Parker County Commissioners Court Regular Meeting – November 12, 2024

The Parker County Commissioners Court met in regular session on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in the Commissioners Courtroom, Parker County Courthouse. All members were present: County Judge Pat Deen, Commissioner George Conley (Pct. 1), Commissioner Jacob Holt (Pct. 2), Commissioner Craig Walden (Pct. 3), Commissioner John Hale (Pct. 4), County Attorney John Forrest, and County Clerk Lila Deakle. The court addressed routine consent items, several administrative approvals, public hearings on subdivisions, a contested plat, and an executive session on real estate. The meeting adjourned at 12:27 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Routine approvals – Approved as a block: certification of revenues (none submitted), line‑item budget adjustments, payment of routine bills, audit reports, treasurer’s fund balances, payroll and insurance payments, acceptance of minutes, monthly reports, and personnel changes. (Motion by Walden, second by Holt, carried.)
• Purchasing items – Each approved individually: 2024 Chevrolet Traverse for County Attorney (Hale/Walden); Axon Taser and body camera leases (Hale/Walden); authorization to salvage surplus furniture (Holt/Walden); authorizations to advertise for aggregate road materials, petroleum asphalts, and transportation of human remains (Walden/Holt, Walden/Hale, Hale/Walden); and an 8,000‑gallon emulsion tank for Pct. 2 (Holt/Hale). All motions carried.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Silver Spurs Ranch (Pct. 2) – Haley Cox testified about the poor quality of her home built by Top Notch Homes, the developer. Keith Davis spoke about road construction concerns. Commissioner Holt noted he had received several letters and phone calls from others with concerns, particularly regarding insufficient groundwater to support the subdivision. Based on this testimony and Commissioner Holt’s recommendation, the court voted 4‑1 (Conley dissenting) to disapprove the final plat of Silver Spurs Ranch (110.68 acres).

