Parker County Commissioners Court Regular Meeting - December 23, 2024

The Parker County Commissioners Court convened in regular session on Monday, December 23, 2024, at 8:15 a.m. in the Commissioners Courtroom, Parker County Courthouse, Weatherford, Texas. Present were County Judge Pat Deen, Commissioners Conley (Pct 1), Holt (Pct 2), Walden (Pct 3), and Hale (Pct 4), County Attorney John Forrest, and Deputy County Clerk Jane Wilsky. County Clerk Lila Deakle was absent. The court acted on consent items, numerous approvals, subdivision plats, public hearings, and an executive session. All recorded votes were unanimous unless noted otherwise.

Consent Calendar

• Auditor: Certification of revenues, line item budget adjustments, payment of routine bills, and audit reports.
• Treasurer: Report on balances of all funds 1–999, accept/release pledged securities, approval of payroll, payments for insurance/retirement, and unemployment appeal claims.
• County Judge: Acceptance of minutes, monthly reports, and personnel changes — motion by Commissioner Walden, seconded by Commissioner Holt, passed unanimously.
• Purchasing: Interdepartmental transfers of equipment and inventory reports; authorization to salvage/sell/dispose of surplus Tub Grinder and desktop computer; authorization of surplus property list in an online auction; accept/renew PC25-02 Aggregate Road Materials; accept/renew PC25-02 Petroleum Asphalts; accept/renew PC25-03 Transportation of Human Remains; and OMNIA PC25-06 Used Backhoe B&G — each approved unanimously.

Approval Items (8A–8T)

• 8A: Property tax abatement for JLG Equipment Services Inc. — approved unanimously.
• 8B: Public hearing for creation of reinvestment zone 2024-03 — held and approved unanimously.
• 8C: Approval of creation of reinvestment zone 2024-03 — listed on the agenda; the minutes do not record a separate motion or vote.
• 8D: Appointments of Nancy Foust, Tyra Brunz, and Laurie Smith to the Parker County Historical Commission — approved unanimously.
• 8E: DocuSign contract for magistrates signing DWI blood test search warrants — approved unanimously.
• 8F: Paid overtime for dispatch to cover shortages — approved unanimously.
• 8G: Acceptance of a $500 donation to the Parker County Sheriff’s Office from Rife Ranch, LLC — approved unanimously.
• 8H: Acceptance of the Tax Assessor-Collector’s 20-hour continuing education certificate under SB 546 — approved unanimously.
• 8I: Reappointment of ESD 1 Commissioners Mark Jack, Ben Overholt, and Shawn Scott — approved unanimously.
• 8J: Approval of 2025 stop loss policy and vendor — listed on the agenda; no motion or vote is recorded in the minutes.
• 8K: County Judge to draw names for the 2025 Sick Leave Pool Committee — approved unanimously.
• 8L: County Judge to sign the Motorola proposal — approved unanimously.
• 8M: Elections Building (801 Santa Fe Dr.) construction services proposal — approved unanimously.
• 8N: ARPA Projects — additional $100,000 for subsurface utility locates for the Millsap Wastewater Project — approved unanimously.
• 8O: Professional Services Agreement for Auto Registration Expansion — approved unanimously.
• 8P: Review and execute Project Milestone certificates for services — approved unanimously (motion recorded after executive session).
• 8Q: Termination of the Red Cross lease for the 118 West Columbia Building because the county no longer owns the building — approved unanimously (motion recorded after executive session).
• 8R: Official Bonds — Separate unanimous votes approved bonds for John Forrest (County Attorney), Ray Wright (Constable Pct 1), Glen Praytor (Constable Pct 3), Scott Jones (Constable Pct 4), Stephen A. Decento (Deputy Constable Pct 1), and Lanny Lee Padgett (Deputy Constable Pct 1). Bonds for Brianna Fowler (Auditor), Russ Authier (Sheriff), and Joe Harris Jr. (Constable Pct 2) were listed but no separate motion is recorded.
• 8S: Discussion only on active land development regulations and available options — no final action taken.
• 8T: Discussion and potential action on revisions to subdivision and manufactured home rental community regulations — no action recorded in the minutes.

