Commissioner's Court March 10, 2026

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The Hood County Commissioner's Court convened on March 10, 2026, addressing a wide-ranging agenda that included proclamations for Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a presentation on the phase-one road and jail bond plan of finance, and approval of the schematic design for a jail addition. A significant portion of the meeting focused on amendments to the county's development permit regulations, with the court holding a public hearing and adopting line edits to Articles 2, 4, and 5 governing concept plans, site development plans, and industrial use definitions. Following extensive public comment and executive session, the court voted on the denial of the Pacificco Energy Fort Spunky concept plan based on insufficient water source documentation. The court also approved a Mission Critical Partners 911 center assessment, MOUs with Tolar and Granbury ISDs for the regional radio network, an AVI-SPL courtroom AV upgrade, and routine consent and financial items.

• Call to order, invocation, and pledgesThe court convened in the central jury room of the Ralph H. Walton Jr. Justice Center with invocation and pledges.
• Safety briefing by Fire MarshalFire Marshal Jeff Young reviewed exits and AED locations for attendees.
• Proclamation – Child Abuse Prevention MonthThe court proclaimed April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
• Proclamation – Sexual Assault Awareness MonthThe court proclaimed April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
• Citizen comment – Cheryl Shaden on inverse condemnation and moratoriumCheryl Shaden of Protect Hood County urged a temporary moratorium on industrial development.
• Citizen comment – Jim Bell on data center proposalsJim Bell raised concerns about Comanche Circle and Sailfish data center activity.
• Citizen comment – Cindy Highmith on TCEQ air monitoringCindy Highmith asked the court to press state representatives over the absence of air monitoring equipment.
• Citizen comment – Kenneth Matter on cumulative industrial impactsKenneth Matter outlined cumulative impacts of power plants, drainage, housing, and traffic.
• Citizen comment – Dave Eagle on Republican party factionsDave Eagle described two competing factions claiming to represent the Republican party in Hood County.
• Citizen comment – Dominique King on industrial developmentDominique King opposed Sailfish, Pacificico, and Marathon, calling for disapproval of all concept plans.
• Approval – CASA flags and child abuse prevention displaysThe court approved displays at the courthouse for Child Abuse Prevention Month.
• Approval – Mission Granberry teal ribbon and clothesline displayThe court authorized displays for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
• Approval – Granberry Wine Celebration parkingThe court authorized use of the historic courthouse parking lot for the Granberry Wine Celebration.
• Plan of finance – phase one bond issuanceJim Sabonis of Hilltop Securities presented the plan of finance and timeline for road and jail bonds.
• Plan of Finance Presentation for Road Bond ProgramFinancial advisor Jim Sabonis presented an updated bond financing plan that improved on the worst-case scenario shown to voters during the bond election.
• Telecommunications Officer Pay Step AdjustmentCourt approved a pay step increase for a newly hired dispatcher with out-of-state experience.
• Bracewell LLP January Legal InvoiceCourt approved payment of January legal services invoice following public comment questioning specific billing entries.
• Jail Nurse Station Camera AgreementCourt authorized addition of two cameras at the jail nurse station to the existing maintenance agreement.
• Jail Addition Schematic Design ApprovalCourt approved schematic design documents for submission to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
• Development Permit Regulation Amendments – Article 5 Lot CoverageChristine Leftwich presented proposed amendment to Article 5 Section 5.3 limiting lot coverage for data centers and similar uses to 10%.
• Development Permit Regulation Amendments – Sections 4.2 and 4.4 ChecklistsCourt reviewed proposed checklist additions for concept plans and site development plans involving large industrial users.
• Concept plan and subdivision regulation discussionThe court continued reviewing proposed edits to the concept plan and site development plan regulations, focusing on copy requirements, notice timing, and drainage study language.
• Public hearing — Matt Long commentsMatt Long urged the court to adopt the regulations today and apply them broadly to existing projects.
• Public hearing — Greg Harold commentsGreg Harold urged adoption of tight regulations today and framed the issue as protecting Hood County's heritage.
• Public hearing — John Heismith on water contaminationJohn Heismith of Pecan Plantation requested specific containment regulations to prevent industrial water contamination.
