September 14, 2021 Hood County Commissioners' Court

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Hood County Commissioners' Court met on September 14, 2021, to conduct regular business including approval of the fiscal year 2022 budget and property tax rate of $0.420345 per $100 of valuation, as well as various capital project expenditures and vehicle acquisitions totaling approximately $370,000. The court addressed American Rescue Plan Act fund allocations and compliance requirements, though commissioners expressed concerns that obligated funds exceeded available resources and requested a comprehensive workshop to review the allocation process. Additional agenda items included approval of several subdivision developments and roadway acceptances, contract awards for fire prevention equipment and construction management services, employee salary adjustments, and various facility and operational improvements.

• Call to order and invocationThe meeting was called to order on September 14, 2021, at 9 a.m. in the Hood County Justice Center, with invocation and pledges.
• Public participation proceduresThe court explained the open-mic policy for the first regular commissioner's court meeting of the month, with maximum time limits per speaker and per agenda item.
• Constitution Week proclamationThe court approved a proclamation recognizing September 17–23, 2021, as Constitution Week, celebrating the 234th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution.
• Consent agenda overview and correctionsThe court addressed several corrections to the consent agenda before approval, including minute amendments and budget transfer line-item corrections.
• Fund 83 (American Rescue Act) budget allocations explainedCounty Finance Officer explained the dedication of $5,986,715 in American Rescue Act funds to specific line-item transfers and capital outlay.
• Consent agenda approvalThe court approved the consent agenda with the two corrections previously voted on, along with the Fund 83 explanation.
• Rhodops road development completion discussionDeveloper and county officials discussed completion of Phase 3 of Rhodops road development, including inspections and density testing.
• Acceptance of roadways in Meander States Estates Phase IIRoad operations recommended accepting multiple new subdivision roadways into the county road system.
• Rolling Creek Branch Phase 2 public hearing scheduledStaff recommended setting a public hearing for the Rolling Creek Branch Phase 2 subdivision replay.
• Bentwater on Lake Granberry replat approvalCounty accepted a replat for Bentwater on Lake Granberry subdivision lot reconfiguration.
• Out in the Country RV park site development plan approvalCounty approved a site development plan for an eight-space recreational vehicle facility with one variance.
• Lust Gardens preliminary subdivision plan approvalStaff recommended approval of a 64-lot residential subdivision with drainage improvements contingent on TXDOT access permit.
• Invoice and expenditure approvalCounty approved payment of invoices totaling $1,508,684.03.
• Fund balance commitment resolution and capital projects fundingCounty discussed dedicating a percentage of general fund property tax collections to capital projects per GASB 54 regulations.
• District clerk financial records auditAudit staff completed review of district clerk's financial records with one recommendation.
• Daughters of the American Revolution courthouse event approvalCounty approved use of courthouse lawn and sidewalk for Constitution Week celebration.
• Brazos River Corvette Club car show parking approvalCounty approved use of courthouse parking lot and gazebo for October 9 charity car show.
• Fire prevention equipment inspection and maintenance contractCounty awarded contract for inspection, maintenance, and monitoring of fire prevention equipment.
• Construction management services contractCounty awarded construction management services contract to highest-scoring vendor.
• Public hearing on proposed tax rateCounty convened public hearing on proposed tax rate of $0.420345 per $100 property evaluation.
• Record vote on tax revenue increaseCounty took record vote on proposed tax revenue increase per Local Government Code §111.008.
• Proposed 2022 fiscal year budget approval with additional patrol officerCounty discussed and took record vote on FY 2022 budget including contingent funding for one additional patrol deputy.
• Employee compensation and budget concernsA commissioner expressed concerns about raising employee salaries while residents in the community are hurting financially, while another commissioner defended the raises as necessary and noted the court has not increased elected officials' pay for two years.
• Fiscal year 2022 property tax rateThe court set the property tax rate at 0.420345 per $100 of valuation, slightly lower than the prior fiscal year, allowing public comment during a two-week notice period.
• Tax rate debate and property appraisal processCommissioners and county judge clarified that the appraisal district, not the county court, sets property values, and the court only sets the tax rate.
• Record vote on tax rateThe court voted by record on the proposed tax rate of 0.420345 per $100 of valuation.
• Salary matrix approval and executive sessionThe court approved the 2022 salary matrix and agreed to discuss salary items and personnel issues in executive session.
• 2022 Salary matrix motion and approvalThe court approved the 2022 salary matrix with one exception for a specific salary position.
• Setting salaries for fiscal year 2021–2022The court set employee salaries effective October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022, with exception of Constable Precinct 2 position becoming unavailable.
