October 26, 2021 Hood County Commissioners' Court

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The Hood County Commissioners' Court met on October 26, 2021, to conduct routine business including approval of financial payments totaling over $384,000, adoption of service contracts for ambulance services and credit card processing, and consideration of infrastructure and facility projects. The court also approved regulatory updates including an animal control order revision, a mental health leave policy for peace officers, and amendments to election judge appointments and fire department agreements. Administrative items included scheduling a public hearing on the Orchard 14 replat, approving a residential subdivision concept plan, and authorizing use of courthouse facilities for a community event. The court heard reports from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, recognized employee service awards, and announced the annual employee appreciation luncheon scheduled for November 18.

• Call to order and openingThe meeting was called to order on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. in the Hood County Justice Center, with an invocation and pledges.
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension annual presentationTexas A&M AgriLife Extension representative Donald Kelm presented the county's program accomplishments and thanked the court for annual funding support.
• Hood County employee holiday luncheon announcementThe court announced the annual Hood County employee appreciation luncheon scheduled for Thursday, November 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• Service awards presentationTwo county employees received service awards in recognition of long-term employment and dedication.
• Public participation procedureThe court established the procedure for citizen comment on agenda items, requiring completion of public participation forms submitted to the sheriff and county clerk.
• Consent agenda approvalThe court approved all items on the consent agenda by motion without discussion.
• Culvert relocation at 2407 Woodcrest CourtProperty owner Adam Ball requested and obtained court approval to relocate a county drainage culvert from across his property to the edge of his property with county cost sharing restrictions.
• Orchard 14 replat public hearing scheduledThe court scheduled a public hearing for December 14, 2021, to consider the replat of Orchard 14 lots 3476 R1 and 3476 R2 in Precinct 2.
• 1862 Ranch concept plan public hearing and approvalThe court held a public hearing on and approved a concept plan for 1862 Ranch, a residential subdivision with 11 single-family lots, allowing one requested variance.
• Fiscal year 2021 and 2022 payment authorizationThe court approved payment of invoices totaling $96,554.33 for fiscal year 2021 and $287,793.18 for fiscal year 2022.
• Monthly financial reports acceptanceThe court accepted monthly financial reports from county funds and investigated timing issues with one constable's report.
• Election judges and alternate judges appointment amendmentThe court approved an amended order appointing presiding and alternate judges for elections after some originally appointed judges declined to serve.
• Granbury Living Christmas Card courthouse parking lot approvalThe court authorized the county judge to sign the City of Granbury's event application for use of the courthouse parking lot for the Granbury Living Christmas Card from December 8–11, 2021.
• Texas CNS ambulance service agreementThe court began consideration of an agreement with Texas CNS for exclusive 911 ambulance dispatch rights in Hood County.
• Texas EMS ambulance services contractThe court approved a five-year ambulance services contract with Texas EMS, which includes mutual aid provisions and allows for service expansion.
• GTL Global Telelink inmate telephone service amendmentThe court approved an FCC-mandated rate reduction amendment for inmate telephone calls, lowering the rate from 39 cents to 21 cents per minute.
• Online continuing education for county commissionersThe court voted to allow commissioners optional online education to satisfy the 15-hour annual continuing education requirement, but the motion failed 3–2 due to concerns about in-person learning value.
• Mental health leave for peace officers policyThe court approved the Hood County policy for mental health leave for peace officers, implementing Senate Bill 1359 guidelines.
• Generator installation for dispatch radio repeatersThe court approved purchase and installation of a backup generator for the A-Mud water tower repeater site in Pecan Plantation.
• Bottled water and services bid awardThe court awarded the bottled water and dispensing services contract to Blue Triton Brands Inc, the lowest bidder despite delivery and billing issues.
• Volunteer fire department facility assessmentsThe court approved funding for professional facility assessments of seven to eight volunteer fire department buildings to evaluate condition, life expectancy, upgrade costs, and future needs.
• Texas Feeding Texans grant programThe court approved authorization for the county judge to sign a grant resolution supporting the Hood County Senior Center Meals on Wheels program.
• ACH processing and credit card services agreementThe court approved switching credit card processing vendors to Certified Payments, offering better reporting, lower fees, and improved customer service features.
• Port Ridgely East CDBG project engineering services agreementThe court approved execution of an engineering services agreement with Inprotect Hibs and Todd for the CDBG-funded project.
• TDA Section 3 presentation and worker opportunity requirementThe court approved the TDA Section 3 presentation as required by Texas CDBG funding, which mandates outreach to lower-income workers for project employment.
• Hood County animal restraint and rabies control order updateThe court unanimously approved updating the Hood County animal restraint and rabies control order, last revised in 2006, with significant changes to dangerous dog provisions.
• Fire department interlocal agreement amendmentThe court approved an amendment to the interlocal agreement with volunteer fire departments requiring separate bank accounts for county subsidy funds.