Commissioners Court - Regular Meeting

Good morning again. The regular session of Comel County Commissioner's Court will be called to order at 8.30. Let the record reflect that all members of the court are present this morning and there is a quorum. We will begin with action agenda item number one, which is to approve the claims.

Judge, I move to approve the claims as presented for August the 20th, 2026. EFT is $1,470,969.78. Regular claims is $731,940.86 for a total of $2,202,910.64. Second.

We have a motion to approve claims by Commissioner Hogg, with a second by Commissioner Leacock. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Item two, discuss and consider acceptance of check donations from the following for the Junior Deputy Academy to be deposited into line item 010-000-2348, Junior Deputy Academy donations. Number one, Gail Gray, New Braunfels, in the amount of $650. And number two, strategic heating and air, Trevor Spencer, LLC, Sprint Branch, in the amount of $200.

Move to approve action agenda item number two, number one, and number two.

There's a motion to accept both check donations as presented by action item number two by Commissioner Hogg with a second by Commissioner Leacock. Any discussion or questions?

I just want to congratulate you all on this continuously successful program. And what a great testimony to the value that it has in the community when people donate to it. So kudos.

All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you. We will move into our workshop agenda. If there's no objection, I would like to begin with item number two, which is reports by county staff and elected officials on items of community interest.

Well, Ms. Tharp, you said it all very accurately. Faithfully, with a smile, you're always positive. And any challenge we gave you at the tax office within our local agreements, you never hesitated to dive right in and figure it out. So you will be missed. And we wish you the best moving forward with your next venture.

Are there any other reports by county staff or elected officials this morning? Seeing none, we will move into workshop agenda item number one, which is citizens' comments. Public comments may address items of public interest and concern, or a specific agenda item are listed at three minutes per person. What I would ask is that if you are here to comment on the budget hearing or the tax rate hearing, that you hold your comments until that agenda item. At this time, we would accept any other public comment, as well as anyone here to speak in celebration of Mr. Hornset's retirement. OK. So no cit

And the proclamation reads, whereas Comal County, Texas is a community rich in history, tradition, natural beauty, and a strong spirit of service. And whereas the Comal County Commissioner Court recognizes that strength of county government rests upon the dedication, integrity, knowledge, and commitment of the men and women who devote their careers in serving the citizens of Comal County. And whereas Thomas Howman, Tom Hornceff, began his service in Comal County in 1992 as county engineer and has devoted over 33 years of distinguished public service to the safety, infrastructure, prosperity, a

We have a motion to approve action agenda item number three by Commissioner Hogg, with a second by Commissioner Leacock. Any discussion or questions?

Well, we've talked a lot about, over the years, the worst part of this job and working here is when good people leave. And today, of course, is one of those days. I know you're an engineer, and you always act like it's all about the work and not about the people. But we've seen your heart, and we know how much you care about people. And that was most evident in relation to Sherman. And he would have loved today. He valued ceremony and formality and would have been all about the proper respect, to show the proper respect to you and your distinguished career and service to the county. I know you

Tom, that was the longest proclamation that I've ever read. But the good part about it was all those words in there that describes you were actually, all of them were spot on. I've appreciated the past 16 years of your kind friendship, your... your leadership, and guiding us, guiding me in being a better person. Somebody said, when you tear up, it means that you actually mean it. And I do. Thank you, Tom.

My turn. Tom, I want to thank you for being a mentor. You're a steady, consistent, and constructive leader. And no matter how frustrating something that comes up that you deal with, you've always handled these things in stride. I've never once seen you show anger. And I've never once seen you treat anybody with anything less than dignity and respect. What I've witnessed in my years here, and even in the years before I took office, are traits of a good, strong, admirable character and traits of steadfast leadership. All these traits in one person is an absolutely exceptional combination, and yo

It didn't take long being here to know, even before I was sitting in this chair, that all the information is just held in that body, in that mind. And man, it's been a blessing to have you here and to be part of the organization. You've been instrumental in learning and continue to learn. And it's clear by everybody in this room understands that you can't possibly know everything that you've been able to take in over the past 33 years. And I was serious about the phone number, and I'm sure we're all going to greatly miss you. And a friend. But I want to say thank you for your leadership and yo

