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Commissioner's Court June 23, 2026
Recorded June 24, 2026
Topics discussed
The Hood County Commissioner's Court convened on June 23, 2026, to address county business spanning civic recognition, public safety initiatives, citizen input on development and litigation strategy, infrastructure planning, and administrative personnel and policy matters. Citizens presented extensive comments on data center development, tax abatement, legal strategy regarding Subchapter K authority, and the Pacifico lawsuit, while the court approved increased attorney fees, authorized a temporary development coordinator position, and advanced multiple road bond projects including the Loop 567 extension. The court also voted on election administration software renewal, employee policy revisions, insurance and liability matters, and set a public hearing for an airpark re-platting. Additionally, county leadership previewed Republican Party legislative priorities and adopted signage regulations for polling locations.
- Call to order and openingThe Commissioner's Court meeting was called to order and opened with invocation and pledges.
- Battle of the Badges blood drive awardCarter Blood Care presented an award recognizing the Fire Department as champions of the Battle of the Badges blood drive.
- Fire Marshal safety briefingThe Fire Marshal provided a brief safety orientation for meeting attendees.
- Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Day proclamationHood County Commissioners proclaimed July 7th, 2026 as Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Day in recognition of officers killed in the line of duty.
- Service awards for county employeesThe court recognized county employees for service milestones and performance.
- Citizens comments at large—procedural motionThe court established a 5-minute speaking time limit for citizen comments.
- Matt Long—county business and political concernsCitizen Matt Long urged the court to keep meetings focused on county business and address potential partisan agenda items.
- Drake Harold—courage and Local Government Code 231 Subchapter KCitizen Drake Harold urged commissioners to act courageously in decision-making and invoked Local Government Code 231 Subchapter K as the framework for county authority.
- Kevin—attorney influence and expert testimonyCitizen Kevin criticized the court for relying solely on County Attorney Matt Mills's legal advice and ignoring decades of expert testimony on development issues.
- Abatement discussion—tax incentives and developmentCitizen addressed tax abatement policy, cautioning against giving tax breaks to unknown developers.
- Pacifico lawsuit and Subchapter K legal testCitizen urged the court to allow the Pacifico lawsuit to proceed through the courts rather than settle, framing it as the ultimate test of Subchapter K authority.
- Citizen speaker — Apache Hills battery storage near preschoolA citizen speaker drew a parallel between the 1968 courthouse reconstruction decision and the current Apache Hills development approval, arguing commissioners should reconsider approving projects near sensitive facilities.
- Citizen speaker — state data center regulationA citizen speaker urged the court not to settle pending lawsuits, noting that state regulation of data centers is imminent and legislative action is likely.
- Kent McCurn—pragmatic alternative to data center moratoriumCitizen Kent McCurn, with a technical degree in electrical engineering, proposed a legally defensible alternative to a data center moratorium.
- Quantum computing and AI facility risksSpeaker Gordon Moore discussed computing power growth, quantum computing development, and risks of AI facility obsolescence requiring land reclamation safeguards.
- Technical compliance review and recommendation process concernsSpeaker Andy Walker raised questions about Project Spectrum's technical studies review and NFPA 855 compliance of the Apache Hill Best Facility, noting lack of follow-up on recommendations.
- Legal cost analysis and win-win court strategySpeaker Donald Keller presented financial analysis of legal bills and argued taking subchapter K to court represents a win-win scenario for Hood County residents.
- Data center emergency declaration and litigation strategySpeaker Diana Roberts urged court to allow subchapter K judicial process and referenced Hays County emergency declaration regarding data center water usage.
- Data center cumulative impact and community harm assessmentSpeaker Paul Holliday argued multiple data centers will forever change Hood County landscape and questioned whether regulatory agencies assess cumulative impact.
- Development scale regulation compliance concernsSpeaker discussed large-scale development experience and noted concept plan approval did not meet regulatory requirements for technical drawings and district lines.
- Newspaper editorial critique and rule of law discussionSpeaker critiqued newspaper editorial as gaslighting and discussed proper role of law versus arbitrary governance.
- SCYTL election results software agreementElection administration presented software agreement renewal for displaying election night results on county website, emphasizing it is not official state reporting mechanism.
- Road bond project consultant contract status updateITS presented status on nine road bond projects, noting consultant contract negotiations near completion with anticipated signing by end of June.
- Tolar intersection and Route 167 project updatesProject team discussed Tolar intersection improvements and pivot on Route 167 relief from full new alignment to feasibility plus interim third-lane project.
- Other route projects status updatesProject team provided brief status on remaining road projects, indicating they are in negotiation phases with contracts anticipated shortly.
- Consultant cost management and dual-selection strategyProject team explained approach to controlling consultant costs by negotiating aggressively and using dual-firm selections as competitive incentive.
- Property impact notification and engagement timelineProject team discussed when affected property owners will be contacted during project development phases.
