May 13, 2025 Hood County Commissioners' Court

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Hood County Commissioners' Court met on May 13, 2025, to conduct routine business including honoring community members and fallen military heroes through proclamations, receiving a 2024 safety achievement award, and approving several capital projects at the Acton annex totaling over $111,000. The court reviewed presentations from two firms competing for transportation bond program management services and tabled the selection decision pending further consideration. Additional actions included approving grant applications for solid waste and catalytic converter theft prevention programs, adopting fraud and waste policies, updating travel reimbursement procedures, and approving commercial and residential development plans. The court also authorized an RFP for historic courthouse window repairs and approved routine invoices and consent agenda items totaling $1,193,951.75.

• Call to order and opening ceremoniesThe Hood County Commissioners' Court convened at 9:00 a.m. on May 13, 2025, with invocation and pledges.
• Proclamation designating May 27th as Choose to Move Trey Gordy DayHood County designated May 27th, 2025 as a day to honor the legacy of Trey Gordy, a community member who passed away at age 26 and inspired health and wellness initiatives.
• Proclamation designating May 26th as day to honor fallen military heroesHood County designated May 26th, 2025 as a day to honor fallen military heroes, with a ceremony planned at Jim Burks Firefighters Memorial Park.
• Hood County 2024 Safety Achievement Award presentationHood County received a 2024 safety achievement award from Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool, placing it among only 16 TAC RMP members statewide and one of 254 Texas counties.
• Miscellaneous agenda—Granberry Corvette Club event authorizationCourt authorized the county judge to sign the city of Granberry's event application approving use of the historic courthouse parking lot and gazebo for the Brazes River Corvette Club show.
• RFB 2025-04 aggregates for surface treatment purchasing awardCourt awarded aggregates for surface treatment contract to Vulcan Construction Materials as primary vendor and Green Dream International as alternate.
• RFP 2025-05 retaining wall drainage and grading improvements awardCourt awarded retaining wall project at the Acton annex to Patcon Services for $54,250.62 out of fund 55 to address water drainage issues.
• RFP 2025-06 storm drain and paving improvements awardCourt awarded storm drain and paving improvements at the Acton annex to Patcon Services for $57,559.30 out of fund 555.
• Acton annex family dollar retaining wall access and liability agreementCourt authorized the county judge to sign an access and liability agreement with Family Dollar related to repairs of the retaining wall between the Acton annex and Family Dollar.
• RFQ 2025-07 transportation program development and strategic planning presentation—Innovative Transportation SolutionsInnovative Transportation Solutions (ITS) presented qualifications for transportation program management and strategic planning services, emphasizing program management expertise and fund leveraging capability.
• Commissioner questions on ITS presentation and demonstration of servicesCommissioners inquired about ITS's county client base, fee structure, and project management approach, with focus on timeline and critical path planning to reach August voter approval deadline.
• Frieza Nichols Program Management PresentationFrieza Nichols presented their qualifications and approach for bond program management in Hood County, highlighting experience across multiple counties and funding leverage strategies.
• Funding Strategy and Bond Program FrameworkFrieza Nichols outlined a four-bucket funding approach involving local, state, regional COG, and federal funding sources, with emphasis on program management planning and technical discipline oversight.
• Community Outreach and Reporting StructureFrieza Nichols emphasized comprehensive public engagement strategies and custom reporting tools including monthly reports, quarterly updates, annual magazines, and a full financial transparency dashboard.
• TechStock and Safety Analysis ApproachFrieza Nichols described methodology for identifying major improvements in TechStock system and using accident heat maps to identify outlier safety locations for bond program enhancement.
• Conflict of Interest and Independence QuestionsCommissioner questioned how Frieza Nichols maintains independence when responding to RFPs for projects while serving as bond manager; Frieza Nichols clarified separation of roles.
• Track Record on Bond ProgramsFrieza Nichols presented experience with multiple counties, noting nine successful bond program approvals and significant federal and state fund leverage across Parker County, Hunt County, Tarrant County, and Johnson County.
• State and Federal Funding Leverage AnalysisFrieza Nichols clarified that $710 million represented local taxpayer-approved bond funding and $730 million represented state and federal grant matches, with Tarrant County program demonstrating 50/50 match with cities.
