November 12, 2025 Hood County Commissioners' Court

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The Hood County Commissioners' Court convened on November 12, 2025, to conduct regular county business and address citizen concerns. The meeting included extensive public comment on environmental and industrial development issues, particularly regarding data center projects and their potential impacts on water resources and air quality in the Brazos River Basin, as well as concerns raised by citizens regarding law enforcement practices and First Amendment protections. The court approved several operational matters including equipment purchases for law enforcement, grant acceptances, budget amendments, and property development approvals, and engaged Bracewell law firm for legal representation on economic development and subsection K policy matters. The meeting concluded with financial report approvals and adjournment at approximately 11:55 a.m.

• Opening and invocationThe meeting opened with an invocation from Pastor Leninbach of Kingdom Life Church, followed by pledges of allegiance.
• Happy Hill Farm 50th anniversary recognitionThe Commissioner's Court honored North Central Texas Academy at Happy Hill Farm on their 50th anniversary and the 2025 NCTA Lady Pioneers volleyball team's state championship.
• Citizens comments at large—Greg Harrell on arrests and political concernsGreg Harrell, Hood County Republican chairman, raised concerns about arrests he characterized as politically motivated and related to individuals' political alignment.
• Citizens comments—Karen Clark on Cellfish Data Center water usageKaren Clark, a Plexi Valley resident near the proposed Cellfish Data Center, detailed water consumption concerns based on a Somerville County Water District Board meeting.
• Citizens comments—Andrea Ferguson on Tax Assessor vehicle registration office weekend closuresTax Assessor-Collector Andrea Ferguson announced the closure of weekend vehicle registration services due to insufficient revenue.
• Citizens comments—Sheri Holmes on Fort Spunky data center noise and environmental concernsSheri Holmes, a Belchase Road resident, expressed concerns about noise, light, and air pollution from the Fort Spunky project and an existing data center at Mitchell Bend.
• Citizens comments—Brian Glenn on water, power, and environmental protections for Brazos River BasinBrian Glenn presented detailed analysis of data center water and power consumption and proposed environmental protection measures for the Brazos River Basin.
• Citizens comments—John Shirley on First Amendment concerns and civil liabilityJohn Shirley warned of potential civil liability, federal litigation, and media attention resulting from what he characterized as First Amendment violations by county officials.
• Citizens comments—Tom Weekes on Mitchell Bend environmental degradation and resource protectionTom Weekes, a 30-year Mitchell Bend resident, described the area's loss of night sky and peace due to the Bitcoin mine and raised concerns about runoff contamination of the Brazos River.
• Citizens comments—Monica Brown on Colton Croinger arrest and First Amendment protectionsMonica Brown spoke about veteran Colton Croinger's arrest for sharing a political meme, characterizing it as a First Amendment violation and calling for investigations and policy reviews.
• Citizens comments—Don Johnson on lawfare and legal system manipulationDon Johnson defined "lawfare" as the strategic use of legal actions to achieve political goals and raised concerns about its application in Hood County.
• Carl Cottinger arrest and public information concernsA speaker raised concerns about felony charges against Carl Cottinger related to social media posts and questioned the transparency of law enforcement and the District Attorney's office in providing information about the case.
• Daniel Leaky comments on subsection K and industrial developmentDaniel Leaky urged the court to use subsection K authority to require environmental and water impact studies for large building projects and to establish protections against unregulated industrial expansion.
• Cheryl Shaden comments on TCEQ emissions monitoring and air qualityCheryl Shaden requested that all elected officials petition TCEQ for emissions monitoring stations in Hood County and highlighted the absence of cumulative air quality oversight.
• Cindy Highmith on elected officials' responsibility and air quality advocacyCindy Highmith emphasized the need for elected officials to submit public comments on TCEQ permits and described her efforts to secure emissions monitoring restoration.
• Mark Lowry on environmental legacy and law enforcement concernsMark Lowry urged the court to protect Hood County's environment through decisive action on industrial development and criticized recent law enforcement practices he characterized as inconsistent with constitutional protections.
• Bracewell law firm engagement and economic development legal representationThe court approved engaging Bracewell law firm to provide legal representation on Hood County economic development matters and subsection K policy development.
