January 28, 2020 Hood County Commissioners' Court

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Hood County Commissioners' Court met on January 28, 2020, to conduct regular business including recognizing county service and volunteers, approving residential subdivision plats, and addressing operational matters. The court approved several items including financial reports, a jail fire alarm system upgrade, donation of fire hose to volunteer departments, hiring of a Deputy Fire Marshal, and budget amendments to streamline salary position processes. The court tabled two items—the 2020 auditor request for proposals and Fire Marshal take-home vehicle authorization—pending full court participation. The meeting also included approval of various community events and county accommodations, such as employee parking for the Wine Walk and use of the courthouse gazebo for seasonal activities.

• Call to order and invocationThe meeting was called to order and opened with invocation by a community representative.
• Public participation proceduresPublic comment procedures were announced for agenda items.
• Service awards recognitionThree individuals were recognized for five years of county service.
• County volunteer recognition remarksCounty leadership praised the volunteer commitment that contributes to Hood County's growth and community development.
• Consent agenda—military surplus equipment and freight costsCommissioners discussed a cost-sharing arrangement for freight charges on emergency lighting equipment acquired through the military surplus program.
• Forward Training Center recognition and volunteers dayCounty commissioners recognized the Forward Training Center as an important community organization providing job training and employment assistance.
• Stellar Court road acceptance and survey issuesRoad operations staff presented a survey discovery of a mobile home encroaching on Stellar Court right-of-way in Comanche Cove subdivision.
• Replat of Orchards 12B—public hearing scheduledCommissioners set a public hearing for a replat of residential lots.
• Final plat approval—Orchards 13 subdivisionCommissioners approved a final plat for a new residential subdivision.
• Financial reports and invoice approvalsCommissioners reviewed and approved financial documents for the reporting period.
• Annex 2 employee parking accommodation for wine walkCommissioners approved alternate parking arrangements for county employees during the Granberry Wine Walk street closure.
• Maintenance position reclassificationCommissioners approved downgrading an unfilled assistant maintenance director position to a lower-level maintenance technician role.
• Historic courthouse gazebo use approval—Santa houseCommissioners approved use of the historic courthouse gazebo for seasonal Santa house operation.
• Santa's House and Reading House seasonal eventThe courthouse Christmas display drew record attendance and the County approved expansion and extended take-down schedule.
• Jail fire alarm panel system upgradeWestern States Fire Protection provided a lower-cost proposal with system improvements and remote testing capability for duct detectors.
• 2020 RFP for outside auditors—tabledThe County postponed the request for auditor proposals until the full Commissioners' Court could participate in the selection process.
• Fire hose donation to volunteer fire departmentsThe County approved donation of 8,000 feet of used large-diameter hose to nine volunteer fire departments for training purposes.
• Fire Marshal take-home vehicles for out-of-county employees—tabledThe County tabled the request to authorize take-home vehicles for Fire Marshal's Office employees pending full court participation.
• Hiring of Deputy Fire Marshal—J. WebsterThe County hired J. Webster as Deputy Fire Marshal with a starting salary of $64,500 plus certification pay and emergency management duties.
• Amendment to 2020 budget salary position spreadsheetThe County adopted a process change to eliminate the need for repeated budget amendments when salary and position changes occur.
• Amendment to 2020 budget repositioning spreadsheetThe court approved an amendment to the 2020 budget repositioning spreadsheet to incorporate recent actions.
• Granberry Living Christmas Cards event approvalLakeside Baptist Church requested approval for the Granberry Living Christmas Cards event on the courthouse square for December 11–12, 2020.
• Meeting adjournmentThe court adjourned with no further business.