September 27, 2022 Hood County Commissioners' Court

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The Hood County Commissioners' Court met on September 27, 2022, to address facility assessments, development matters, and routine county business. A comprehensive Law Enforcement Center building assessment identified significant deficiencies across exterior, structural, mechanical, and electrical systems, with an estimated project cost of approximately $25.5 million. The court approved several land replats despite public opposition to the Oak Water Ranch final plat on grounds of rural character concerns, and approved financial expenditures, grant authorizations, interlocal fire department agreements, and various administrative policies and appointments.

• Call to order and meeting detailsThe Hood County Commissioners' Court meeting was called to order on September 27, 2022, at 9:00 AM in the central jury room.
• Invocation and pledgesJames Long provided an invocation and the group recited pledges of allegiance.
• Public participation rulesThe judge reminded attendees of the requirement to fill out public participation forms before speaking on agenda items.
• Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation presentationMission Granbury staff presented on October Domestic Violence Awareness Month and announced a new community awareness event called "Light in the Window."
• LEC building assessment presentation by AGCMRyan Roseboro from AGCM presented a comprehensive facility condition assessment of the existing Law Enforcement Center building.
• Exterior building condition findingsThe assessment identified major issues with the exterior walls, windows, site drainage, and parking lot conditions.
• Structural and foundation issuesThe assessment observed foundation heaving, moisture transmission, and potential structural concerns without conducting destructive testing.
• Interior construction and finishesInterior doors, frames, hardware, kitchen equipment, ceiling height, and flooring showed significant wear and functional issues.
• Plumbing system deficienciesThe plumbing system shows evidence of negative drainage, buildup, rust, and cracking throughout the facility.
• HVAC and mechanical system problemsThe HVAC system is old and not operating as intended due to inmate interference, humidity issues, negative pressure, and aging equipment requiring replacement.
• Fire protection and electrical system issuesFire alarm panel, electrical panels, moisture intrusion, and wiring show age, degradation, and code compliance issues.
• Communications, security, and IT concernsSecurity cameras are outdated, IT room lacks dedicated humidity control, and communications infrastructure requires upgrades.
• Cost estimate methodology and projectionsThe assessment included escalation and soft costs projected to Q3/Q4 2023, resulting in a total estimated project cost of approximately 25.5 million dollars.
• Jail facility assessment and construction timelineThe county received a detailed report on jail renovation needs, with cost estimates and phasing challenges related to keeping the facility operational during construction.
• Service Awards presentationThree county employees were recognized for service anniversaries, with one employee present to receive acknowledgment.
• Consent agenda approvalThe court approved the consent agenda by motion without pulling or discussing individual items.
• Public hearing scheduling for plat replatsDevelopment staff requested setting public hearing dates for two replat applications in Precincts One and Four.
• Oak Water Ranch final plat: public comments on density and rural characterCommunity members from Comanche Peak Coalition and neighboring residents spoke in opposition to a three-lot final plat, citing concerns about groundwater, road safety, and preservation of rural character.
• Development staff response to public concernsClint Head (Development Director) addressed objections by explaining statutory and regulatory constraints on the county's authority to deny the plat.
• Legal constraints on plat denialCommissioners discussed the limits of county authority to deny a compliant plat and explored whether grounds for refusal existed.
• Oak Water Ranch final plat approvalDespite public opposition and commissioners' acknowledged concerns, the plat was approved on grounds that county regulations did not permit denial.
• Indian Harbor phase 4 lot 66R replat hearing and approvalA brief public hearing addressed combining two small lots into one quarter-acre lot in the rural district.
• Canyon Creek unit 1 lot 435R replat hearing and approvalStaff presented a replat combining two lots in Precinct 2 to create a smaller consolidated lot.
• South Bend addition lot 7R replat: conditional approval pending drainage easement letterA replat to relocate drainage and utility easements received conditional approval pending engineer confirmation that drainage functionality would not be compromised.
• South Bend Addition Lot 7 Replat ApprovalThe court approved a conditional replat of South Bend Addition Lot 7 pending receipt of an engineer's letter regarding drainage changes.
• South Bend Addition Lot 8r Combining and ReplatStaff reviewed and recommended approval of combining Lots 8 and 9 into a 3.689-acre lot known as Lot 8r in the water quality district served by Emerald Water and on-site sewage facilities.