Only five short months. That's all I got. But I am here, we all know, under somewhat tragic circumstances. Out of that has been one of the greatest blessings for me in my time in the county in public service. I've told this story, but when I became tax assessor, I walked in and I wanted to meet everybody. I was eager. And I looked at Tom like Commissioner Crownover described him as this, you know, example, his role model is, oh, he has so much knowledge. I want to get to know him. And I walked up to him and I said, hi, I'm Kristen Hoyt. I'm the new tax assessor. And he was like, oh, OK, well,

Good morning again. I am here to read a letter from the former County Judge Carter Castile, who was unable to be here today. I would love to impersonate her with her accent, but I don't think I can get it. We can all hear it, though. Dear Tom, in my long lifetime, I've had a few opportunities to meet really great people, and when I did, the world in which I lived became a much better place. I had the privilege of interviewing, along with the rest of the Comel County Commissioner's Court in 1992, a young man for the position of Comel County Engineer, Tom Hornseth. The court had very interesting

If you need any assistance in meetings, we can ask him for advice. If you don't answer the phone, we'll just do what he says.

So at this time, we would like to invite folks up if you want to be part of the photo. Anyone from the Jennifer, anyone that wanted to come up and take a photo with Tom? And the family. And the family, of course. Oh, yes. I'm sorry. Yes. We're not done yet.

We have, we're fortunate to have a representative from Senator Campbell's office here today. This is Miss Sonia Chapa, and she has something very special to present to Tom.

We are going to take a 10-minute recess, so everyone can come grab photos and speak with Tom. We will be going into recess at 927, and we'll return, let's say we'll return at 940. We'll turn to 940. Thank you. Thank you.

I didn't want to. And I didn't want to reach over and then throw you off because I saw it. It beeped and it threw you off. And the last thing I did was go over. I almost went.

Instead of saying this part, please keep it on the front burner for as soon as possible.

It was here and then it was there and then it was here.

We are returning from recess at 9.41 AM. We are in our action agenda. Next up on the agenda, you'll notice, is the taxpayer impact statement. This is a statement that is required by statute, Texas government code 551.043. I will not be reading it, but we've done our duty and had this posted on the agenda and noticed. So we'll move to item number four, discuss and consider setting proposed salaries and allowances for elected county and precinct officials for fiscal year 2027. Oh, I'm sorry. So just as a recap, on August 6th, this was the proposal from the county judge's budget for the elected o

Move to approve action agenda item number four. Second.

We have a motion to approve action agenda item number four by Commissioner Hogg with a second by Commissioner Leacock. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Item five, public hearing on proposed 2027 Comal County budget. Okay, so before we begin, I would like to briefly recap the proposed budget from August 6th and the principles that guided its development. As many of you have seen, my focus throughout the budget process this year has been on the basics. That, along with added communication and increased transparency. And when I speak o

Is there anyone else here that would like to address the fiscal year 2027 budget? Yes.

Thank you, sir. Is there anyone else? Good morning.

Move to approve action agenda item number nine. Second.

We have a motion to approve action agenda item number nine by Commissioner Leacock with a second by Commissioner Hogg. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Item 10, discuss and consider accepting amendment number two to irrevocable standby letter of credit number FTFC-24740 as a one-year extension of the surety for construction of roads and stormwater drainage improvements within Canyon Ranch Unit 3. Approve the associated surety agreement between the developer and Comal County and authorize the county judge to sign.

Move to approve action agenda item number 10. Second.

There's a motion to approve action agenda item number 10 by Commissioner Crownover with a second by Commissioner Webb. Any discussion?

I just want to make sure that we're staying on top of monitoring. I've had a considerable amount of neighbors out there that are claiming to be affected, and I've seen some photo proof that they actually are. So we need to make sure that they're crossing T's and dotting I's out there as they're doing this construction.

