Management and Performance Review of County Government ...

Executive Summary
in good working order and prolong its operational life. The airport manager should
develop a capital improvement plan and equipment replacement schedule so that new
equipment can be acquired systematically, before the existing stock breaks down.
An FAA-certified airport must have a master plan for its operations. SETRA’s has
not been updated since 1994. Jefferson County should begin the master planning
process immediately. The process should address the airport’s continuing financial
viability, considering a broad variety of options for the next 10 to 25 years.
Health and Welfare / Library / Veterans Service Office
The Health and Welfare Department (HWD) provides medical services to qualified
indigent and low-income county residents. These services are provided at units in
Beaumont and Port Arthur—Unit 1 and 2, respectively. In addition, HWD maintains a
mid-county immunization clinic and a pharmacy collocated with Unit 1 in Beaumont.
New patients typically must wait three to four weeks for their first appointment,
forcing some indigent patients to use emergency rooms (ERs) for primary care.
Jefferson County should hire a third nurse for the Beaumont unit and should consider
hiring a physician assistant for both units, to ensure that it can continue to provide
federally required indigent health care.
The Jefferson County Library (JCL) operates a popular bookmobile that travels to
locations around the county on a regular schedule. Patronage at JCL itself, however,
has declined, a situation reflected in reduced staffing and shorter operating hours. The
JCL is staffed by just three library services specialists, lacks public Internet access and
is one of the few Texas libraries lacking an automated catalog and circulation system.
The commissioners should decide whether they want to maintain a functional
public library. The current facility is clearly inadequate. They should close the JCL and
negotiate agreements for county residents to use municipal libraries in the area, or
Page ES-9