyc0yGuwDwhZAGeG14pR7C~YRWjg1AkhqZP1bB39k1gN9tM9CzaFvTpECCKXRXAx-xv1gQ9EdptsJAlndcd-C2WfgxjHS00jvfru44NF7OJq-95pRwcsbg9Kcjn98eU8HtQRkFUiO6MXKKONTilXUSIRiHrptH0usXvSF5mWuQq70oYFjPB4CZb2gFn8KJSQJLRQh5zXSO80QD2O0BeNH6ZAzrlJAiEQlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wichita County Commissioners' Court discussed whether to raise the county's meal per diem during its June 13 meeting, with members and staff agreeing to draft a policy revision for later approval.

Commissioner Matt (first name used in the transcript) explained the county has paid $20 per meal for some time and that federal M&IE (meals and incidental expenses) rates now put some popular destination cities at about $80 per day. \"The county's rate has been the $20 per meal,\" Matt said, noting that many conferences and hotels charge substantially more in cities such as Arlington, Fort Worth and Austin.

Commissioners discussed three options: (1) increase the flat per‑meal rate across the board; (2) adopt a location‑based table tied to federal M&IE zones; or (3) maintain current rates and reduce travel. Several members favored a modest, uniform increase rather than a more complex location matrix. One commissioner proposed a $5 increase per meal as a simple fix; another suggested a flat daily rate for full days. The transcript included federal M&IE examples cited in court: an $80 daily rate with a typical breakdown of roughly $20 for breakfast, $22 for lunch and $33 for dinner in certain Texas cities.

Members noted the personnel policy and the mechanics of reimbursement matter (the court must reconcile pay for hours away and the reimbursable meal allowance). Matt said he would coordinate with Tanya to draft revised policy language and return it to the court: \"It gives me what I need and I'll submit the… revision to the policy, and we'll send it for court to review and approve.\"

No formal vote or amendment was taken at the meeting. Commissioners discussed travel advances, documentation (agendas and hotel information) required for advances, and the county practice of not reimbursing meals included in conference registration. Several commissioners said modest increases that keep rules simple would be acceptable. The court asked staff to prepare a draft revision of the personnel/travel policy for future consideration.","Commissioners discussed raising county meal per diems from $20 per meal to better match federal M&IE rates and local costs. No change was made at the June 13 meeting; staff were asked to prepare a revision for court review.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6199836,"Wichita County hears risk-pool review showing high vehicle damage costs, strong workers'‑comp performance",1085,734000,1819000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3822913-9f7764f1fcf947ac9d79dbb0fbdf327d&start=734&end=1819","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3822913-9f7764f1fcf947ac9d79dbb0fbdf327d/thumbnail_734000.jpg","/articles/6199836/Wichita-County/Texas/Wichita-County-hears-risk-pool-review-showing-high-vehicle-damage-costs-strong-workerscomp-performance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6199836-6ecb7196bc567fd0049866995ecf6343/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148170&Signature=dNIrjWh9eFpazI1nDP1qI5ry1NnFT6-d-8G4f4rDBBM0h-U0sfS56w8IVkTI2kSmXYOij1QDiqlSD6~Vb32GYfuBog-dFjkEKJQp~O1qjmM4A-t8IgVhtiBW2J1yKz2XFQ7hXMNY4t5CEZecrHLEpUk-M5T9It-Km0Ni-jZPXwa6OrtLsklrSPeRUkL1Ofj5gV09Ou07T-ligOmEcjfoMG5BNMBjHmQWBK3srZ3Y5W0aON8Hp8N1PD90D5l-NmQ~~u0FrSqBTr24zzNu4Ne-2hHGRO-TALVansqe~2DgPg710gFz7AXDhkjJALNyvvM67ou3BYY1uoadaGxQe~IgkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wichita County Commissioners' Court on June 13 received a data review from Steve Owens of Attack Risk Management Services showing that auto physical‑damage claims have driven the county's loss exposure while workers' compensation results have stayed relatively low.

Owens told the court the pool has paid $528,508 in auto claims since October 2022, with the county's deductible share reported at $115,007.53, and that auto physical damage accounted for most of that total: the pool paid $351,005.62 for physical damage and $176,009.46 for auto liability. \"This is where the money's going from the county,\" Owens said, describing the purpose of the report as a way \"to show you the true cost of where the money is going every year, out of your claims.\"

The presentation broke costs down by department and year and showed deductibles declining after a peak in 2023. Owens pointed to a trend in deductible activity — \"it went from 40 to 25 to 15\" — and said that drop indicates fewer incidents: \"That means you've had less incidents. So that's a good thing.\" He told commissioners the county's $5,000 deductible per incident must be accounted for in budgeting even when a claim is not filed for lower‑cost damage.

Owens also compared Wichita County to the pool and region on loss ratios. On auto physical damage he reported a four‑year loss ratio of about 2.82 for Wichita County versus roughly 1.17 for the pool and 1.36 for the region. The presenter warned that pool‑wide high loss ratios are a concern but explained the difference between private insurers and a membership risk pool: \"We're not a for‑profit company, so we have that leeway… the pool is the pool. It's not the pool for auto, the pool for property, the pool for workers' comp.\"

On workers' compensation Owens said the pool paid $408,004.35 for 2021–25 claims (the presenter said he ran four years of data) and that Wichita County's workers'‑comp loss ratio was about 32.19, which he described as \"really good\" for a large county with a jail and many exposures. He noted that workers' comp is regulated by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and that \"there is no deductible on workers' comp by law,\" a point he raised when contrasting auto and workers'‑comp costs.

Commissioners asked for follow‑up details. Commissioner Watson asked about the county's annual premium contribution; Owens said the county's 2025 contribution (the pool premium terminology used in his slides) was about $45,002.67 for liability and $43,054.2 for physical damage and reiterated that the true cost to the county is the contribution plus deductible payments already incurred. Owens offered to provide more tailored comparisons to similarly sized counties (he said that analysis is manual and would be provided with lead time) and to send updated reports on demand. He also said he would work with Kenneth and with county staff to clarify why some losses were classified under \"public works\" and to pull a jail‑specific cause‑of‑loss report before the end of the meeting when asked: \"I can actually do that before we leave today.\"

The court did not take formal action during the presentation. Commissioners and staff praised the county's safety and training programs, and Owens recommended continuing current programs that appear to be reducing incidents. He said the firm can deliver detailed loss runs and custom breakdowns by cause, department, and time period for county budgeting and training purposes.

Next steps identified during the meeting included Owens providing department‑level clarification on public‑works classifications in coordination with Kenneth, supplying a jail cause‑of‑loss breakdown on request, and producing a manual peer‑county comparison if the court requests it. No motions or votes were recorded on this item.","At its June 13 meeting, Wichita County Commissioners received a presentation from risk‑management contractor Steve Owens detailing five‑year auto claim payouts, department-level breakdowns, and workers' compensation results; county staff were asked to follow up with detailed reports on public‑works classifications and jail claims.","actionData","errors"]

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Wichita County moves toward central custody of vehicle titles; auditor's office to draft policy

Wichita County weighs raising travel meal rates; staff to draft policy revision

Wichita County hears risk-pool review showing high vehicle damage costs, strong workers'‑comp performance