Parker County Commissioners Court Regular Meeting - November 25, 2024

The Parker County Commissioners Court convened in regular session on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 8:30 AM in the Commissioners Courtroom at the Parker County Courthouse in Weatherford, Texas. All members were present: County Judge Pat Deen, Commissioner George Conley (Pct. 1), Commissioner Holt (Pct. 2), Commissioner Walden (Pct. 3), Commissioner Hale (Pct. 4), County Attorney John Forrest, and Deputy County Clerk Jane Wilsky. The meeting included an invocation by Mark Julian of Northside Baptist Church and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Judge Pro Tem George Conley. The court addressed a lengthy agenda covering consent items, transportation updates, approvals, plats, and an executive session.

Consent Calendar

• The consent calendar (Auditor reports, Treasurer reports, County Judge reports, and Purchasing items) was approved by a motion from Commissioner Walden, seconded by Commissioner Hale. Items marked "SUBMITTED" were accepted; items marked "NONE SUBMITTED" (Certification of revenues, Unemployment appeal claims) were noted as not submitted.

Public Hearings

• Umphenour Addition (Pct. 1): Public hearing opened and closed at 11:46 AM with no public comments. The final revision was approved.
• Woodlawn PH IV (Pct. 2): Public hearing opened and closed at 11:48 AM with no public comments. The final revision was approved.

Discussion Items

Transportation Updates (Item 5)

• TxDOT Truck Detour Route: Approved a proposed detour route from US 180 onto RWMH. (Motion by Conley, second Hale; carried)
• Kelly Road (South) Funding Source: Confirmed that the funding source would not be from ARPA funds. (Motion by Hale, second Conley; carried)
• Ellis Creek Subdivision Construction Management & Inspection: Approved work authorization. (Motion by Holt, second Conley; carried)
• Johnson Bend and Green Acres Engineering Design: Approved work authorization. (Motion by Holt, second Walden; carried)
• Carter Road Engineering Design: Approved work authorization. (Motion by Holt, second Conley; carried)
• SH 199 Intersection at Poolville Cutoff Road Budget Transfer: Approved budget transfer for project 5.02. (Motion by Holt, second Walden; carried)

Approvals (Item 6)

• CASA Breakfast with Santa: Authorized use of the County Attorney’s building on December 14th. Diana Aslin (CASA Executive Director) and Taylor Merrill presented. (Motion by Hale, second Conley; carried)
• Willow Park Annexation: Approved annexation of a portion of Bankhead Highway by the City of Willow Park. Bryan Grimes, Willow Park City Manager, presented. (Motion by Hale, second Conley; carried)
• Restricted Area Access Control: Approved as submitted. (Motion by Conley, second Hale; carried)
• Service Agreement with Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel: Approved County Judge to sign agreement. Traci Bennett (Chief FDI, Medical Examiner) presented. (Motion by Holt, second Hale; carried)
• Pauper Disposition Order 24-18: Authorized $850 payment to Galbreaith Pickard for cremation of an indigent person. (Motion by Holt, second Walden; carried)
• Lump Sum Payment to TCDRS: Approved lump sum payment from remaining Fund 10 FY2024 budget lines. (Motion by Conley, second Hale; carried)
• Annual Renewal of Parker County Investment Policy: Approved. (Motion by Walden, second Holt; carried)
• Deny Payment to Frontier Communications: Approved denial of $479.66 claim. (Motion by Conley, second Hale; carried)
• Texas Runs on Water Partnership: Approved $30,000 from ARPA funds for a water conservation media campaign. (Motion by Holt, second Walden; carried)
• Subdivision Rules – Water Supply System (Texas Water Code 35.019): Failed. Motion by Holt to adopt language allowing the court to require a water supply system in subdivisions based on water availability concerns; Walden initially seconded but withdrew; Conley seconded for discussion. Final vote: Holt in favor; Judge Deen, Conley, Walden, Hale opposed. Motion failed.
• School Zone Expansion (Peaster ISD): Approved two school zone expansions in Precinct 2: (1) Willow Creek Road for 500 feet south of Harwell Lake Road intersection; (2) Precinct Road for 1,000 feet west of FM 920 intersection. (Motion by Holt, second Walden; carried)
• Access Agreement – Ellis Creek Ct.: Approved agreement to access private property at 306 & 312 Ellis Creek Ct. in Pct. 2. (Motion by Holt, second Walden; carried)
• Fence Row Removal – Pine Rd.: Approved agreement to clear fence row between 1124 & 1723 Pine Rd. to improve traffic visibility. (Motion by Holt, second Walden; carried)
• 2024 Holiday Calendar – Christmas Eve: Approved addition of Christmas Eve as a county holiday. (Motion by Holt, second Walden; carried)
• Water Line – Hiner Road (Pct. 3): Approved application from Parker County SUD for a water line on 599 Hiner Road. (Motion by Walden, second Judge Deen; carried)
• ARPA MOU Agreements: Authorized the County Judge to sign ARPA MOUs through September 2026 for eight projects (Bourland Estates, ESD #8, Millsap Sewage Distribution, Town of Brock Water Plant, Town of Brock Engineering Design, Millsap Water Supply, Walnut Creek SUD, Parker County SUD). Commissioner Walden noted that "Millsap Sewage Distribution Project 5" was mislabeled. (Motion by Conley, second Walden; carried)
• ARPA Funded Projects: Approved ARPA funded projects as outlined by the Auditor. (Motion by Walden, second Hale; carried)
• Sole Source Declaration for ARPA PCSUD #11: Declared Aria Filtra Special Equipment as sole source. (Motion by Walden, second Hale; carried)
• Med Pod Donation: Accepted Med Pod donation from Parker County Hospital District for the jail. (Minutes show "NO ACTION" followed by "MOTION CARRIED"; court appears to have approved.)
• Tri-County Electric Donation: Accepted donation to the Christmas fund. (Motion by Walden, second Hale; carried)
• Enterprise Auto Lease Cancellation: Approved. (Motion by Hale, second Walden; carried)
• Acme Auto Lease: Approved. (Motion by Hale, second Walden; carried)
• City of Georgetown Interlocal Purchasing Agreement: Approved. (Motion by Conley, second Walden; carried)
• Interlocal Agreement for Inmate Housing with Cooke County: Approved. (Motion by Conley, second Hale; carried)
• Opioid Settlement – Kroger: Consideration deferred to executive session; after executive session, the court accepted the settlement agreement as outlined. (Motion by Walden, second Hale; carried)

