Commissioner's Court November 25, 2025

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The Commissioner's Court met on November 25, 2025, to address a range of county business including employee recognition, public concerns about data center development and Subchapter K regulation, and approval of the 2025 jury plan. The court decided to reactivate the economic development commission and authorized the county attorney to prepare a legal brief on Subchapter K's legislative intent for presentation to the Attorney General. Major agenda items included implementing the voter-approved road and jail bond programs through a phased financial strategy, approving architectural fees for jail expansion, and addressing radio network governance improvements alongside pending infrastructure projects. The court also approved various administrative matters including an interlocal emergency alert agreement with Somerville County, traffic regulatory signs, and several plat approvals for subdivisions.

• Call to order and invocationThe Commissioner's Court meeting was called to order on November 25, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in the Ralph H. Walton Jr. Justice Center, followed by invocation and pledges.
• Hood County employee appreciation holiday luncheon announcementThe annual employee appreciation holiday luncheon is scheduled for December 10, 2025, with donated food and prizes.
• Service awards presentationThe court recognized several county employees for service milestones, including five, ten, fifteen, and twenty-five year honorees.
• Public comment decorum rules announcementThe Judge announced rules of decorum for public speakers to maintain respectful discourse while allowing public criticism of the court.
• Matt Long public comment on data centers and Subchapter KMatt Long spoke about spiritual and political concerns regarding data center development and advocated for using Subchapter K to regulate these facilities.
• Jessica Long public comment on data center impacts to familyJessica Long, mother of nine homeschooled children, spoke about threats to her family's property value, health, and quality of life from planned data centers across the Brazos River.
• Attorney presentation on Subchapter K and development commissionAttorney Blake Leam Fernandez of Bracewell law firm presented a PowerPoint overview of Subchapter K protections and recommended reinstating the development commission rather than creating a separate economic development council.
• Subchapter K legislative intent brief and attorney general strategyThe court plans to have Fernandez prepare a legal brief on Subchapter K's legislative intent when passed for Thor Hood County and present findings to the Attorney General.
• Development commission application process and requirementsThe court clarified that previous applicants for the economic development council should apply instead for the development commission, which has specific statutory requirements.
• Economic development commission reactivationThe court decided to reactivate a previously suspended economic development commission rather than create a new council, with requirements to be posted for applications.
• Public comment: Patrick Clayton on industrial development threatsPatrick Clayton, a resident on the Brazos River, urged immediate action on subchapter K enforcement to prevent industrial threats similar to Mitchell Bend.
• Public comment: FA Land on parking lot and flag lightingA long-time resident thanked Leland Larson for quickly repairing pole light on the annex parking lot and requested a light on the front flag.
• Public comment: Don Johnson on political arrestDon Johnson raised concerns about the arrest of Colton Cartinger, who was detained for posting a political meme on the internet after working at polling stations.
• Public comment: Jessica Hall on Pacificico and air quality concernsJessica Hall thanked commissioners for listening to community concerns and spoke against industrial projects that would harm health and well-being, comparing risks to cancer alley and Hankley water contamination.
• Public comment: Ed Elder on sheriff and law enforcement concernsEd Elder, a former Marine, called for the resignation of the sheriff and expressed concerns about law enforcement conduct and competency.
• Item 1: Hood County jury plan approvalThe district clerk presented the 2025 Hood County jury plan for court approval, noting it was the first update since 2008 and requires submission to the Secretary of State.
• Item 2: Martinez Dura law firm legal services paymentCourt approved payment to Martinez Dura Law Firm for legal services in the Mara Holdings versus Hood County matter, with invoice amount reduced to $20,364.45.
• Item 3: Road bonds and jail bond implementation timelineInnovative Transportation Solutions and Hilltop Securities presented next steps for implementing the road and jail bond programs approved by voters on November 4th, with a phased approach for road projects.
• Financial advisory: Bond implementation strategy and timelineJim Sabones from Hilltop Securities outlined the financial strategy for issuing bonds in two phases, emphasizing portfolio theory for roads and parallel debt issuance for the jail.
• Tax rate planning and debt service coordinationCounty officials discussed timing of debt payoff, budget cycle, and tax rate management to avoid gaps and maintain consistent rates during bond transitions.
