LA GRANGE — The commissioner’s court accepted the grant budget for the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department in a special meeting on May 2.
During the Commissioners Court meeting on April 29, grant budgets were accepted for the county attorney's office and constables unanimously. However, an objection was raised to accepting the grant budget for the sheriff’s department due to concerns over the allocation of funds.
Commissioners Harvey Berckenhoff and Jason McBroom objected to the sheriff’s proposed use of the money, leading to a request for a special grant order to be accepted by the court.
Grant Specialist Angela Hahn and Assistant County Attorney Blake Watson impressed upon the Commissioners Court that the budgets provided by the sheriff’s department were appropriate and lawful and met the requirements of the code.
Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek informed the court that he intends to use the money to raise salaries across the board in his department, including jailers.
Korenek stated, “The grant stipulates that the money is to be used to increase salaries and that is what I intend to do.”
During the meeting, Berckenhoff and McBroom objected to the court approving how the sheriff was utilizing the funds. Following a lengthy discussion, Fayette County Judge Dan Mueller asked for a vote.
The vote to accept and approve the budget for the grant funds for the sheriff’s department was approved by a 3 to 2 vote with commissioners Luke Sternadel and Drew Brossmann, and Mueller voting for passage, and Berckenhoff and Mc-Broom voting against passage.
Mueller concluded “Roughly 90 percent of the 254 counties in Texas qualified to apply for this grant. I'm glad Fayette County qualified. The legislature recognized a need to bolster law enforcement and the prosecution of people who break the law. I am glad we are capturing this money.”