Minutes Acceptance (Item 7)

• Parker County 911 Addressing/Permitting Quarterly Report: Not submitted; no action.
• Executed Annex U Agreement: Accepted into the minutes.
• TCEQ Agreed Order (2023-1105-PST-E): Accepted into the minutes.

Executive Session (Item 8)

• Court entered closed session at 10:40 AM, reconvened at 11:40 AM. Discussions covered opioid litigation, Justice Center real estate, and two properties (111 Green Acres Rd. and 202 W. Oak St.).
  • Opioid Settlement: Approved acceptance of the settlement agreement from Kroger in the multi-district litigation (Cause No. 2018-63587, Harris County).
  • Justice Center Real Estate: No action taken.
  • 111 Green Acres Rd. (relocation claim): Approved $1,400 for actual, reasonable, and necessary expenses for the purchase of a replacement dwelling for the property at 2045 Johnson Bend Rd. (Commissioner Walden clarified that 2045 Johnson Bend Rd. is the same property as 111 Green Acres Rd.)
  • 202 W. Oak Street: No action listed.

Plats (Item 9)

• Precinct 1:
  • Pleasant Oaks Subdivision Ph3: Approved waiver for groundwater study (well report from Clay Pitts Water Wells LLC) and began preliminary process (6.162 acres, well water, off Earp Rd.).
  • Silver Creek Cove: Approved waiver for groundwater study (well reports from Walden Drilling Inc. and Kevin’s Water Well) and began preliminary process (10.094 acres, well water, ETJ City of Fort Worth, off Twin Creek Dr.).
  • Umphenour Addition: Approved final revision (7.49 acres, Walnut Creek SUD, ETJ City of Springtown, off Sandlin Ln.; public hearing held with no comments).
  • Long Subdivision: Approved amendment within ETJ of City of Weatherford.
• Precinct 2:
  • Woodlawn PH IV: Approved final revision (4.0 acres, Walnut Creek SUD, off Lelon Ln.; public hearing held with no comments).
  • Quail Springs Ranch: Approved waiver for groundwater study (Malone Well Service and Associated Water Well Service Inc.) and began revision (6.030 acres, well water, off Bishop Dr.).
  • Parallel Pastures PH 2: Approved final plat (46.50 acres, well water, off Cottonwood Trl.) and accepted performance bond.
  • Dillon’s Acre: Approved final plat (3.20 acres, well water, ETJ City of Weatherford, off Old Mineral Wells Hwy.).
  • Zion Valley PH 2 & 3: Began preliminary process (120.751 acres, well water, off Zion Hill Rd. & Leatherman Ln.).
  • Dove Hill Branch: Released Letter of Credit for Construction; accepted Letter of Credit for Maintenance.
  • Seaberry Acres Ph2: Released Letter of Credit for Maintenance; accepted Lone Star Court as county-maintained roadway.
• Precinct 3:
  • Cartwright Ranch: Released Letter of Credit for Maintenance; accepted Greene Rd., Pernell Ct., Roy Coffee Ct., Hopsing Ct., Hemet Way as county-maintained roadways.
  • Grace Lane Estates: Released Letter of Credit for Construction; accepted Letter of Credit for Maintenance.
• Precinct 4:
  • 14.094 acres near 225 Banks Dr.: Notification of release from City of Weatherford ETJ; no action.
  • School zone sign on Bankhead Highway: Approved beginning the process.

Key Outcomes

• Motion Failed: Commissioner Holt’s proposal to add language to subdivision rules per Texas Water Code 35.019 failed with a 1-4 vote (Holt in favor; Judge Deen, Conley, Walden, Hale opposed).
• Approved: Numerous approvals including transportation projects, ARPA MOUs, opioid settlement, and plats.
• Funds Allocated: $30,000 from ARPA for Texas Runs on Water water conservation campaign; $1,400 for relocation expenses; $850 for pauper cremation.
• Denied Claim: Frontier Communication’s claim of $479.66 was denied.
• Executive Session Actions: Accepted Kroger opioid settlement; approved relocation expenses.