• Debt management and tax rate strategyThe county discussed timing debt payments to align with bond issuance in order to maintain consistent insurance rates for taxpayers.
• Reimbursement resolution process for bond costsThe county discussed using a reimbursement resolution to spend unrestricted cash on upfront project costs and reimburse itself when bonds close.
• Christmas parade of lights event parking approvalThe court authorized the county judge to approve use of the historic courthouse parking lot for the Christmas parade event setup.
• Twin Sisters Court road acceptance applicationThe court discussed conditional acceptance of Twin Sisters Court into county maintenance after a 2017 application was lost and never processed.
• DRG architects fee proposal for jail expansionThe court considered acceptance of DRG Architects' fee proposal outlining parameters for the architectural and engineering contract for the jail expansion project.
• Public comment on jail expansion concernsA resident expressed concerns about the jail expansion proposal, citing accountability issues and alternative approaches.
• Telecommunications and design responsibility clarificationThe court and architect discussed responsibility for telecommunications and IT infrastructure design in the jail project.
• Furniture and security electronics scopeCommissioners sought clarification on what DRG would design versus what the county would procure separately.
• Reimburseable expenses and administrative fee disputeA commissioner questioned the 10% administrative fee added to reimburseable expenses like travel, lodging, and insurance.
• DRG Architect fee proposal discussionThe court debated reimbursable expenses and administrative costs in the architectural fee proposal, ultimately voting to accept the proposal with modifications.
• Environmental Health office closure requestEnvironmental Health requested and received unanimous approval to close their office on Friday, December 26, 2025, with employees using vacation time.
• Memorandum of understanding with Somerville County for emergency alertingThe court unanimously authorized the county judge to sign a memorandum of understanding with Somerville County to establish backup emergency alert capabilities for both counties.
• AIUS Vista Business Engineering radio network assessment reportAIUS (Vista Business Engineering LLC) presented findings from a comprehensive review of Hood County's P25 digital radio network, identifying operational maturity gaps and recommending governance improvements.
• Radio network project scope and commissioning advisory boardCommissioners discussed bandwidth concerns for undertaking this radio project alongside concurrent road and jail construction projects, with emphasis on establishing proper governance.
• Radio system access and vendor policy constraintsDiscussion focused on the city of Granberry's restrictive vendor policies limiting Hood County's visibility and access to system status and troubleshooting information.
• AgriLife Extension vehicle maintenance fundingThe court approved an additional $1,700 allocation for vehicle maintenance for AgriLife Extension's 2021 Chevrolet Traverse and 2017 Chevy Silverado.
• Texas EMS interlocal agreementThe court approved authorization for the county judge to sign an interlocal agreement with Texas EMS, similar to agreements with volunteer fire departments.
• Consent agenda approvalThe court voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda without requesting discussion of individual items.
• Road traffic regulatory signs public hearingA public hearing was held to consider placement of three sets of regulatory traffic signs in residential areas and near a pedestrian crosswalk.
• Traffic regulations—no parking and no truck signsThe court approved traffic regulations establishing no parking and no truck signs on three roadways in precincts 2 and 3.
• Public hearing scheduled for Orchard 15B replatA public hearing was scheduled for the replat of Orchard 15B.
• Corrected plat of Hernandez edition approvalThe court approved the corrected plat of Hernandez edition in precinct one to be recorded with enlarged electric easements.
• Public hearing and approval—Sunrise Bay replatThe court conducted a public hearing and approved the replat of Sunrise Bay subdividing block G into two lots.
• Public hearing and approval—Nassau Bay replatThe court conducted a public hearing and approved the replat combining lot 8 and portion of lot 9 of Nassau Bay 1.
• Interlocal agreement—Timberview phase 2 developmentThe court approved an interlocal agreement between Hood County and Parker County for a 101.855 acre development known as Timberview phase 2.
• Motion formalization—Orchard 15B public hearingA formal motion was made to set the public hearing for the replat of Orchards 15B lot 361 on January 13, 2026, which had been announced but not previously voted on.
• Invoice payment certification and employee appreciation lunchThe court certified payment of invoices for October 31 through November 14, 2025, and discussed employee appreciation lunch donations.
• AdjournmentThe meeting was adjourned at 5 minutes after noon.