Commissioner's Court July 28, 2026

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The Hood County Commissioner's Court met on July 28, 2026, conducting routine business including approval of multiple professional services agreements for transportation and infrastructure projects totaling approximately $28.5 million, adoption of the 2027 court calendar, and unanimous approval of option three health plan design for fiscal year 2026–2027 employee medical and vision coverage. The court also approved various operational and administrative items including fleet management subscription cancellation, a Texas EMS rural ambulance service grant subagreement, and updated FEMA emergency notification system authorization, while deferring action on elected officials' salaries pending an August 11 public hearing for the proposed budget and tax rate. Public comment addressed concerns regarding potential data center development impacts, utility infrastructure, and a federal court order involving the sheriff's office. The court discussed preliminary formation of a sub-regional planning commission with surrounding counties to address development and land use issues.

• Call to order and invocationThe meeting was called to order with invocation and pledges of allegiance.
• Texas County and District Retirement System presentationRepresentative Amy Campbell provided an annual update on the retirement plan, funding status, and investment performance for Hood County employees.
• County employee service awardsCourt recognized employees with 5, 10, and 30 years of service to the county.
• Public comment—land use and data center regulationCitizen speaker presented seven strategic ideas to address potential 8,000 acres of data center development under old regulations.
• Public comment—federal court order and constitutional violationsCitizen raised concerns about federal district court order rejecting qualified immunity and finding plausible allegations of constitutional violations by sheriff's office.
• Public comment—data center infrastructure and utility impactsCitizen presented concerns about utility infrastructure costs, water consumption, and property impacts from large-scale data center development, citing Virginia precedent.
• Procedural requests and agenda reorderingA commissioner requested lunch break consideration and moved item 29 (fleet management) to the front of the agenda.
• Texas EMS rural ambulance service grant subagreementCourt approved entering a subagreement with Texas EMS for rural ambulance service grant under HB 3000 requirements.
• Fiscal year 2025 financial audit presentationAuditor presented results of FY 2025 county financial audit, finding no material deficiencies and strong financial position.
• Fleet management subscription cancellationCourt approved removal of 61 vehicles from SU Fleet Management telematics subscription at no cost to county.
• Open.gov implementation with terms and conditions contingencyCourt approved proceeding with open.gov implementation subject to acceptance of updated legal terms and conditions.
• Bracewell LLP legal services invoicesCourt approved payment of December and June 2026 legal invoices from Bracewell LLP.
• Transportation bond engineering design contracts—Mitchell Ben Highway extensionCourt approved professional services agreement with LT for Mitchell Ben Highway extension project design at $3,282,331.
• PCON Plantation South Access Project designCourt approved professional services agreement with Westwood, Inc. for Plantation South Access Project at $3,193,918.
• Misty Meadow Extension Project designCourt approved professional services agreement with WSB for Misty Meadow Extension Project at $1,040,000.
• Sprouts Creek Connectivity Project designCourt approved professional services agreement with BGE for Sprouts Creek Connectivity Project at $2,539,860.
• Loop 567 Extension Project designCourt approved professional services agreement with Burns and McDonald for Loop 567 extension at $3,674,297.
• US 377 intersection improvements designCourt approved professional services agreement with Pike Pape Dawson for US 377 intersection improvements at $1,735,951.
• Old Granberry Road project designCourt approved professional services agreement with TNT for Old Granberry Road project at $7,028,130 with not-to-exceed of $6,274,333.
• Fall Creek FM 167 relief route project designCourt approved professional services agreement with LGA for Fall Creek FM 167 relief route project at $5,750,250.
• Fall Creek FM167 relief route project agreementCounty approved a professional services agreement with LJA for route studies and PSN projects.
• SH 171 at Fort Worth Western Railroad project agreementCounty approved another professional services agreement with IEA for a state highway project involving railroad crossing improvements and potential grade separation.
• Commissioner's court calendar adoptionCounty adopted the updated 2027 commissioner's court calendar after vetting with judge's office, HR, and treasurer's office.
• Elected officials salary setting and tax rateCourt deferred action on setting elected officials' salaries and established process for setting proposed tax rate, deferring both matters pending August 11 public hearing.
• Public hearing date for budget and tax rateCourt set August 11, 2026 as public hearing date for fiscal year 2027 proposed budget and 2026 tax year proposed tax rate.
• Bond sale process and preliminary official statementCounty provided transparency update on bond sale process coordinating with bond counsel and financial advisors; POS and NOS documents are living documents updated with new information from HCAD.
• Patient Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund fee paymentCounty authorized payment of annual IRS fee for health plan coverage to maintain compliance with federal requirements.
• Development budget invoice payment authorizationCourt authorized two separate invoices for development services due to lack of development director signature authority.
• Wood Creek RV Park invoice payment correctionCourt corrected and approved invoice payment for development services after identifying discrepancy between agenda amount and actual invoice.
• Elections administrator training authorizationCounty approved professional services contract for elections staff training on voting machines and election procedures.
• Grant-funded mineral building project with spray foam insulationCounty approved metal building and construction services for Citizens Collection Station with upgrade to spray foam insulation using additional county funds beyond grant.
• Master copier lease agreement authorizationCounty approved new master lease agreement with Documentation for future copier leases through TIPS cooperative contract.
• CDL driver random drug testing renewalCounty authorized annual renewal of drug testing contract for CDL drivers as safety requirement and best practice.
• Contract terms and conditions attachment policyCourt approved policy requiring all contract terms and conditions, including those referenced by embedded links, be attached via thumb drive or electronic means if voluminous.
• FEMA emergency notification system memorandum of agreementCounty authorized county judge to sign updated memorandum of agreement with FEMA for public alert authority; previous 2021 agreement updated to reflect shift from Code Red to Everbridge system.
• Employee medical and vision insurance coverage optionsCounty began review of insurance coverage options for fiscal year 2026-2027 with brokers presenting marketplace findings and claims data comparison.
• Employee health insurance claims and renewal analysisCounty insurance is being actively used with high claims experience; renewal presents a 33.57% increase if current plan design is maintained.
• Health plan design alternatives and backend cost-sharing discussionFour renewal options present choices between maintaining zero deductible coverage or introducing employee cost-sharing on backend claims to moderate renewal increases.
• Budget impact and auditor coordination on plan selectionCounty auditor has coordinated on health plan costs; options three and four present easier budget accommodation than options one or two.
• Motion to approve option three health plan renewalCourt voted unanimously to adopt option three plan design for 2026–2027 employee medical and vision coverage as recommended by Hub International.
• Sub-regional planning commission formation discussionCourt discussed potential formation of a regional planning commission under Texas Government Code Section 391 with surrounding counties to address development, data center, and solar farm issues.
• Election judges and polling locations appointmentCourt approved appointment of election judges and polling locations for one-year terms as proposed by political party chairs.
• Consent agenda approvalCourt approved consent agenda items without objection or discussion.
• Bill payment certification and adjournmentCourt certified and approved payment of invoices for period July 3–16, 2026 totaling $518,778.91.