• Sheriff vehicle acquisitionsThe sheriff requested approval for letter of intent to purchase six Tahoe SUVs and one pickup truck for law enforcement operations, with total cost of $245,329 due to supply chain constraints.
• Letter of intent for sheriff vehiclesThe court approved issuance of letter of intent and purchase order for sheriff vehicles by end of October.
• Savings victim notification system contractThe sheriff sought approval for second contract renewal agreement for the Savings/Victim notification system used for domestic violence offender tracking and victim notification.
• Limited tax refunding bond redemptionThe court adopted a resolution to redeem outstanding limited tax refunding bonds from 2017 early, saving approximately $8,000 and freeing up bonded debt capacity.
• County extension vehicle purchaseThe court approved purchase of new Chevrolet Traverse SUV not to exceed $30,000 to replace 2008 Chevrolet Impala with multiple mechanical failures.
• Environmental health vehicle purchaseThe court approved purchase of new 2021 Ford four-wheel-drive pickup not to exceed $30,500 to replace 2008 Ford F-150 with engine, power steering, and transmission problems.
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension cooperative agreementThe court approved signing cooperative agreement between Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Hood County for five-year term.
• Dispatch console purchase for sheriff and emergency operationsThe court approved purchase of dispatch console from Mindshare by CSS for sheriff's office and emergency operations center backup capacity at cost not to exceed $29,195.12 from fund 83.
• Sheriff vehicle request removal and reschedulingThe sheriff requested removal of agenda item 18 from current meeting to September 28 agenda for further review and price adjustments.
• ARPA budget item adoptionThe court considered adoption of proposed budget for American Rescue Plan grant program for fiscal year 2021–2022.
• American Rescue Plan Act funds – infrastructure proposals and feasibility studiesA commissioner proposed setting aside $339,432.02 in ARP funds for engineering and feasibility studies on wastewater, stormwater, and broadband infrastructure, potentially involving interlocal agreements with city municipalities.
• ARP funds accounting and obligation reportingThe county administrator clarified that the $339,432 figure represented available funds from weeks prior, but obligated funds now totaled $6,281,098.30 due to required portal reporting with cumulative obligations across 66 federal categories.
• Radio communications system funding and timingCommissioners discussed the status of a regional radio system project and City of Granbury's pending pricing decision that would determine allocation feasibility.
• Concerns about overspending and need for workshopMultiple commissioners expressed concern that obligated funds exceeded available ARP money and called for a comprehensive workshop to review fund allocation, permitting requirements, and feasibility.
• Grant works consultant discussion and permit requirementsDiscussion arose regarding recommendations from a grant consultant on permitting timelines and project phasing for infrastructure projects using ARP funds.
• Permit and infrastructure requirements under ARP complianceCounty administrator read compliance requirements from the federal treasury manual detailing specific project information, labor provisions, and permitting documentation needed for ARP-funded infrastructure projects.
• Legal opinion on permit requirements and grant works consultationCommissioners and county staff sought clarification on whether ARP funds legally require pre-existing permits and consulted recent communications with a grant works representative.
• Fund allocation process and future decision-makingCommissioners discussed concerns about how ARP funds have been allocated and the need for clearer process and public input before committing further resources.
• American Rescue Plan wastewater infrastructure obligated funds reviewThe court reviewed obligated versus expended funds from the American Rescue Plan grant, discovering that more funds had been obligated than received, preventing additional research and development allocation for county-wide wastewater treatment infrastructure.
• Investment pool authorization and Texas FIT broker approvalThe treasurer requested approval to add Texas FIT as an authorized investment pool to diversify returns, citing dissatisfaction with current rates on $14 million in one fund and nearly $400,000 in another.
• Unclaimed property capital credits depositThe county received $178,972.76 in unclaimed property capital credits from the Texas Comptroller, continuing an annual pattern established the prior year.
• HVAC unit repair and replacement funding allocationThe facilities manager requested an additional $75,000 allocation for failing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units in county buildings, noting prior funding rounds of $75,000 each had been exhausted and he had exceeded the last allocation by $444.
• Brown County jail contract rate increase approvalThe sheriff reported the county must accept a rate increase from Brown County for housing inmates from $45 to $50 per day effective October 1st, as other jails have not returned inquiries about alternative placements.
• CDBG grant civil rights and fair housing policies adoptionThe county adopted required civil rights resolutions, fair housing policies, and grievance procedures mandated by federal grant requirements for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant for sewer service expansion in the Pecan Ridge East area.
• Library holiday schedule and closure day approvalThe library director requested approval for the library to observe the same holiday schedule as the county and to close additional days annually for inventory and staff training.