Commissioner's Court April 28, 2026

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Hood County Commissioners Court met on April 28, 2026, to conduct routine business including the issuance of proclamations for International Firefighters Day, National Police Week, and National Therapy Animal Day, and recognition of a 2025 Safety Achievement Award. The court approved several service agreements and construction contracts, including professional services for P25 radio network consulting ($84,886) and jail expansion construction management ($691,112.60), and awarded contracts for hot mix asphalt and aggregate materials. A significant portion of the meeting focused on a $54 million bond issuance presentation for roads and jail projects, which staff confirmed would result in no increase to the existing ad valorem tax rate, with competitive bidding scheduled for August 11th. The court also approved routine items including vending services, local author library policies, elections administrator hiring, property plats, and bills and auditor reports.

• International Firefighters Day proclamationHood County Commissioners Court proclaimed May 4th, 2026 as International Firefighters Day and May 2nd as a day to honor firefighters.
• National Police Week proclamationHood County Commissioners Court proclaimed May 10th through 16th, 2026 as National Police Week with a ceremony on May 9th.
• National Therapy Animal Day proclamationHood County proclaimed April 30th, 2026 as National Therapy Animal Day, with Kay Bax and her therapy Labradoodle Zephyr presenting their community work.
• Hood County 2025 Safety Achievement AwardHarold Paul, risk control consultant for Texas Association of Counties, presented Hood County with a 2025 Safety Achievement Award for workplace safety commitment and workers' compensation control.
• Safety instructions and building evacuationSafety procedures were reviewed for meeting attendees regarding emergency exits and automated external defibrillators.
• Service awards for sheriff's deputiesTwo sheriff's deputies were recognized for service at the court meeting.
• Citizens comments—Tina Brown on development and county authorityCitizen Tina Brown addressed the court regarding misinformation on social media, county legal authority, and the development director's constrained role.
• Citizens comments—Kenneth Mettler on tax abatements and industrial developmentCitizen Kenneth Mettler from the Biloxi area discussed large-scale industrial projects seeking tax abatements and concerns about air quality impacts.
• Vending services agreement—Live Oak ProvisionsThe court authorized the county judge to sign a vending services agreement with Live Oak Provisions to provide vending machines in the justice center.
• RFB 2026-05 hot mix asphalt—Reynolds Asphalt and ConstructionThe court awarded RFB 2026-05 for hot mix asphalt to Reynolds Asphalt and Construction Company at $125 per ton.
• RFB 2025-03 annual renewal—Vulcan Materials non-spec aggregatesThe court approved the annual renewal of RFB 2025-03 for non-spec aggregates to Vulcan Materials with a $2 per ton increase.
• Professional services agreement—Federal Engineering P25 radio network consultingThe court authorized the county judge to sign a professional services agreement with Federal Engineering Inc. for P25 radio network consulting services in the amount of $84,886.
• Professional services agreement—Kitchell CEM construction management jail expansionThe court authorized the county judge to sign a professional services agreement with Kitchell CEM Inc. for construction management owners agent services for the Hood County Jail expansion project with a not-to-exceed amount of $691,112.60.
• Sheriff Immigration Law Enforcement Grant Program resolutionGrant Coordinator Kimberly Heath presented a resolution for the Sheriff Immigration Law Enforcement Grant Program with added language ensuring grant funds supplement rather than supplant the sheriff's budget.
• Declaration of Independence 250th anniversary resolutionCommissioner Samuelson presented a resolution honoring and celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with encouragement for community participation in related celebrations.
• City of Granbury Memorial Day celebration event applicationThe court authorized the county judge to sign the city of Granbury's event application approving use of the historical courthouse parking lot for the 2026 Memorial Day celebration May 22–25.
• Bond issuance phase one plan of finance presentationJim Sabonis of Hilltop Securities presented an update on the county's first phase of bond issuance totaling $54 million for roads and jail projects.
• Bond issuance timeline and structureStaff presented the competitive bid and debt issuance schedule for two bond issues totaling approximately $51.34 million in principal.
• Interest and surtax rate impactStaff confirmed that the debt issuance will result in no increase to the existing ad valorem I&S tax rate.
• Plan of finance and next stepsThe county will present the plan of finance and bond counsel approval on June 9th, with the competitive bid process scheduled for August 11th.
• Market conditions and bond sale outlookStaff characterized market conditions as stable despite recent interest rate volatility, with confidence in a successful competitive sale.
• Bond type explanations and statutory authorityStaff explained the distinction between unlimited tax road bonds and limited tax bonds for the jail project.
• Bond presentation approvalCommissioners voted to accept the bond presentation of the plan of finance from Hilltop Securities.
• Jury summons voluntary donation list updateThe court tabled discussion of adding Turning Point Academy to the Hood County jury summons voluntary donation section pending legal code review.
• Hood County Library local author submission policyCommissioners approved a new policy section establishing procedures and guidelines for local author submissions to the library collection.
• Bracewell legal services invoice approvalCommissioners approved payment of the March Bracewell legal services invoice with a $130 adjustment for a questioned charge.
• Elections administrator hiring and training allocationCommissioners allocated up to $10,000 from contingency to hire a new elections administrator with overlap time for training with the outgoing administrator.
• Consent agenda approvalCommissioners approved the consent agenda without requiring removal of any items.
• Public hearing set for replatsStaff recommended setting public hearings for two property replats on the June 9th Commissioners Court agenda.
• Day Court Over Ranch 5A final plat approvalCommissioners approved the final plat for Day Court Over Ranch 5A, lot 7X, block 9 in precinct 3.
• Landings East replat approval and public hearingCommissioners held a public hearing and approved the replat of The Landings East lots 3800-R1 and 3800-R2.
• Bills approval and auditor reportsCommissioners approved payment of bills and accepted auditor reviews for Justice of the Peace precincts 2 and 3.
• Meeting adjournmentThe Commissioners Court adjourned at 10:26.