March 28, 2023 Hood County Commissioners' Court

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Hood County Commissioners' Court met on March 28, 2023, to conduct regular business including recognizing community achievements, addressing public concerns, and approving operational matters. The court issued proclamations honoring the Lipan Lady Indians and Lipan Indians for winning 2023 UIL 2A State basketball championships and commended the athletic director, while also hearing public comments on groundwater board appointments, facility noise, county clerk staffing, and software vulnerabilities in the Tyler implementation. The court approved several procedural and administrative actions, including modifying the budget hearing process to permit visual aids, authorizing online continuing education for commissioners, and approving emergency management social media accounts, as well as infrastructure and land development matters. The meeting concluded with approval of invoices and expenditures totaling $375,878.05 and the tabling of a resolution regarding limited tax bond redemption.

• Call to order and invocationThe meeting was called to order with an invocation and pledges of allegiance.
• Recognition of oil painting and artistA historic oil painting of General John Bell Hood was recognized, with credit given to artist Ronnie Rose and his wife Roberta for designing and funding the artwork.
• Lipan Lady Indians UIL 2A State basketball championship proclamationCommissioners' Court issued a proclamation honoring the Lipan Lady Indians for winning the 2023 UIL 2A State girls basketball championship.
• Lipan Indians UIL 2A State boys basketball championship proclamationCommissioners' Court issued a proclamation recognizing the Lipan Indians for winning the 2023 UIL 2A State boys basketball championship, marking the first time in 16 years both boys and girls won 2A championships at the same school.
• Athletic director commendation and community appreciationCommissioner Andrews and others commended athletic director Branson for her first year, emphasizing the importance of raising good human beings alongside athletic success.
• County service awardsTwo employees received service award recognition for dedicated service to Hood County.
• Public comment: Upper Trinity Groundwater Board appointment concernsElizabeth Mercer expressed concerns about the reappointment of Mr. Lusk to the Upper Trinity Groundwater Board, advocating instead for the original appointee who she characterized as more thoughtful about groundwater management and development.
• Public comment: Compute North Data Mining facility noise concernsTim Harris reported ongoing noise disturbance from the Compute North Data Mining facility adjacent to Wolf Hollow power plant, requesting a sound barrier or cap on facility expansion.
• Public comment: County clerk staffing and financial reporting concernsTina Brown raised concerns about the hiring of specialists for County Clerk Katie Lang's office, requesting the court place the matter on the agenda for discussion about waste of taxpayer dollars and pay equity.
• Public comment: Pecan Women's Club community service announcementKatie Schoff, representing the Pecan Women's Club, announced community service activities and solicited donations for Rancho Brazos food pantry.
• Public comment: Decorum and commissioner conduct concernsSharon Sealander clarified her earlier audience objection was not about Mike Davis speaking but about his repeated disparagement of Commissioner Eagle across multiple meetings.
• Public comment: Financial reporting and groundwater board quorum concernsHarold Granick raised concerns about missing county clerk financial reports and groundwater board quorum issues, and made a light-hearted comment about a commissioner's basketball qualifications.
• Granbury Wine Walk event application approvalCommissioners' Court approved the city of Granbury's event application for the Granbury Wine Walk vendor parking around the historic Courthouse on April 28th and 29th.
• Information Technology department status updateIT Director provided an update on multiple projects including Tyler implementation, JP and Purdue interfaces, website conversion, and camera installation.
• Public comment: Tyler implementation software vulnerabilities and litigation riskDavid Ferris, a software expert with a master's degree in business statistics and prior litigation experience, expressed serious concerns about known vulnerabilities in the Tyler software product and estimated high probability of major litigation.
• Proposed modification to budget hearing processCommissioners introduced an agenda item to discuss modifying the budget hearing process to allow visual aids and backup documents.
• Budget hearing process modification — PowerPoint displaysCommissioner Samuelson requested permission for department heads and elected officials to display PowerPoints and backup materials during budget hearings to improve public transparency and understanding.
• Citizen comments on PowerPoint proposalTwo citizens spoke on the agenda item, with mixed concerns about time allocation and the necessity of presentations.
• PowerPoint policy motion and voteThe court voted 5–0 to modify the budget hearing process to request visual aids and backup documents be displayed.
• Engine 39 refurbishment final invoice paymentThe court approved payment of an additional $2,746.43 beyond the original $325,000 budget for the refurbished engine 39 final invoice.
• Online education authorization for commissionersCommissioner Eagle requested an order authorizing commissioners to complete continuing education hours online, citing statute changes after COVID and the option's cost savings.
• Citizen and commissioner comments on online educationMultiple speakers and commissioners raised concerns about online education quality, networking loss, and course verification before the court voted to authorize the option.
• Emergency Management social media accountsThe court voted unanimously 5–0 to allow the Office of Emergency Management to create and maintain independent Facebook and Twitter accounts for direct community communication.
• Opioid settlement funds separate revenue accountThe court voted 5–0 to place $91,698.08 in opioid settlement funds into fund 62, a pre-existing account formerly named TxDOT Highway, retitled as "Opioid Settlement," to ensure transparency and proper accounting until the court determines the best uses.
• Election equipment funding reservationThe Elections Administrator requested reservation of $66,000–$130,000 in Fund 55 for election equipment purchases, pending outcome of pending state legislation.
• Rolling Hills Shores cleanup vouchersThe court approved issuing 10 vouchers to Rolling Hills Shores subdivision for their community cleanup day at the Hood County Citizens collection station.
• House Bill 2835 Ed Shipman Memorial Highway resolutionThe court adopted a resolution supporting House Bill 2835 to designate a portion of State Highway 144 as the Ed Shipman Memorial Highway, honoring his 48 years of work at Happy Hill Farm.
• 2023–2024 budget coordination approach discussionCommissioner Eagle proposed a new budget process wherein each commissioner coordinates directly with assigned departments to develop budget proposals prior to June 2023 hearings.
• Pecan Plantation Unit 9 lot 1682r replat approvalThe court approved replat of Pecan Plantation Unit 9 combining lots 1681 and 1682 into one 0.69-acre lot.
• Deer Valley Estates Tracts 3r and 6r replat approvalThe court approved replat of Deer Valley Estates relocating the common line between two tracts to create revised acreage.
• Hill City Horse Stop RV Park site development plan approvalThe court approved site development plan for Hill City Horse Stop proposing 30 recreational vehicle spaces on 10 acres of a 39.9-acre tract.
• Invoices and expenditures approvalThe auditor presented invoices totaling $375,878.05 for the period March 8–21, 2023, recommending payment.
• Invoice approval for March 8–21, 2023The court approved payment of invoices totaling $375,878.05 for the period March 8–21, 2023.
• Monthly financial reports statusThe county is working with the county clerk and Tyler software vendors to finalize monthly and justice of the peace reports for upcoming publication.
• Limited tax bond series 2019 redemption resolution—discussion and tablingThe court debated and ultimately tabled a resolution to redeem Hood County's outstanding limited tax bond series 2019, with significant disagreement over financial strategy.
• AdjournmentThe meeting concluded.