Discussion Items

• Update on Transportation Projects – Chris Bosco (Freese & Nichols) reported on bond project reporting; no action taken.
• Regional Transportation Meeting (RTC) – Judge Deen and Commissioner Walden presented an update; Chris Bosco provided additional information. Commissioner Walden also discussed the status of water in Parker County. No action.
• Public Hearing for Reinvestment Zone – Opened and closed at 9:40 a.m. with no public comment; no action taken on the hearing itself.
• Vote for Reinvestment Zone – Following the public hearing, the court approved the Reinvestment Zone (motion Conley, second Holt, carried).
• ARPA Funding for Dispatch Expansion – Mark Arnett (Chief Deputy Sheriff) presented an update; no action taken.
• Professional Service Contract for Dispatch Renovation – Approved contract with Baird, Hampton & Brown for the Sheriff’s Office dispatch renovation (motion Conley, second Deen, carried).
• Nomination to REPAC – Jason Lane was nominated to the NCTCOG Regional Emergency Preparedness Advisory Committee (motion Walden, second Holt, carried).
• Fire Service Standards Appointment – Approved County Judge to execute TCFP appointment form (motion Walden, second Holt, carried).
• Funding for Precinct Barn Security Cameras – Approved funding source for updates (motion Walden, second Holt, carried).
• Budget Analyst Position – Approved posting the position with the job description changed from “County Judge department” to “Commissioners Court” (motion Walden, second Deen, carried).
• Texas Runs on Water Agreement – Commissioner Holt proposed obligating $30,000 for a water conservation partnership with the Texas Water Foundation, but then rescinded his motion; Commissioner Walden rescinded his second. No action taken.
• Thru Truck Restriction Ordinance – Approved an ordinance imposing through truck restrictions on county roads that already have signage (motion Holt, second Walden, carried).
• Parker County Appraisal District Board Votes – Approved casting all 1,020 of Parker County’s votes for Richard Barrett to ensure his continued service on the board (motion Walden, second Holt, carried).
• Deny AT&T Claim – Approved denial of a $2,535.62 claim from AT&T for services at 701‑709 Big Valley Circle in Pct. 3 (motion Walden, second Holt, carried).
• Grant for Upper Trinity Groundwater Tank – Approved applying for a grant, extended to both Pct. 2 and Pct. 4 (motion Hale, second Holt, carried).
• Independent Auditor Services – Approved (motion Walden, second Hale, carried).
• Just Appraised Auto Indexing SaaS Agreement – Approved County Judge to sign the contract after final review by County Attorney (motion Walden, second Conley, carried).
• Official Bonds and Oaths – Approved for Tax Assessor‑Collector Jenny Gentry (motion Hale, second Walden, carried).
• NCTCOG Regional Building Codes Program – Discussed but no action taken.
• 2025 Holiday Calendar – After motions and withdrawals, the court approved replacing Columbus Day (Monday, Oct. 13, 2025) with Christmas Eve (Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025) (motion Walden, second Holt, carried).
• Executive Session – Court recessed at 10:11 a.m., entered closed session at 10:20 a.m. under Texas Government Code § 551.072 to discuss real estate related to the Parker County Justice Center. Reconvened in open session at 11:05 a.m.; no action taken.
• Plats – Precinct 1 – Approved: final revision for Ranches at Valley View East (3.65 acres), variances for Live Oak Hills, final revision for Live Oak Hills (6.62 acres, with waivers), final revision for Cedar Mountain Estates (2.147 acres), groundwater waiver for Grace Ridge, preliminary plat for Grace Ridge (12.998 acres), amended plat for Welch Place (2.01 acres), preliminary plat for T&L Services Addition (13.28 acres), variances for Cherry Valley Farms family split and driveway distances, and revision process for Cherry Valley Farms (1.63 acres). All motions carried.
• Plats – Precinct 2 – Approved: final revision for Amber Meadows Phase Two (3.08 acres), final revision for Platinum Ridge Estates (5.001 acres), driveway spacing variance for Woodlawn Phase IV, revision process for Woodlawn Phase IV (2.12 acres), final revision for Five M (22.285 acres), acceptance of special warranty deed for Five M right‑of‑way, speed limit changes (30 mph on Llano Way and Rawhide Trail), speed limit and stop sign on Willow Creek and Harwell Lake Road, release of letter of credit for Shadle Villas (accepting Villa Court and Greyhound Lane as county roads), and extension of escrow funds for Monarch Manor Phase 3. No action taken on Parallel Pastures Phase Two final plat and construction bond, and on Silver Spurs Ranch performance bond and special warranty deed (the latter due to the plat’s disapproval). All other motions carried.
• Plats – Precinct 3 – Approved: final revision for Grace Lane Estates (2.00 acres) and exception to plat requirements for O’Bannon’s Addition. Both motions carried.
• Plats – Precinct 4 – Approved: groundwater waiver for McClendon Walker Road Addition, revision process for McClendon Walker Road Addition (6.13 acres), lowering speed limit on Bankhead Hwy. and Kelly Road, and beginning process to post a four‑way stop sign at Bear Creek, Ridgehill Dr. and Scenic View Drive (contingent on receiving petitions). All motions carried.

Key Outcomes

• Silver Spurs Ranch Plat Disapproved – The court voted 4‑1 to disapprove the final plat (110.68 acres) due to insufficient groundwater and public concerns about home quality and roads. Concrete action: letter to be sent per County Attorney’s recommendation.
• Reinvestment Zone Approved – Following a public hearing with no comments, the zone was approved unanimously.
• 2025 Holiday Calendar Amended – Columbus Day (Oct. 13) was replaced with Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) as a county holiday.
• Appraisal District Votes – All 1,020 votes cast for Richard Barrett to continue on the board.
• Texas Runs on Water Agreement – No action; motion was rescinded.
• AT&T Claim Denied – $2,535.62 claim denied.
• Justice Center Real Estate – Discussed in executive session; no action taken in open session.
• Numerous Plat Approvals – All other subdivision plats, revisions, variances, and waivers were approved as listed above.