October 11, 2023 Hood County Special Called Workshop

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The Hood County Commissioners held a special called workshop on October 11, 2023, to review the second round of ARPA funding totaling $5.6 million, which faced 29 applications requesting $21.4 million across sheriff's equipment, fire department infrastructure and vehicles, emergency services stations, nonprofit community programs, and county road improvements. Presentations covered multiple fire departments' requests for tankers, trucks, facilities, and equipment; law enforcement protective gear and vehicles; emergency services proposals; and community organizations seeking funding for health, education, and social services. Commissioners discussed funding constraints, questioned cost variations among comparable bids, and noted an available Senate Bill 22 grant of $500,000 for sheriff's equipment that would factor into the allocation strategy. The group agreed to develop individual priority spreadsheets and reconvene to make final funding allocation decisions across all competing requests.

• Call to order and opening proceedingsThe meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. with invocation and pledges.
• ARPA funding overview and application summaryMargaret Campbell presented the second round of ARPA money totaling $5.6 million with 29 applications received requesting $21.4 million.
• Sheriff's Office equipment requests—first applicationFirst application requests $205,000 for protective equipment for deputies including plate carriers, ballistic plates, helmets, glass packages, and night vision.
• Sheriff's Office equipment requests—second application and SRT backgroundSecond application requests $764,000 for armor trucks, simunition training equipment, and additional protective gear based on law enforcement modernization needs.
• Crescent Fire Department facility expansion requestCrescent fire department requests just over $536,000 for a four-bay truck building expansion and facility improvements to handle growth from 100 calls per year in mid-90s to 1,000 calls currently.
• Crescent Fire Department tanker and facility need justificationFire department demonstrated need for additional tanker by citing recent fires in surrounding counties that were lost due to lack of water supply capability.
• Day Cordova Fire Department three applicationsDay Cordova submitted three applications totaling $2.075 million: tanker purchase, brush truck cab replacement, and property acquisition for second fire station.
• Granberry Fire Department four applicationsGranberry submitted four applications totaling $655,000 for brush truck cab, generator, brush truck chassis, and tanker loan repayment with alternative county purchase arrangement.
• Granberry Fire Department ongoing project coordinationGranberry chief indicates another project working with Ricky (likely EMS) and willingness to merge consideration of these four requests into that project.
• Indian Harbor Fire Department two applicationsIndian Harbor submitted two applications totaling $791,000 for a fire rescue boat and mini pumper fire truck designed for improved response and water supply capability.
• Water infrastructure and fire response explanationClarification provided on difference between tanker water infrastructure and fireboat pumping capability for Hood County's lack of hydrant infrastructure.
• Indian Harbor fireboat definition and capabilities clarificationCommissioners sought clarification on fireboat versus rescue boat distinction to understand $426,000 investment.
• Lifton Fire Department two applicationsLifton submitted two applications totaling $570,000: building reskinning and emergency equipment upgrades, plus tanker truck purchase.
• North Hood County Fire Department single application with three componentsNorth Hood County submitted one application requesting $891,000 for fire engine, generator, and rescue fireboat reflecting department modernization and expanded service area.
• North Hood County Fire Department request justification and quote discussionFire chief explained request amounts as preliminary estimates and willingness to work with available funding levels while noting actual cost variability.
• Pecan Plantation Fire Department EMS three applicationsPecan Plantation submitted three applications totaling approximately $1.753 million for generator, fire department building expansion, and second application for fire department.
• Granberry Fire Department requestsGranberry Fire requested funding for a ladder truck, building extension with bunk rooms, and a generator for the EMS building to create a mini EOC in Theon.
• Station 70 Volunteer Fire Department requestStation 70 requested $519,000 for a 3,000 gallon tanker to support firefighting in a 64 square mile coverage area with no fire hydrants.
• Toller Volunteer Fire Department requestToller requested $898,000 for a combination tanker to support a new station they are building with their own funds and donated property.
• Texas EMS proposal for three combination fire and EMS stationsTexas EMS submitted a $3.3 million proposal with two options for three combination fire and EMS stations at Indian Harbor, the loop with Granberry, and De Cordova, plus generators at two current stations.
• Rachel Brazas Outreach Center requestRachel Brazas requested $500,000 to develop four and a half acres and build an Outreach Center focused on nutrition access and child welfare.
• Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County requestCommunities In Schools requested $532,000 to support three program managers and mental health counselors with more than a five year relationship with Granberry ISD.
• Hood County Substance Abuse Council requestHood County Substance Abuse Council requested $220,000 to bring prevention and treatment recovery programs into the electronic age since communities served lack internet and students now use electronics to communicate.
• YMCA Project 505 requestYMCA requested $300,000 to establish Project 505 serving 40 to 60 teens daily with intentional programming for teens and special needs children and families.
• Forward Training Center of Palo Pinto County requestForward Training Center requested $69,000 to purchase technology upgrades including computers for CAD, Cisco networking, and basic computer labs, as current equipment came from 2008 and cannot be upgraded to Windows 11.
• Constable's Office requestConstable Jordan submitted a $70,000 application on behalf of all four constables for two trailers, ballistic carrier plates, and helmets.
• ARPA funding for Hood County road infrastructureCounty Judge requested $5.6 million in remaining ARPA funds for road infrastructure improvements on Old Granberry Road and the Walnut Creek bridge to address traffic flow when Highway 377 expansion construction begins.
• County essential services and resource constraintsCommissioners discussed the tension between limited ARPA funds and extensive requests for essential services, roads, and nonprofit support.
• Road project phasing and funding strategyOfficials explained how intersections will be prioritized first, followed by road widening, with potential for phased ARPA funding and additional certificate of obligation financing.
• Fire department tanker bid varianceCommissioners questioned the nearly $100,000 price variance across four fire department tanker bids and received explanation regarding timing, inflation, and equipment differences.
• Senate Bill 22 grant and sheriff's equipmentCommissioners noted that a $500,000 Senate Bill 22 grant available for sheriff's equipment should be factored into the overall funding strategy, with application opening January 1st.
• Next steps and commissioner prioritizationCommissioners agreed to develop individual priority spreadsheets and meet to discuss county-wide funding allocation decisions across all ARPA requests.