July 25, 2023 Hood County Commissioners' Court

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The Hood County Commissioners' Court met on July 25, 2023, to conduct regular business including recognition of a Safety Achievement Award and employee service milestones, consideration of citizen comments on matters ranging from ARPA fund allocation to jail maintenance and court conduct, and authorization of operational and capital expenditures. The court approved several substantive items, including a 10 percent homestead exemption effective January 1, 2024, vehicle and equipment purchases for county departments, approval of subdivision and site development plans, and a debt reduction bond payment resolution reducing outstanding debt by over three million dollars. Additional approvals included a 90-day burn ban, substance abuse awareness initiatives, and various facility and technology upgrades for county buildings and systems.

• Call to order and openingThe meeting was called to order on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, in the central Jury Room of the Ralph H Walton Junior Justice Center in Granbury, Texas, with Pastor Mike Edwards providing the invocation.
• Hood County Safety Achievement AwardIsaac Garcia, risk control consultant with the Texas Association of Counties, presented Hood County with the Safety Achievement Award for 2022, noting fewer than 15 percent of the state's 254 counties met the criteria.
• Service awardsThe court recognized four employees for service: Robert French (5 years), Brad Duckett (10 years, unable to attend), Andrea Johnston (10 years), and Clara Harari (15 years).
• Citizens comments: Tina Brown on ARPA funding and special meetingsTina Brown raised concerns about allocation of ARPA fund 83 money, noting very little has been spent this calendar year except for two salaries and one stipend, and questioned the lack of progress on a promised application and review process for charitable and infrastructure projects.
• Citizens comments: Sherry Sullivan on court conduct and 501c3 funding consistencySherry Sullivan expressed disappointment in the conduct of the July 11th Commissioner's Court meeting, characterizing it as digressing into a playground Tit for Tat, and raised concerns about inconsistent application of taxpayer dollars to support 501c3 nonprofits.
• Citizens comments: Elizabeth Mercer on fire response and emergency operations fundingElizabeth Mercer shared a personal account of a recent house fire threatening her property, praising the Emergency Operations and fire departments for rapid response, staging, and professionalism, and urging the court to fund emergency operations requests for end-of-life equipment.
• Citizens comments: Brad Yarborough on court procedure and Katie LangBrad Yarborough criticized Katie Lang for preaching about decorum while not following it, and raised concerns about her handling of agenda items, Tyler conversion, and delayed court minutes.
• Citizens comments: David Ferris on jail structural repairs and maintenance optionsDavid Ferris provided detailed analysis of jail maintenance issues, offering specific remediation recommendations including water system repairs estimated at approximately $1.4 million that could extend the building's life another 28 years.
• Citizens comments: Katie Lang response to YarboroughKatie Lang responded to Brad Yarborough's allegations, defending the legality of her recording, providing a Tyler email praising her conversion work, and clarifying the location of posted court minutes online.
• Citizens comments: Dr. Harold Granick on Tyler costs and jail adequacyDr. Harold Granick criticized Katie Lang for actions dating back to 2015 that did not follow Supreme Court advice on Tyler implementation, resulting in additional taxpayer costs up to four hundred thousand dollars, and expressed doubt that jail repairs would be sufficient for county needs.
• Authorization of annual financial audit engagement letterThe court authorized the county judge to sign the engagement letter with KML LLC for the annual Financial audit, the firm's third consecutive year, with discussion about audit firm rotation practices and ensuring fresh eyes on the audit.
• STAR Council substance abuse awareness and suicide prevention eventThe court approved STAR Council on Substance Abuse to display suicide prevention ribbons and yard signs at the Historical Courthouse September 1-29 and use the Gazebo for a vigil on September 12 from 7 to 8 p.m. to recognize loved ones lost to suicide.
• 90-day burn ban authorizationThe court authorized a 90-day burn ban based on fire conditions and recommendations, noting the Keetch-Byram Drought Index at 636 (below last year's 729) but still above the 585 threshold for burn restrictions.
• Burn ban approvalThe court approved a burn ban resolution by unanimous vote.
• Hood County Substance Abuse Council purple lighting displayThe court authorized the Substance Abuse Council to display purple ribbons and banner at the Historical Courthouse for International Overdose Awareness Day.
• Lance Lacour appointment to Hood County Development DistrictThe court debated and voted on appointing Lance Lacour to the District board under revised bylaws that increase the board to six members, with significant discussion about statutory compliance with Texas Local Government Code 383.