We have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Thank you. If there is no objection from the court, we do need to table or move this item to a later date, item 11. Any objection? OK. Item 12, discuss and consider approval to retroactively apply principal ARPA funds in place of interest-earned funds to previously approved project expenditures on the Comal County Mental Health Extended Observation Unit Crisis Residential Unit Facility Project, including change orders, contract amendments, and miscellaneous project-related costs as appropriate.

Move to approve action agenda item number 12. Second. Second.

There's a motion to approve action agenda item number 12 by Commissioner Webb, with a second by Commissioner Leacock. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Item 13, discuss and consider approval of the Treasurer's Monthly Report for July 2026. Ms. Couch is unable to be here today, but this was provided in advance.

Move to approve action agenda item number 13. Second.

There's a motion to approve action agenda item number 13 by Commissioner Crownover with a second by Commissioner Webb. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Item 14, discuss and consider approval of the Texas Historical Commission Fiscal Year 2026 Certified Local Government Grant Contract, CLG-TX-26-007, and authorize a county judge to sign. Good morning, Ms. Gores.

Move to approve action agenda item number 14. Second.

There's a motion to approve action agenda item number 14 by Commissioner Leacock with a second by Commissioner Hogg. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Item 15, discuss and consider approval of a grant application under the Texas Local Emergency Planning Committee, LEPC, grant program through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, and authorized electronic submission. Good morning.

Move to approve action agenda item number 15. Second.

A motion by Commissioner Cronover with a second by Commissioner Webb to approve action agenda item number 15. Any discussion or questions for Mr. Sykes? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Thank you. Item 16, discuss and consider approval of Department of State Health Services contract number HHS00131110001, amendment number 2, under the Center for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, CHEPR, for the Comel County Public Health Department and authorize the county judge to sign via electronic signature. Good morning.

Move to approve action agenda item number 16. Second.

There's a motion to approve action agenda item number 16 by Commissioner Hogg with a second by Commissioner Leacock. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Item 17, discuss and consider acceptance of a grant award under the 2026-2027 Veterans Treatment Court BTC grant program through the Texas Veterans Commission in the amount of $235,000 to fund programmatic expenses and authorize the county judge to electronically accept. Good morning to both of you.

Move to approve action agenda item number 17. Second.

Second. There's a motion to approve action agenda item number 17 by Commissioner Leacock with a second by Commissioner Crownover. Any discussion or questions for Judge Stevens? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Item 18, discuss and consider approval of a letter of agreement, LOA, by and between Comal County and the Caldwell, Comal, and Hayes County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, CSCD, regarding the 2026-2027 Veterans Treatment Court grant and authorize the county judge to sign.

Move to approve action agenda item number 18.

Second. There's a motion to approve action agenda item number 18 by Commissioner Leacock with a second by Commissioner Cranover. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Thank you. Item 19, discuss and consider approval of a memorandum of understanding between the University of Texas and Comal County for participation in the University of Texas Cybersecurity Clinic and authorized IT director to sign. Good morning.

Move to approve action agenda item number 19.

Second. There's a motion by Commissioner Webb with a second by Commissioner Cronover to approve action agenda item number 19. Any discussion? More questions? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Thank you. Item 20, discuss and consider amending order number 567 for the 2026 annual service plan update for the Grove to order number 569.

Move to approve action agenda item number 20. Second.

There's a motion to approve action agenda item number 20 by Commissioner Leacock with a second by Commissioner Hogg. Any discussion? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Item 21, discuss and consider approval of A, establishing the main early voting location and five temporary branch locations for the November 3, 2026 general election, and B, establishing the election day polling locations for the November 3, 2026 general election. Good morning. Good morning.

Move to approve action agenda item number 20A and B. Second agenda item number 21, though. Yes, sir. 21. Okay.

There's a motion to approve action agenda item number 21 by Commissioner Leacock, both A and B, with a second by Commissioner Haag. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Item 22, discuss and consider setting the maximum number of clerks for each Election Day polling location for the November 3, 2026 general election.

Move to approve action agenda item number 22. Second.

