Pet-free workplace policy adopted

GONZALES – County commissioners on Feb. 13 approved a new “pet free workplace” policy that prohibits people from bringing animals into county-owned buildings other than service animals.

The policy restricts pets from entering the county courthouse or other county-owned buildings where public business is conducted.

The policy states that “employees and officials shall not keep, house or harbor pets in county offices.”

The sole exception to the policy is service animals (seeing eye dogs, drug dogs) that provide necessary functions regarding personal guidance or mobility.

Commissioners also approved an agreement between the city of Waelder and the Gonzales County Sheriff's Office that will enable the Waelder Police Department to file its own crime reports.

Because Waelder PD are not a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week department, they are not eligible to report their crime statistics. Because the sheriff's office is, they are eligible to be Waelder PD's sponsoring agent.

County Judge David Bird said that, for instance, when WPD makes an arrest while they're on the clock, they will be able to report it. However, when GCSO does the same on the off-time, they will be required to report it.

“[Waelder] can't apply for any grants out of the governor's office for law enforcement assistance without reporting all of their crime. So they have to have [GCSO] to sponsor them so they can report the crimes,” Bird said.

Although commissioners approved the plan, Waelder City Council will not take up the matter until their next meeting on March 2.

In other business, commissioners:

• received a petition to close a portion of CR 241 and authorize the posting of a 20-day notice requesting closure of said road
• approved Judge Bird as signatory authority for the 2018 Border Star Grant
• declared a 2009 Kenworth truck as surplus for trade-in on a 2018 Peterbilt truck