November 24, 2020 Hood County Commissioners' Court

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The Hood County Commissioners' Court met on November 24, 2020, to conduct routine business including employee recognition, approval of several subdivision replats and concept plans, and renewal of interlocal agreements and tax abatement guidelines. The court also approved contracts for YMCA roof repairs and authorized continued participation in a regional public defender program for capital cases. A significant portion of the meeting focused on COVID-19 policy, with commissioners discussing a "Do Your Part" guidance document and fielding public comment on emergency management procedures, mask efficacy, and pandemic precautions as cases rose heading into the holiday season. The court concluded by adopting a public health guidance statement and holding a public hearing to designate a reinvestment zone for the West Camp Ranch solar project.

• Call to order and opening remarksThe meeting was called to order and opened with invocation and pledges.
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension District 8 annual updateDistrict Extension Administrator provided annual report on 4-H programs, scholarships, and community partnerships in Hood County.
• Employee service awardsThree county employees were recognized for service: five-year, ten-year, and twenty-year milestones.
• Consent agenda and approvalCommissioners approved the consent agenda with one correction to the November 17 election canvass meeting minutes.
• Two-year interlocal contract renewal with Lepiño ISDHood County Road Operations recommended renewing the two-year interlocal agreement under Texas Transportation Code Section 251.
• Hermosa Hills Estates and The Landings replat applications—public hearing scheduledDevelopment Services accepted replat applications for two projects and scheduled public hearings for January 12, 2021.
• Orchards 14 final plat approval and developer agreementDevelopment Services presented final plat for Orchards 14 subdivision with approved construction plans and recommended project approval.
• Orchards on the Brazos replat approvalCommissioners approved replat combining blocks into a single 6.067-acre lot in water quality district.
• De Cordova Ranch Phase One replat approvalCommissioners approved replat combining two lots into one 1.39-acre lot in water quality district.
• Bella Oaks Subdivision concept plan and variance approvalCommissioners approved concept plan for Bella Oaks (formerly Oak Hill) subdivision with a variance to allow block length exceeding standard maximum.
• South Bank subdivision concept plan approvalCommissioners approved concept plan for South Bank subdivision with 53 single-family lots and minimum one-acre lot sizes.
• Financial reports and expenditure approvalsAudit Department presented fiscal year expenditures and monthly financial reports for commissioners' review and approval.
• Tree of Hope display at Justice CenterCommissioners approved county attorney request to display the Tree of Hope at the Justice Center with a virtual event on December 11, 2020.
• Grace Classical Christian Academy psalm sing event approvalCommissioners approved city of Granbury's event application for Grace Classical Christian Academy to use the gazebo.
• YMCA roof repair from hail damage—Paragon contract authorizationCommissioners approved roof repair contract with Paragon Roofing to address hail damage to the YMCA building at Acton.
• Regional Public Defender for Capital Cases program—continued participationCounty Judge recommended continued participation in the 184-county regional public defender program to protect against large capital murder trial costs.
• Regional public defender capital cases interlocal agreementThe court voted to authorize the judge to sign an interlocal agreement for continued participation in the regional public defender for capital cases program.
• Retiring constable precinct 3 service weapon purchaseThe court approved the sale of a service firearm to an honorably retiring constable precinct 3 for one dollar, in accordance with Government Code 614-051.
• COVID-19 status and "Do Your Part" documentA commissioner raised concerns about a closed emergency meeting held at the Emergency Operations Center and presented the "Do Your Part" document for court review and action.
• Commissioner Eagle's open records and transparency concernsA commissioner read Texas Government Code Section 552.001 on public information policy and criticized the exclusion of county officials and the public from COVID-19 meetings.
• Emergency manager's explanation of operational briefingsThe emergency manager explained that the closed meetings were operational briefings under Government Code Chapter 418, not public meetings, and contained confidential hospital and healthcare information.
• "Do Your Part" document authorship and approvalCommissioner Eagle clarified he had suggested tracking Governor's Order GA-29 language in the document but refused to sign off on it, instead bringing it to the Commissioner's Court for review and decision.
• Public participation form speakers on COVID itemTwo citizens signed forms to speak on the COVID-19 document item: Nathan Criswell and Dr. Granick.
• Nathan Criswell's public comment on secret meetings and emergency operationsA citizen criticized the closed emergency meetings as violating the Open Meetings Act and called for changing emergency management positions from permanent to temporary or reassigning their duties.
• Judge's question on CARES Act funding and emergency manager performanceThe judge asked a county official to address the CARES Act funding that the emergency manager secured for Hood County.
• County official on CARES funding and emergency manager valueA county official testified that the emergency manager has brought over $2 million in CARES Act funding to Hood County and praised his work as outstanding.
• Dr. Granick's comment on COVID severity and precautionsA physician acknowledged fatigue with restrictions but emphasized the serious nature of the pandemic and need for precautions.
• Mrs. Sealander's three-part public comment on masks, hospital care, and disaster recoveryA citizen presented personal observations about mask effectiveness, praised hospital antibody treatments, and argued elected disaster recovery officials should be included in emergency meetings.
• Commissioner Eagle's response with COVID statistics and data analysisA commissioner responded with Texas COVID-19 statistics showing low fatality rate and expressed concern about inability to have opposing opinions.
• Judge's final remarks on mask efficacy and unified messagingThe judge commented on mask function and explained reasoning for the private operational briefing as coordination of unified public messaging.
• Judge's final statement on document purpose and personal responsibilityThe judge summarized the "Do Your Part" document as common sense guidance allowing residents to make personal decisions about COVID precautions.
• COVID-19 community guidance statementThe court read and adopted a public health guidance statement urging Hood County residents to follow preventive measures as COVID-19 cases rose heading into the holiday season.
• Hood County tax abatement guidelines renewalThe court renewed the 2018–2020 Hood County tax abatement guidelines, redating them to cover 2020–2022.
• Chamber of Commerce virtual event transitionA chamber representative announced the decision to convert an upcoming leaders in government luncheon from in-person to virtual format due to COVID-19 precautions.
• Recognition of county facilities staffThe court and chamber representative commended county employee Jay Riley for exceptional work coordinating logistics during the Porsche event and courthouse renovation conflict.
• West Camp Ranch solar project reinvestment zone designationThe court held a public hearing and designated approximately 529.5 acres in southeast Hood County as a reinvestment zone to facilitate the West Camp Ranch solar project.
• Emergency management office separation discussionA citizen speaker offered extended remarks supporting the prior decision to establish an independent Office of Emergency Management separate from the fire marshal's office.
• Thanksgiving remarks and closingCounty officials concluded meeting with remarks emphasizing community unity, gratitude, and spiritual perspective during the pandemic crisis.