September 28, 2021 Hood County Commissioners' Court

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The Hood County Commissioners' Court met on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, to conduct routine business including the approval of a consent agenda with two items pulled for separate discussion, authorization of several interlocal agreements with volunteer fire departments and animal control entities, and approval of a major $1.761 million regional radio system contract with L3 Harris Technologies. The court also recognized a retired Marine Chief Warrant Officer with a proclamation, presented a 25-year service award to a courthouse employee, approved payment of invoices totaling $1,873,204.01, and addressed personnel matters including pay increases for election workers and corrections to salary schedules. Additional items addressed included development approvals for property replats, environmental health department audit acceptance, and discussions regarding burn ban policy and economic development contract renewal.

• Call to order and opening observancesThe meeting was called to order on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, at 9 a.m. in the Hood County Justice Center, with an invocation and pledge.
• Proclamation honoring retired Marine Chief Warrant Officer Michael MusselmanA proclamation was issued designating September 28, 2021, as Mike Musselman Day, recognizing his service and humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan.
• Service award for 25-year employeeA 25-year service award was presented to Stephen Mahaffey, a courthouse employee and chaplain.
• Consent agenda review and pullsTwo items were pulled from the consent agenda for discussion: the campaign finance software exemption (F1) and the Tyler contract amendment (H).
• Easy Campaign Finance Software exemption requestThe Elections Administrator requested approval to purchase Easy Campaign Finance Software for $3,000 from Easy Vote Solutions as a single-source exemption to competitive bidding policy.
• Tyler contract amendment authorizationCommissioner Eagle requested a separate vote on Item H to authorize the County Judge to sign an amendment to the Tyler contract adjusting software maintenance fee dates.
• Consent agenda approval voteThe consent agenda, with the two pulled items discussed, was approved by vote.
• Development item—Brazos River Acres replat approvalA replat of Brazos River Acres was approved, adjusting the lot line between two parcels.
• Cartwright Ranch final plat authorizationThe court authorized the County Judge to sign the final plat of Cartwright Ranch, previously approved by Parker County.
• Financial reports and invoices paymentThe court approved payment of invoices totaling $1,873,204.01 and reviewed monthly financial reports.
• Monthly financial reports acceptanceMonthly reports from county departments were reviewed and accepted as court records.
• Environmental health audit acceptanceThe 2021 audit of the health department and environmental health department financial records was accepted as presented with no issues identified.
• Salary and line item transfer correctionsCorrections to 2021–2022 salary schedules and process line item transfers were approved.
• Hood County Teen Court community service agreementThe court authorized the County Judge to sign an interlocal agreement with Teen Court to allow youths to perform community service, including Saturday work at the county collection station.
• Hood County Central Appraisal District board nominationsThe court submitted nine nominees for positions on the Hood County Central Appraisal District Board of Directors, with voting to occur before December 15, 2021.
• Volunteer fire department interlocal agreementsThe court approved and signed interlocal agreements with nine Hood County volunteer fire departments for 2021–2022, with a request for financial reporting addendum.
• Volunteer fire department interlocal agreements with bank statement requirementCommissioners approved interlocal agreements for nine Hood County volunteer fire departments with a stipulation requiring bank statement disclosure.
• Hood County animal control interlocal agreements and fee adjustmentsAnimal control presented revised interlocal agreements with cities showing modest fee increases based on actual service costs.
• Portable tower rental extension paymentSheriff requested approval for one additional month of portable rental tower service at $4,714.29 after Harris Corporation intervened on late fees.
• L3 Harris regional radio system contract and tower infrastructureCounty approved a $1.761 million system purchase agreement with L3 Harris Technologies for a regional radio system with multiple agencies utilizing City of Granberry infrastructure and network.
• JTS Diamond A tower and microwave equipment quotesSheriff requested approval for JTS Diamond A tower and microwave interconnection quotes totaling $607,158.88 to connect all regional radio system tower sites.
• Memorandum of understanding with City of Granbury for radio system user feesCounty approved a memorandum of understanding establishing annual fees for law enforcement and emergency services use of the regional radio system.
• Part-time election worker pay rate increasesCounty approved pay increases for election workers effective October 1, 2021, raising judges to $15 per hour and clerks to $14 per hour.
• Election Day Clerk CompensationThe court voted on clerk wage rates for early voting and election day.
• 90-Day Burn Ban DiscussionThe court discussed whether to impose a burn ban, with rain forecasted for the coming week.
• Economic Development Service Agreement RenewalThe court considered whether to renew or terminate the economic development contract with Granbury Chamber of Commerce.
• Tentop Highway and Hilltop Road Debris CleanupThe court considered authorizing road operations to remove debris from a cleanup site in an HOA area after a controlled burn became uncontrolled.
• Fiscal Year 2022 Budget OverviewThe court reviewed budget revenue and expense figures for fiscal years 2021 and 2022.
• Lease Negotiations for 1322 Biloxi HighwayThe court authorized the county attorney to negotiate lease terms with occupants at the county property on Biloxi Highway.