• Fee Structure and Billing MethodologyFrieza Nichols explained hourly fee basis for services rather than flat rate, with costs estimated during bond program planning and actual costs billed during execution based on professionals needed.
• Motion to Table Frieza Nichols DecisionCourt tabled the decision on Frieza Nichols bond manager selection to allow time for consideration, with both presented firms receiving commendation for excellent presentations.
• Justice of the Peace Clerk Certification PayCourt approved certification pay of $11.54 per pay period for remaining 10 payrolls of 2025 for JP1 clerk who achieved Texas Justice Court Training Center certification, funded from JP1 incentive line remainder.
• Hood County Central Appraisal District Board VacancyCourt unanimously nominated Richard Hayes to fill vacant Hood County Central Appraisal District Board position with term expiring December 31, 2025, following public comment regarding taxpayer service concerns in Mitchell Bend.
• Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Policy Review and AcceptanceCounty reviewed and unanimously accepted fraud, waste, and abuse policy with implementation of hotline as routine governance policies that should be in place.
• Adding Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Policy to Employee HandbookCourt approved adding fraud, waste, and abuse policy to employee handbook for operational implementation and employee publication.
• Hood County Travel and Reimbursement Policy ChangesCourt approved updates to travel and reimbursement policy replacing non-functional links with GSA.gov references, discovered during commissioner's booking of conference travel.
• Executive Session NoticeCourt announced item 12 regarding TAC IT best practices and cyber hygiene information would be taken in executive session under Government Code provisions.
• FY2026 North Central Texas COG Solid Waste Implementation Grant ResolutionCourt approved resolution authorizing county judge to sign grant application for FY2026 COG solid waste implementation grant to improve citizen collection station with expanded hours and equipment.
• FY2026 Senate Bill 2024 Catalytic Converter Grant Program ResolutionCourt approved resolution authorizing county judge to sign application for FY2026 Senate Bill 2024 catalytic converter grant program, with public comment addressing surveillance camera funding provision.
• Catalytic converter grant application — Republican platform concerns and focus on personnelA commissioner expressed concerns about surveillance cameras in the grant application, noting the state Republican platform discourages their use, and urged prioritization of personnel deployment over cameras.
• Catalytic converter theft data and camera justificationThe sheriff clarified that catalytic converter thefts have not increased in Hood County but explained the broader context of vehicle thefts and camera utility across law enforcement operations.
• Grant application transparency and Milton Friedman concernsA commissioner raised concerns about grant transparency, citing the state surplus and Milton Friedman's economic principles about government spending inefficiency.
• Catalytic converter grant resolution — motion and voteThe court voted on a resolution supporting the county judge signing the 2025 catalytic converter grant program.
• Debtbook cyber security contract and complianceThe court approved a contract for a third-party service to audit leases and subscriptions for GASB compliance at an annual cost of $5,000 plus initial implementation of $2,500.
• Historic courthouse window repair — RFP and bid reviewThe court authorized the purchasing department to issue an RFP for historic courthouse window repair following hail storm damage, after reviewing bids ranging from $43,000 to $126,000.
• Road operations fund — Walnut Creek Bridge right-of-way paymentCommissioners pulled a road operations consent agenda item to clarify bookkeeping for a $9,000 right-of-way payment to the Randles regarding the Walnut Creek Bridge on Old Granberry Road.
• Consent agenda approvalCommissioners approved the consent agenda after the road operations item was clarified and placed back on the agenda.
• Willis and Company RV sales site development plan — public hearing and approvalThe court held a public hearing and approved the site development plan for a commercial RV sales building on a 3.84-acre lot in the road corridor district.
• Roadstone edition subdivision final plat approvalThe court approved a final plat subdividing 10.04 acres into five 2-acre lots in the rural district, precinct one, with dedication of approximately 4 feet of right-of-way to Campbell Road.
• Financial — invoice payment authorizationThe county auditor presented invoices totaling $1,193,951.75 for court approval and payment.
• Executive session — IT best practices and cyber hygieneThe court adjourned to executive session to receive information from the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management on IT best practices and cyber hygiene.
• Motion for IT cyber security contract checklistFollowing the executive session, a commissioner moved that the IT department create a contract checklist to cover cyber security requirements in future contracts.