June 22, 2021 Hood County Commissioners' Court

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Hood County Commissioners' Court convened on June 22, 2021, to address routine administrative matters including employee recognition, development applications, and budget transfers for county services. The court accepted approximately $6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds contingent on future workshops, legal review, and determination of eligible uses, with commissioners expressing caution regarding spending conditions and federal restrictions. Additional actions included approval of the final plat for Vista Oaks Phase 2, an interlocal law enforcement agreement with the City of Crescent, a five-year Axon equipment contract for the Sheriff's Department, and various personnel and salary adjustments. The court also tabled discussion of the county's economic development services agreement with the Granbury Chamber of Commerce pending scheduled workshops for contract review.

• Call to order and invocationThe meeting was called to order and opened with an invocation by a pastor from Lakeside Baptist Church.
• Public participation proceduresThe judge outlined procedures for public speakers submitting participation forms on agenda items.
• County employee service awardsThree county employees were recognized for service with certificates and photographs.
• Hood County Youth Services blood drive trophy presentationCarter Blood Care presented a traveling trophy to the Sheriff's Department for winning the 2020–2021 Battle of the Badges blood drive competition.
• Consent agenda approvalThe consent agenda was approved with one clarification regarding vehicle transfer destination.
• Road operations—Lake Granbury Harbor roadway dedicationThe court accepted a dedicated roadway in Lake Granbury Harbor for county road maintenance.
• Development—Orchards on the Brazos replat public hearingPublic hearing set for a replat application in precinct two.
• Development—Abbey Place townhomes site development plan hearingPublic hearing convened to discuss a proposed two-story 10-plex townhomes development on Silverton Drive.
• Development—Construction plan and regulatory complianceStaff reported that a construction plan received approval from staff and engineer with all comments addressed.
• Development—Vista Oaks Phase 2 final plat and bondsFinal plat approved for Vista Oaks Phase 2 residential and commercial subdivision.
• County services—Vehicle replacement requestCounty services requested purchase of a 2021 Chevrolet pickup to replace a decommissioned 2012 Tahoe.
• Budget transfers and amendments—Animal servicesAnimal services requested budget transfer to hire additional part-time kennel staff.
• Budget transfers—Sheriff interview room camerasSheriff requested budget transfer to purchase Axon equipment for interview rooms and intoxilyzer room.
• Budget transfers—Extension agentsExtension agents requested transfer for unexpected vehicle repairs.
• Budget transfers—ElectionsElections administrator requested budget transfer for supplies and voter registration materials.
• Vendor payment certificationCourt reviewed and approved vendor payments for the two-week period.
• Financial reports—Monthly audit reviewAudit department presented monthly financial reports for court acceptance.
• American Recovery Plan revenue—Acceptance and procedural safeguardsCourt accepted nearly $6 million in American Recovery Plan Act funds and directed workshops to evaluate spending conditions.
• American Rescue Plan acceptance and budget oversightCommissioners discussed conditions for accepting nearly $6 million in American Rescue Plan funds, including budget controls, incremental disbursement, and auditing of recipient spending.
• Citizen concerns regarding American Rescue Plan strings and implicationsA citizen speaker raised concerns about potential obligations to implement critical race theory and support Planned Parenthood, and questioned whether federal restrictions on using funds to offset taxes applied only to states or also to counties.
• Commissioner criticism of American Rescue Plan funding structure and legislative historyA commissioner expressed skepticism about the plan, calling it a "grow the government boondoggle," cited specific statutory provisions allegedly funding Planned Parenthood and surveillance, and noted partisan passage by one Republican absence.
• Commissioner recommendations for cautious acceptance and infrastructure explorationCommissioner recommended accepting the funds into a separate account pending detailed legal review, workshops, and research into eligible water and sewer infrastructure projects without committing to spending immediately.
• Motion to accept American Rescue Plan revenue pending further reviewCommissioners voted to accept the American Rescue Plan revenue (already received by county) and sign the required special revenue form, contingent on future workshops, legal analysis, and determination of eligible uses without immediate spending.
• County Clerk financial records audit acceptanceAudit department completed 2021 review of county clerk's financial records with no issues; commissioners voted unanimously to accept the audit.
• Salary grievance committee member selectionCounty Judge drew 11 names from a pool of former grand jury members to fill nine salary grievance committee positions plus two alternates, per Local Government Code 152.014.
• Hood County-City of Crescent law enforcement services interlocal agreementCommissioners approved an interlocal agreement between Hood County and the city of Crescent for law enforcement services, effective July 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021, with automatic annual renewal.
• Axon agreement for sheriff interview room camerasCommissioners approved a five-year agreement with Axon for interview room and intoxilyzer room cameras at a cost of $63,540; funding was previously approved in a budget amendment.
• Hood County economic development services agreement with Granbury Chamber of CommerceCommissioners discussed renewing, reforming, or terminating the economic development agreement with Granbury Chamber of Commerce; current contract runs October 1 through September 30 and requires 90 days notice for termination.
• Citizen comments on economic development tracking and revenue impactA citizen speaker raised concerns about measuring actual revenue and job creation from economic development efforts, particularly regarding the solar plant project and its long-term employment impact.
• Granbury city manager perspective on economic development planning and partnershipCity manager stated a formal economic development plan was developed four to five years ago through consultant study and stakeholder meetings, and emphasized city-county partnership benefits while acknowledging funding disadvantages.
• Chamber of Commerce economic impact presentation and funding discussionChamber of Commerce president presented study showing $210 million in capital investment and 48 permanent jobs created; argued for viewing economic development as investment rather than expense and requested workshop to discuss equal funding between city ($128,000) and county ($100,000).
• Economic development director role and regional representationThe economic development director position provides dedicated coordination for state and regional partner requests, and represents Hood County on multiple boards and committees.
• Workshop proposal and contract review concernsCommissioners agreed to table the economic development discussion and schedule workshops to review the contract and reports with transparency and public input.
• Termination of car maintenance contract due to overbillingThe county terminated its contract with Expressway Car Care effective immediately after discovering overbilling by the vendor.
• Sheriff street crimes unit and personnel position changesThe sheriff requested authorization to move a corporal to sergeant and a deputy to corporal to fill positions created by a sergeant's move to a new street crimes unit responding to increased drug activity.
• Employee health benefit plan selection for 2021-2022The county selected Option Two of the employee health benefit plan, which increases deductibles and includes a county-funded reimbursement for employees meeting higher deductibles.
• Constable 4 office manager salary adjustmentThe court approved moving a newly hired office manager from CS 3-6 to CS 3-8 to align with the previous office manager's pay classification.
• Tax assessor-collector title clerk promotion to chief deputyThe tax assessor-collector promoted an experienced employee to chief deputy position at the chief deputy salary level already budgeted for that role.
• Item 11 pulled from agendaA commissioner withdrew Item 11 from consideration for further work.
• Marks and Brands registration renewal and credit card processing agreementThe county clerk presented a request to sign a certified payment service provider agreement to enable online marks and brands registration renewal processing.
• Motion and vote on certified payment agreementThe court voted unanimously to authorize the county judge to sign the certified payment service provider agreement.