• Brazos River Corvette club charity car show authorizationThe court authorized the County Judge to sign the city of Granbury's event application for the Corvette club car show at the Historical Courthouse.
• Ten percent Hood County homestead exemption resolutionThe court approved a resolution establishing a 10 percent homestead exemption on Hood County property taxes effective January 1st, 2024, with extensive public debate about tax policy, revenue impact, and fiscal responsibility.
• Appraisal District concerns and homestead exemption discussionCommissioners debated efficiency issues at the appraisal district and discussed a 10 percent homestead exemption for residential homeowners.
• Motion to table homestead exemption pending appraisal district changesA commissioner motioned to table the homestead exemption item until the appraisal district undergoes revamping and a new chief appraiser is appointed.
• Approval of 10 percent Hood County homestead exemptionThe commissioners approved a resolution establishing a 10 percent homestead exemption for Hood County residents' homesteads pursuant to Texas tax code section 11.13n.
• Mitel system replacement at Sheriff's OfficeThe court authorized the County Judge to sign a Mitel sales order acknowledgment for a standalone system replacement that is end-of-life at the Sheriff's Office.
• HVAC replacement funding for county buildingsThe court approved an additional $75,000 from fund 55 to repair or replace failing HVAC units in county buildings.
• Taser 10 certification bundle purchase for law enforcementThe court authorized a five-year master services and purchasing agreement with Axon for 59 Taser 10 certification bundles for sheriff's deputies and constables.
• Purchase of two 2023 Silverado transport pickups for jailThe court approved purchase of two 2023 Silverado transport pickups with rigging for jail transport officers to replace two older Tahoes (2014 and 2017 with 160,000 and 151,000 miles respectively).
• Replace totaled Tahoe with 2023 Silverado for Sheriff's OfficeThe court authorized replacement of a totaled Tahoe with a 2023 Silverado four-wheel drive pickup with rigging for the Sheriff's Office, offset by insurance settlement.
• United Concordia Dental Plan agreement for county employeesThe court authorized the County Judge to sign a United Concordia Dental Plan agreement for Hood County employees for the 2023–2025 fiscal years.
• County network hardware replacement initiativeThe county is proposing a phased replacement of aging network equipment over four years, with a request to purchase one-quarter of the equipment now at a discounted rate.
• Consent agenda and county court of law budget adjustmentsThe court approved the consent agenda after clarifying certificate pay increases for county court of law staff that were made mid-year to cover payroll deficits.
• Traditions at Port Ridgely replat public hearingStaff recommended and the court scheduled a public hearing for September 12, 2023 to consider a replat of Traditions at Port Ridgely.
• Vista Oaks Phase 2 lot 18 replat approvalThe court approved a replat combining lots 18 and 19 of Vista Oaks Phase 2 into a single 4.008-acre lot.
• Twin Canyons Ranch site development plan approvalThe court approved a site development plan for Twin Canyons Ranch in Precinct 2 proposing four 2-bedroom structures, three 4-bedroom structures, five cabins, a washroom, and an event barn.
• 1862 Ranch construction plans approval and final platEngineering approved construction plans for 1862 Ranch in Precinct 1, and the court accepted the developer's agreement and approved the final plat with 11 single-family lots.
• Interlocal agreement with Parker County for Homestead Acres subdivisionThe court approved an amended interlocal agreement with Parker County allowing Parker County to enforce subdivision and on-site sewage facility rules for the 30.878 Hood County acres of the 97.309-acre Homestead Acres subdivision.
• Expenditures and bill payment approvalThe court approved payment of invoices totaling $559,659.66 for the period July 1–18, 2023.
• Monthly financial reports acceptanceThe court accepted monthly financial reports after staff review with no exceptions noted.
• Hood County debt reduction bond payment resolutionThe court adopted a resolution directing redemption of a portion of Hood County's 2019 limited tax refunding bonds using reserve fund and debt service funds, reducing outstanding debt by over three million dollars.
• Library and environmental health financial records acceptanceThe court accepted 2023 financial reviews for the library and environmental health programs with citizens collection station; no exceptions noted in either review.
• Meeting conclusion and acknowledgmentThe judge extended condolences to Commissioner Andrews regarding his wife's mother's passing and adjourned the meeting at 11:30 a.m. as planned.