June 24, 2025 Hood County Commissioners' Court

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Hood County Commissioners' Court met on June 24, 2025, to conduct regular business including the adoption of proclamations honoring the Toller United Methodist Church's 100th anniversary and Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Day, presentation of employee service awards, and approval of several operational matters. The court approved a 20% homestead exemption increase on property taxes, funded the Hood County Clean Air Coalition at $30,000, authorized reimbursement to Indian Harbor Volunteer Fire Department for engine repairs totaling $54,379.36, and approved a federal grant application for emergency dispatch capabilities. Additional approvals included engineering services for transportation bond planning, a Texas EMS rate increase, a Labor Day festival event, and several development plans. The court tabled further discussion on cashless payment systems and received updates on fire code permitting processes for battery energy storage systems.

• Call to order and opening remarksThe meeting was called to order on June 24, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in the central jury room of the Ralph H. Walton Junior Justice Center at 1200 West Pearl Street in Granberry, Texas.
• Toller United Methodist Church 100th anniversary proclamationHood County Commissioners' Court issued a proclamation recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Toller United Methodist Church House.
• Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Day proclamationHood County recognized July 7th, 2025 as Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Day in honor of Texas law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
• Service awards for county employeesHood County presented service awards to five employees for years of dedicated service.
• Citizens comments—Greg Harrell, Hood County Republican PartyGreg Harrell, chair of the Hood County Republican Party Executive Committee, addressed the commissioners regarding accountability and responsibility principles.
• Citizens comments—Jessica Hall, noise and fire department supportJessica Hall raised concerns about noise pollution from data centers and expressed appreciation for fire department operations.
• Citizens comments—Richard Havson, IT managed services and firefighter chaplaincyRichard Havson, with 32 years of IT experience at Coca-Cola, addressed IT management and praised Granberry firefighters.
• Labor Day weekend festival event applicationCommissioners approved an event application for use of the historical courthouse parking lot for the Labor Day weekend festival.
• 20% Hood County homestead exemption resolutionCommissioners adopted a resolution establishing a 20% homestead exemption to property taxes, increasing from the 10% exemption adopted in July 2023.
• Indian Harbor Volunteer Fire Department engine 51 repairs reimbursementCommissioners considered a reimbursement request from Indian Harbor Volunteer Fire Department for $54,379.36 in repairs to engine 51, a county-owned apparatus.
• Indian Harbor Volunteer Fire Department Engine 51 ReimbursementThe court approved reimbursement to Indian Harbor Volunteer Fire Department for engine 51 repairs totaling $54,379.36 from fund 55.
• Hood County Clean Air Coalition Funding RequestThe court approved $30,000 in funding for the Hood County Clean Air Coalition for fiscal year 2025–26 to support air quality monitoring and administrative expenses.
• TNP Work Authorization for Transportation Bond SupportThe court approved TNP's work authorization number four for civil engineering services not to exceed $25,000 from fund 55 to support transportation bond planning.
• Cashless Payment Systems at Collection Station and Brush YardThe court tabled discussion of implementing cashless payment systems at citizens collection station and brush yard pending further analysis of options and costs.
• FY2025 Safe Streets for All Grant ResolutionThe court approved signing the FY2025 Safe Streets for All grant resolution authorizing application for $263,304 in federal funding for priority dispatch modules with fire, law, and emergency medical capabilities.
• Texas EMS Rate IncreaseThe court approved the Texas EMS insurance rate increase from $18 to $36 per employee for July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
• NFPA Fire Code Permit Process UpdateFire Marshal Jeff Young provided update on development of NFPA fire code permitting process for battery energy storage systems and other industrial development in Hood County.
• Battery storage permitting and fee schedule developmentFire Marshal discussed challenges in creating fee schedules for battery energy storage systems (BESS) and permitting processes without dedicated software development resources.
• Public comment on NFPA 855 battery storage standards enforcementJessica Hall urged the court to enforce National Fire Protection Association standard 855 for battery energy storage system safety and cited health, fire, and environmental hazards.
• HB 3824 legislative status and county actionCommissioners inquired about HB 3824's passage and determined no immediate county action is warranted pending gubernatorial action.
• Liability insurance renewal authorizationCourt authorized Hood County Judge to sign the annual liability renewal questionnaire for the October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026 period.
• Consent agenda approvalCourt approved all items on the consent agenda without pulling or questioning individual items.
• OWD Ranch section A phase 2 replat public hearingCourt set public hearing for replat of OWD Ranch section A phase 2, lots 6R and 6RB.
• WS Quarterly Edition final plat approvalCourt approved final plat of WS Quarterly Edition lots one and two, block one, precinct two.
• Bright View building site development plan approvalCourt approved site development plan for a 1.3-acre commercial building in the road corridor district.
• Shady Oaks RV Park infrastructure development plan approvalCourt approved infrastructure development plan for 46-space RV park on 7.569 acres in precinct two.
• Approval of expenditures for June 4-16 periodCourt approved payment of expenditures totaling $500,537.72 for the June 4 through June 16 period.
• Bank reconciliations and financial reports approvalCourt received and approved monthly bank reconciliations and financial reports for June 1-15, 2025.
• Court adjournmentMeeting adjourned.