March 12, 2024 Hood County Commissioners' Court

Open with transcript & summary →Search this meeting's transcript →

The Hood County Commissioners' Court met on March 12, 2024, to conduct routine business including the proclamation of April 2024 as both Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, as well as declaring March 29th as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. The court reviewed the county's medical plan with the Texas Association of Counties, discussed wellness initiatives to increase employee participation in preventive screening, and addressed ongoing Tyler Technologies software issues affecting justice court operations and financial reporting. Additional items approved included an interlocal agreement renewal with Erath County for inmate housing, equipment and facilities upgrades, various county placements and memorials, and road infrastructure improvements. The court also convened into executive session regarding a Hood County YMCA lease discussion before adjourning.

• Call to order and opening remarksThe Hood County Commissioners' Court meeting was called to order on March 12, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in the central Jury Room of the Ralph H Walton Jr Justice Center.
• Pledge of allegianceThe U.S. and Texas pledges of allegiance were recited.
• Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamationHood County Commissioners Court proclaimed April 2024 as Child Abuse Prevention Month, noting that nearly 270,000 children in Texas were reportedly abused or neglected last year.
• Sexual Assault Awareness Month proclamationHood County Commissioners Court proclaimed April 2024 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, noting that on average 463,634 victims aged 12 or older experience rape and sexual assault each year in the United States.
• Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day proclamationHood County Commissioners Court proclaimed March 29th, 2024, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day to honor Vietnam War service members.
• Texas Association of Counties medical plan updateJonathan Collander and the Texas Association of Counties regional team presented a midyear review of the Hood County medical plan with wellness updates and recommendations for plan renewal.
• Hood County medical plan loss ratio and cost trendsThe loss ratio metric was explained as the comparison between premiums paid and claims paid out, with Hood County's three-year ratio at 113% but recent 12-month ratio at 104%.
• Wellness initiatives and chronic conditions dataTasha Brent presented claims data showing top diagnostic and chronic categories, noting that musculoskeletal, cancer, and circulatory conditions are significant cost drivers.
• Annual physical and preventive wellness programsHood County had 132 employees receive annual wellness exams out of a population of less than half, prompting focus on increasing preventive screening participation.
• County-specific incentive strategy for wellness examsTasha Brent proposed implementing a county-specific incentive (CSI) to increase annual wellness exam participation among Hood County employees.
• Renewal timeline and next stepsThe Texas Association of Counties outlined the renewal process timeline including board determination of pool funding in May and renewal rate package delivery by end of May.
• Service awardsNo service awards were presented at this meeting.
• Citizens at large commentsThree residents signed up to speak during the open mic period, with remarks on Tyler software issues, election participation, and appreciation for transparent governance.
• Justice Court Tyler software issuesDub Gillum, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 4, reported ongoing problems with Tyler case management software affecting monthly reporting and payment processing across multiple county offices.
• Appreciation for election participation and governance transparencyGreg Harold commended recently elected Commissioners Andrews and Wilson, Sheriff Deeds, and other county officials for their service, and praised the Commissioners' Court for providing transparent forums for public participation.
• Blue flags and lights for Child Abuse Prevention MonthMission Granbury and Casa of Hood County requested approval to place Casa blue flags, blue and teal lights around the courthouse, and Piney River Children's Advocacy Center to place blue metal ribbons around the square during April for Child Abuse Prevention Month.
• Red ribbons and clothesline project for Sexual Assault Awareness MonthMission Granbury requested approval to display 60-foot red ribbons and a clothesline project on the square from April 1st through April 30th, 2024, in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
• Mission Granberry clothesline project display approvalThe court approved Mission Granberry's request to display a six-foot ribbon and clothesline project honoring Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
• Emergency Management grant applications updateMargaret Campbell reported significant progress on multiple grant applications for Sheriff's Office equipment, emergency infrastructure, and county-wide improvements.
• Alamo letter bronze structure placement approvalThe court approved placement of a bronze replica of the Alamo victory or death letter on the south side of the historic Courthouse as part of a statewide project.
• Hood County YMCA lease discussion introductionEdward Sandalin, YMCA board member and home builder, spoke before executive session regarding the Hood County YMCA recreational facility agreement with the county.
• Equipment operator promotionThe court approved promotion of an equipment operator to senior equipment operator effective March 25, 2024.
• Tona Newman memorial plaque approvalThe court approved placing a bronze memorial plaque in the justice center honoring district clerk Tona Newman's over 30 years of service.
• Errath County interlocal cooperation agreement renewalThe court approved renewing the interlocal cooperation agreement with Errath County for inmate housing with price increase from $45 to $65 per day.
• SAP Crystal Reports purchase agreement authorizationThe court prepared to authorize the county judge to sign a purchase agreement with SAP for Crystal Reports software based on three vendor quotes.
• SAP Crystal Reports software contract discussionCommissioners debated the terms and cost structure of three reporting software options for the Sheriff's office, focusing on maintenance fee escalation language.
• North Central Texas COG thorough fair planning study work authorizationCommissioners approved work authorization for TNP to provide planning study services for $50,000.
• District Attorney office employee hire above starting payCommissioners approved hiring a new legal assistant/clerk in the District Attorney's office at above-starting salary.
• Hood County Prayer Task Force facility usage for May 2ndCommissioners approved use of courthouse grounds for National Day of Prayer event.
• ARPA equipment purchase reclassification and consent agenda itemsCommissioners discussed reclassification of ARPA-funded equipment from small equipment to capital outlay and questioned funding for night security cameras.
• Road Operations traffic regulatory signs for precinct twoCommissioners held public hearing and approved placement of three traffic regulatory signs in Precinct Two to address recent traffic concerns.
• Road equipment options: Grinder/brush grinder replacement decisionCommissioners discussed options for addressing broken brush grinding equipment and ultimately tabled the decision to wait for part repair.
• Blue Branch Ranch plat correction approvalCommissioners approved a corrected replat with revised lot numbering from 76–79 to 82–85.
• Star Hollow replat public hearing scheduledCommissioners set a public hearing date for the replat of ranches at Star Hollow Lot 1 R Block one.
• County auditor invoice review and payment approvalCounty Auditor Stephanie Matlock presented invoices totaling $1,718,353.82 for payment with exceptions for two items over $10,000.
• Tyler Technologies software issues and implementation problemsJustice of the Peace and County Clerk described ongoing Tyler Technologies software defects preventing statutory compliance and accurate financial reporting.
• Sheriff's commissary, inmate, and bail bond financial review acceptanceCommissioners accepted the 2023–2024 financial records review of the sheriff's commissary, inmate, and bail bond divisions following a surprise cash audit.
• Executive session and adjournmentCommissioners convened into executive session at 11:18 and reconvened at 12:07 with no action taken.