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Finalizes countywide polling process
Colorado County officials received the 2025 Excellence in Safety Award from the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool and approved steps to final ize the county’s participation in countywide polling, Tuesday, May 26, during Commissioners Court.
Safe ty award
The award recognizes 13 member counties this year for “outstanding commitment to workplace safety and effective management of workers’ compensation claims,” according to a press release from the association. Colorado County also received the award for 2024.
“This is something that not only takes that leadership side, but it also comes from the employees,” said Isaac Garcia, a senior risk consultant at TAC RMP. “(This) takes teamwork but also a genuine commitment to safety not just risk management.”
Only about 6% of members counties are able to achieve the award’s qualifications, according to Garcia. To qualify, a county must participate in TAC RMP’s workers’ compensation program, maintain a safety or accident prevention plan and operate an active safety committee.
County wide polling
County elections administrator Rebecka LaCourse received the court’s approval to apply for successful status of the countywide pol l ing program following the May 2 local election. LaCourse said the assessment period for the county’s participation should end once the report is approved.
“For the voters of Colorado County, I’m not expecting huge changes for them again,” LaCourse said.
Under the program, voters could vote at any polling location throughout the county during early voting and on election day, regardless of their assigned precincts. The program reduces costs to the county for staffing, ballots, time and more. LaCourse said one election could have had a maximum of 24 different ballots between political parties, precincts and school districts.
“This was a difficult election to start with, mainly because local elections are pretty self-contained in their cities and communities,” LaCourse said. “However, when we did the hand count, which is required after every election, we see that there were a good dozen or more individuals that went outside of their home communities to vote.”
The county also collected feedback from voters on various aspects of the voting experience to include as required in the state report. The county scored above 9.75 out of 10 each for the following categories: parking, waiting in line, convenience, poll worker knowledge and quality of facilities.
“One thing we’ve definitely noticed is increased voter turnout,” LaCourse said. “…We also noticed in early voting, we are getting a majority of our voters. We contribute that to be able to go to any polling location.”