• Public hearing — Brian Crawford commentsBrian Crawford asked the court to deny the Pacifico Fort Spunky concept plan and fully implement the new regulations.
• Public hearing — Donna Callahert detailed editsDonna Callahert presented detailed proposed edits across multiple sections of the regulations.
• Public hearing — additional speakersTwo additional speakers raised specific concerns about the concept plan language.
• Return to court — adoption with amendmentsThe court closed the public hearing at 11:20 and began identifying which amendments to adopt today.
• Development regulations: structure and industrial definitionsThe court refined wording in Section 1, Article 2, Section 2.2 to capture portable buildings and to define industrial use.
• Concept plan amendments (Section 4.2)The court worked through line edits to the concept plan checklist, including paper size, water quality district references, and Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act compliance.
• Site development plan amendments (Section 4.4)Parallel revisions were made to Section 4.4, including submission requirements, power generation language, and species protections.
• Item 11 – Pacificico Energy (Fort Spunky) concept plan denialThe court reconvened at 12:30 to consider denying the Fort Spunky concept plan for insufficient water source under regulation 4.2D16A.
• Public comment: noise modeling and nuisance law (Pacificco)A speaker with environmental planning background presented noise modeling conclusions and cited case law urging denial of the Pacificco conditional approval.
• Public comment: John Heismith on water requirementsSpeaker walked through county regulations and state code asserting authority to deny the concept plan due to denied AMUD water service.
• Public comment: Carolyn ReevesPecan Plantation-area resident from Precinct 202 voiced opposition citing health, water, livestock, and environmental concerns.
• Public comment: Jordan SchmidtEngineer and homeowner urged denial, citing electricity demand, missing water permits, and broader infrastructure concerns.
• Commissioner Samuelson's findings on concept planCommissioner Samuelson detailed regulatory grounds for denial based on the AMUD denial and Section 5.4.C requirements.
• Doug Shaw testimony on Upper Trinity Groundwater DistrictThe UTGCD General Manager clarified the permitting process and corrected representations about water availability.
• Executive session and final vote on Pacificco denialCourt entered executive session for legal advice before voting on the denial motion.
• Sheriff immigration law enforcement grant resolutionCourt adopted required resolution to access Senate Bill 8 grant funding.
• Mission Critical Partners study proposalCourt considered a proposal for an emergency communications study not to exceed $49,690.
• 911 Center year-end statistics and future needsDispatch reported call-handling metrics and framed upcoming demand from 377 widening and commercial growth.
• Mission Critical Partners proposal for ECC assessmentDavid Jones presented a two-part scope reviewing the interlocal agreement and conducting an organizational assessment of the 911 center.
• Commissioner questions on contract terms and scopeCommissioner raised concerns that the $49,690 proposal was open-ended and could exceed the $50,000 bid threshold.
• Workforce staffing and best practices clarificationsMCP confirmed deliverables would address shift deployment and SOP documentation gaps as part of best practices.
• Project phases and timeline detailJones outlined four phases with typical durations and tied delivery to data quality.
• Granberry dispatching comment and motion to approve studyCommissioner reiterated position on dispatch jurisdiction; court approved purchase order for the study.
• MOUs with Tolar ISD and Granbury ISD on radio networkTwo MOUs approved unanimously to formalize school district participation in the Granbury Regional Radio Network.
• Defining communication channels with outside law firmsCourt agreed to route legal communications with Bracewell and Borquez Bracewell through County Attorney Matt Mills.
• AVI-SPL audio/video upgrade for courtroomsCourt approved up to $72,000 to replace courtroom AV equipment with Zoom-capable system.
• Transition to consent agendaCourt moved toward consent agenda with noted pulls before executive session on courthouse security pin test.
• Consent agenda approvalThe court approved the consent agenda with stated modifications and amendments.
• Payment of invoicesAuditor Stephanie Matwalk presented bi-weekly expenditures for certification.
• Financial reports and bank reconciliationsThe court accepted audit department reports for the first half of January 2026.
• Executive session and security contractThe court recessed into executive session and reconvened to authorize a contract signing.