• South Bend Addition Lot 39r Replat ApprovalThe court approved a replat of South Bend Addition Lot 39r to relocate building lines that exceeded County requirements while maintaining the same 1.01-acre lot size.
• Financial Expenditures ApprovalThe court approved expenditures totaling $1,913,792.16 with information provided on payments over $10,000.
• Monthly Financial Reports ApprovalThe court approved monthly financial reports for August, with the District Clerk's report still pending due to issues with Senate Bill 41.
• Hood County Library 2022 Financial Audit AcceptanceThe court accepted the 2022 financial review of Hood County Library with a minor finding requiring dual control and weekly deposits from the self-service copy machine.
• Environmental Health Financial Records 2022 ReviewThe court accepted the 2022 Environmental Health financial records with a minor issue requiring purchase of pre-numbered receipt books and proper documentation of payment handlers.
• Constable Precinct 2 Travel Expense ReimbursementConstable Precinct 2 reimbursed $178.53 for unused travel expenses from a JPCA annual education conference after being requested twice; the county reminded all officials to clean up travel expenses within five days per policy.
• Texas Feeding Texans Grant Program AuthorizationThe court authorized the County Judge to sign the resolution for the 2023 Texas Department of Agriculture Texas Feeding Texans home delivered meal grant program for Hood County Senior Center, with Jeanette Scott noting record-breaking Meals on Wheels demand and 46% food cost increases.
• General Election Notice ApprovalThe court authorized the County Judge to sign the notice of general election, which will be published in the newspaper and posted on the website, listing all polling locations and early voting hours.
• 2023 Volunteer Fire Department Interlocal AgreementsThe court approved 2023 interlocal agreements with all nine volunteer fire departments at $95,000 each, except Granberry at $80,000 pending future review of maintenance and fuel costs; the court recognized volunteer firefighters' work during the ultra-dry summer fire ban.
• Assistant District Attorney Legal Fees ReimbursementThe court approved reimbursement of $6,000 for an assistant district attorney's legal fees in defending her law license against claims arising from authorized employment-related informant duties, to be paid from General Administration attorney fees budget.
• Yellow Viking 2 Solar Project Reinvestment Zone Public HearingThe court set a public hearing for October 11 regarding the designation of approximately 4,078.22 acres in southeast Hood County as a reinvestment zone under Texas Tax Code 312.401 for the Yellow Viking 2 solar project; Commissioner Brown raised concerns about lack of results from a previously approved 500-acre abatement.
• Citizens Collection Station Holiday ClosuresThe court approved closing the Citizens Collection Station on four scheduled Saturdays: November 26, 2022; December 24, 2022; April 8, 2023; and July 1, 2023, to coincide with county holidays.
• Hood County Development District Board AppointmentsThe court approved Stephen Miller's request for the appointment of Damon Kumba and the reappointment of Pat Bergman to the board of directors of Hood County Development District Number 1.
• East Impound Lot Materials TransferThe court approved transfer of $2,600 from Fund 61 (Abandoned Vehicle) to Road Operations after October 1, 2022, to purchase material for stabilizing the East Impound Lot on the east side of the jail.
• Hood County Compensation Policies RevisionsThe court approved revisions to the Hood County Interpretation Pay Policy and Certification and Specialty Pay Policy to accommodate changes approved during the budget process regarding certification pay.
• Constable Precinct 4 Reserve Vehicle Transmission RepairThe court approved transferring the transmission from unit 401 to unit 403 for $1,600 as a cost-effective interim solution while awaiting delivery of new vehicles scheduled for October or November; the constables' office noted one vehicle is in use while the other is used for backup.
• Hood County Constable and Sheriff Fees and Commissions 2023The court approved 2023 fees and commissions for Hood County Constable and Sheriff under Local Government Code 118.131, with an estimated additional $68,000 in annual revenue if fees had been in place during the prior year.
• Arrowhead Shores Homeowners Association Collection Station VouchersThe court approved issuing 10 vouchers to Arrowhead Shores Homeowners Association for the Hood County Citizens Collection Station with expiration date June 1, 2023, to assist community cleanup efforts.
• Arrowhead Shores cleanup vouchers approvalThe court approved issuance of 10 cleanup vouchers to Arrowhead Shores HOA with a June 1st, 2023 expiration date.