- Loop 567 Extension and TxDOT CoordinationThe county is working with TxDOT on a nearly $70 million Loop 567 extension project from Highway 377 to Highway 144, utilizing the $125 million bond approved last November.
- Executive Session—Litigation and Settlement MattersCommissioners convened into executive session to discuss future litigation and settlement offers related to National CRE Holdings LLC and Pacific Coast Properties.
- Attorney Fees Budget AdjustmentMotion passed to increase the budget from contingency by $30,000 for McGeorge's law firm outside counsel invoices, and to move $200,000 from HCAP refund to general funds attorney fees in a future budget adjustment.
- Workers Compensation Shortage PaymentMotion passed to pay workers compensation shortage invoice from HCAP refund for $21,968.
- Liability Insurance Renewal QuestionnaireAuthorized county judge to sign liability renewal questionnaire for October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 period; staff confirmed recent sales and trade-ins have been removed from coverage.
- Hood County Employee Exempt Status Policy RevisionsApproved revisions to employee exempt status policy with modification requiring exempt employees to submit leave requests and documentation to immediate supervisor within appropriate time.
- Public Promise Procurement Cooperative Membership AgreementAuthorized county judge to sign master intergovernmental cooperative purchasing agreement membership with Public Promise Procurement Cooperative, run by National Association of Counties.
- Hood County 820 Radio Network Project UpdateFederal Engineering presented project update on independent P25 radio network analysis; needs assessment and stakeholder interviews completed, with alternatives analysis beginning in July.
- Development Director Email Process RevisionMotion passed to remove commissioners and judge from development director email forwarding, leaving only county attorney and Melissa Welborn to receive forwarded emails.
- Development Coordinator Temporary HiringMultiple speakers addressed proposal to hire temporary development coordinator through September 30, 2026 not to exceed $50,000; debate centered on staffing structure, development approach, and county preparedness for mega-scale industrial projects.
- Development department staffing and capacitySpeaker advocated for adequate staffing in the development department to manage orderly watershed development and ensure compliance with regulations.
- Site development plan process and regulatory concernsKirk Keskey outlined concerns about the county's readiness to manage large-scale site development plans and advocated for additional staff and development commission involvement.
- Development director perspective on concept plan vs. site development planCounty official explained the distinction between concept plans and site development plans, noting contradictions in development regulations regarding large-scale projects.
- County's lack of preparation for large-scale developmentCourt leadership acknowledged the county was unprepared for the volume and type of development over the last 9 months and explained interim staffing challenges.
- Job description and position structure discussionCommissioners discussed the type, duration, and qualifications needed for a new development department position to support the development director.
- Four-year staffing projection and ancillary development concernsKirk Keskey emphasized the county should plan for sustained development staffing over the next four years based on anticipated project volume.
- Finding qualified personnel and committee support strategyKirk Keskey addressed the difficulty of recruiting qualified development staff and recommended leveraging the development commission during the recruitment process.
- Motion for temporary development coordinator positionThe court voted unanimously to create a temporary development coordinator position through September 30th, reporting to the Commissioner's Court.
- Political signs regulation at polling locationsMiss Welborn presented a draft resolution (changed to order) regulating political signage and electioneering activities at Hood County-owned polling places.
- 2026 Republican State Convention legislative prioritiesCounty leadership previewed the Republican Party of Texas 2026-2028 legislative priorities affecting Hood County that would be voted on and passed to the legislature.
- Eight legislative priorities of the Republican PartyCounty leadership presented eight party legislative priorities to be focused on during the 2027 legislative session, with a track record of passage success.
- County chair remarks on legislative priorities impactThe county chair noted that many legislative priorities will directly impact Tarrant County citizens as they work through the legislature.
- Precinct 4 Commissioner statement on absences from court meetingsA Precinct 4 Commissioner explained his absences from two recent Commissioner Court meetings due to prior notice and a hospitalization.
- Discussion of legislative priorities and platform by Republican Party Legislative Committee on data centersA commissioner detailed six Republican platform planks related to data centers and read platform plank 223 on unincorporated land development.
- Discussion of permanent Republican Party rules including candidate platform review, censure process, and closed primariesThe commissioner outlined three key rules passed by the Republican Party affecting candidate eligibility, party censure, and primary participation.
- Consent agenda approvalThe court approved the consent agenda by unanimous motion.
- Road operations sign placement at Hood County propertyCommissioners approved placement of liability and overnight camping prohibition signs at the county property at 2423 Flat Creek Highway (formerly noted as Live Oak Highway).
- Development center public hearing for Airpark addition re-platThe court set a public hearing for re-platting of Airpark addition parcels on July 14, 2026.
- Financial certification of invoices and bill paymentThe auditor's office recommended payment of invoices totaling $1,097,639.25 for the period May 29 through June 11, 2026.
- AdjournmentThe meeting was adjourned following the financial vote.