There's a motion to approve action agenda item number 22 by Commissioner Hogg with a second by Commissioner Leacock. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. The motion carries. Item 23, discuss and consider approval of an order of appointment for election judges and alternates for a two-year term beginning September 1, 2026.

Move to approve action agenda item number 23. Second.

We have a motion to approve action agenda item number 23 by Commissioner Leacock with a second by Commissioner Hogg. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Item 24, discuss and consider establishing the Central Counting Station, CCS, for the November 3, 2026 general election with A, Bobby Koepp as CCS manager, B, Donna Dandridge as CCS presiding judge, C, Anissa Correll as CCS alternate judge, And D, Cynthia Jakeway, SCCS tabulation supervisor.

Move to approve action agenda item number 24, A, B, C, and D. Second.

We have a motion by Commissioner Hogg with a second by Commissioner Leacock to approve action agenda item number 24, A, B, C, and D. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Thank you. Item 25, discuss and consider approval of the evaluation committee to evaluate responses received for request of qualifications RFQ 2026-570, Executive Recruitment Services. Good morning.

Move to approve Actions Item 25. Second. Second.

There's a motion to approve action agenda item number 25 by Commissioner Leacock with a second by Commissioner Hogg. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Thank you. Item 26, discuss and consider approval of the Texas Association of Counties Health and Employee Benefits Pool 2026-2027 Administrative Services Agreement and Stop Loss Agreement, an authorized county judge to sign.

Move to approve. Move to approve action agenda item number 26. Second.

We have a motion to approve action agenda item number 26 by Commissioner Webb with a second by Commissioner Hogg. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. All those opposed? Those abstaining? So the motion does carry. Thank you. Item 27, discuss and consider an order prohibiting all outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas of Comal County.

Move to approve action agenda item number 27 with the effective date of 6 AM Friday, August 21, 2026. Second. Second.

Here's a motion to approve action agenda item number 27 by Commissioner Leacock with a second by Commissioner Webb. That would be action item 27, reinstating the burn ban at 6 AM on Friday, August 21. Any discussion? Did I say that backwards?

What did I say? I apologize. I wrote Crownover. I'm sorry. OK, so let me reread it. There is a motion to approve action agenda item number 27, reinstating the burn ban at 6 AM on Friday, August 21. The motion was made by Commissioner Leacock and seconded by Commissioner Crownover. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries.

Item 28, discuss and consider approval of the fire marshal's occupational cancer screening for firefighters policy and authorize the county judge to sign.

Move to approve action agenda item number 28. Second.

There's a motion by Commissioner Leacock. It was second by Commissioner Hogg to approve action agenda item number 28. Any discussion or questions? All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries. Item 29, discuss and consider approval of a line item transfer and fire marshal from supplies to training and education to provide funds for required medical screenings per statute.

Move to approve action agenda item number 29. Second.

There's a motion to approve action agenda item number 29 by Commissioner Leacock with a second by Commissioner Hogg. Any discussion or questions? I do want to share that I appreciate your collaboration and getting with the auditor and Vicki as we budget for next year or two to make sure that we are utilizing not just your funds, but your fire fund as well. So I appreciate it. All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries.

Thank you. Item 30, discuss and consider approval of a line item transfer in road department from contingency office supplies and hourly personnel to road construction, parts and repairs, fuel, vehicles, and equipment, non-capital equipment, and overtime to cover costs for the remainder of 2026 for paving, parts, fuel, two standard laptops, and overtime.

Move to approve action agenda item number 30. Second.

There's a motion to approve action agenda item number 30 by Commissioner Hogg with a second by Commissioner Leacock. Any discussion or questions for Mr. Boyd? You have some guests in the audience today learning how to do item transfers.

Yeah. Your dad spends lots of money. Okay. All right. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor, please raise your right hand. Motion carries.

Thank you. We will not be going into executive session today. The commissioner's court will not be meeting next week due to a legislative conference. Our next regular meeting will be on Thursday, September 3rd. And unless there is no objection, we are adjourned at 1025 a.m. Thank you.