• Cheryl Shaden on subchapter K authority and environmental protection ordinanceCheryl Shaden presented detailed legal authority under Texas Local Government Code for the court to regulate industrial development and protect the Brazos River Basin.
• Tough Books laptop and tablet replacement for law enforcementThe court approved purchase of 73 Tough Book laptops, tablets, and accessories for county law enforcement and emergency management at a total cost of $318,570.37.
• Toughbook tablet refresh for law enforcementThe court approved purchase of 73 Toughbook tablets and accessories for county law enforcement emergency management.
• Bulletproof vest partnership grant authorizationThe court authorized the county judge to apply for a 50% match grant to replace 15 ballistic vests for the sheriff's office.
• Memoranda of understanding for grant recipientsThe court authorized the county judge to sign memoranda of understanding with five entities receiving grants from Hood County in the 2025-26 budget from the public assistance budget.
• FY26 Senate Bill 22 award acceptanceThe court accepted the FY26 Senate Bill 22 award for the county attorney, district attorney, and sheriff's office.
• Hood Central Appraisal District board member electionsThe court voted to distribute 1,165 votes evenly among five candidates for two-year terms on the Hood Central Appraisal District board beginning January 1, 2026.
• FY26 solid waste grant award acceptanceThe court accepted the FY26 solid waste grant award of $136,612.98 from the North Central Texas Council of Governments for upgrades to the citizens collection station.
• TCDRS plan approval for calendar year 2026The court approved the Texas County and District Retirement System plan and authorized the county judge to sign the TCDRS plan agreement for calendar year 2026.
• HCAD budget amendment review and approvalThe court reviewed and approved the Hood County Appraisal District budget amendment dated October 28, 2025, reflecting improved transparency under new chief appraiser leadership.
• Employee vacation leave accrual date correctionsThe court approved adjusting vacation leave accrual dates for two employees who transferred from other county departments to adult probation, retroactively to their full-time hire dates.
• Resolution requesting HCAD retirement write-off explanationThe court adopted a resolution requesting detailed explanation of a $216,952 retirement write-off on page 19 of Hood Central Appraisal District's 2023 fiscal year audit.
• Fixed assets reclassification and construction expensesThe county reclassified prior-year construction-related invoices totaling $163,000, with $53,000 pertaining to a new roof on an existing building, moving these amounts from construction in progress to buildings and improvements per audit report page 19.
• Audit workpapers and detailed explanationsThe county agreed to request that auditors provide workpapers supporting the fund movements shown in the audit, subject to CPA rules governing those documents.
• Resolution on retirement write-off explanationThe commissioners adopted a resolution requesting a detailed explanation of a $216,952 retirement write-off noted on page 19 of the Hood Central Appraisal District 2023 audit.
• Granberry Merchants Association T-Mobile Hometown grant resolutionThe court approved a resolution in support of the Granberry Merchants Association's application for a $50,000 T-Mobile Hometown grant to install surround sound speakers around the downtown square.
• Consent agenda approvalThe commissioners approved the consent agenda without pulling any items for individual discussion.
• Public hearing scheduling for replatsThe court scheduled public hearings for two residential plat developments for December 19, 2025.
• Flood damage prevention variance hearing for 813 Wood HavenThe court held a public hearing and voted to grant a variance to the Hood County flood damage prevention order for property at 813 Wood Haven, where the house elevation is 8.8 feet below the base flood elevation.
• Replat approval for Old WD Ranch section A phase 2The court approved the replat of Old WD Ranch section A phase 2, subdividing portions of lots 6RB and 7 into three new lots served by private wells and on-site sewage facilities.
• Financial reports and invoice certificationThe county certified payment of invoices for October 17–30, 2025, totaling $74,110.37 from the old budget and $3,157,169.54 from the new budget, following auditor review.
• Monthly financial and bank reconciliation reportsThe court accepted monthly financial reports and bank reconciliations for October 1–15, 2025, as reviewed by the county auditor.
• Meeting adjournmentThe commissioners' court concluded business and adjourned at approximately 11:55 a.m.