Public Hearings

• Public hearing on reinvestment zone 2024-03 (see 8B) — held, no public testimony summarized in the minutes.
• Public hearing on Quail Springs Ranch final revision (6.030 acres, Precinct 2) — approved unanimously.
• Public hearing on Western Lake Estates final revision (2.401 acres, Precinct 3) — approved unanimously.
• Public hearings on lowering the speed limit on Bankhead Highway at Kelly Road and posting a four-way stop sign at Bear Creek, Ridgehill Drive, and Scenic View Drive (Precinct 4) — both approved unanimously.

Updates and Presentations

• Freese & Nichols ongoing reporting of bond projects to Commissioners Court — discussed; no action recorded.
• Regional Transportation Meeting — discussion/update presented by Judge Deen.
• Motorola Certificates of Milestone Acceptance — discussion/update; no action recorded.

Executive Session

• The court entered closed session under Texas Government Code Sections 551.071 and 551.072 to consult with attorneys regarding land development regulations and to discuss Parker County Justice Center real estate. After reconvening, action was taken on Project Milestone certificates (8P) and the Red Cross lease termination (8Q).

Acceptance of Documents into Minutes

• Parker County Emergency Management Department Quarterly Report; RFQ PC24-39 Water Study Amendment #1; Professional Legal Services Agreement with Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP; executed automatic bank draft authorizations for Dillon Auto Repair LLC, RTB Truck Sales, and Trailers Plus Sales Inc. for auto registration; executed Asset Forfeiture Contract; executed Aledo Public Library Contract for FY2025; executed contract with Cooke County for inmate housing; executed contract with Bickerstaff, Heath, Delgado Acosta LLP; and executed ARPA extensions.

Subdivision Plats and Related Actions

Precinct 1

• Final plat: Grace Ridge, 12.998 acres — approved.
• Preliminary process: Clearview Estates, 107.88 acres, ETJ City of Springtown — approved.
• Groundwater study waiver: Hinkle Estates Ph 2 (Affordable Water Well) — approved.
• Preliminary process: Hinkle Estates Ph 2, 2.177 acres — approved.
• Performance bond: Terra Vista — accepted.

Precinct 2

• Variance and final plat for Bradshaw Road Addition (2.997 acres) were listed; no separate votes are recorded.
• Final revision: Quail Springs Ranch, 6.030 acres (public hearing) — later approved unanimously.
• Final plat: Barehide Ranch Estates, 8.537 acres (listed without vote; later approved unanimously).
• Special Warranty Deed for additional right of way on Perkins Road — approved unanimously.
• Final plat: Hope Side RV Park, 8.62 acres — approved unanimously.
• Letters of credit: Released construction LOC and accepted maintenance LOC for Lambert Meadows; released maintenance LOC for Stone Estates Phase Two and accepted Spruce Tree Court, Mesquite Tree Court, Pecan Tree Court, and Cedar Tree Drive as county roadways; released maintenance LOC for Arbor Hills and accepted Arbor Hills Court; released construction LOC and accepted maintenance LOC for Escondido Ranches Phase Two; released 3.006 acres from City of Weatherford ETJ; released/took maintenance escrow funds for Clarimont Phase 5; released construction LOC and accepted maintenance LOC for Stone Estates Phase 4; released maintenance LOC for Gatlin Ranch and accepted Gatlin Circle, Willy Dilly Road, and Tierce Circle — all approved unanimously.

Precinct 3

• Groundwater study waiver: WDW Addition (Moore’s Water Well) — approved.
• Preliminary process: WDW Addition, 4.33 acres — approved.
• Variance for right-of-way and driveway distances for Western Lake Drive, Western Lake Estates Lot 35 — approved.
• Variance from Subdivision and OSSF regulations for Western Lake Estates Lot 35R-1 — approved.
• Final revision: Western Lake Estates, 2.401 acres (public hearing) — approved.
• Revision: Elevation Estates Ph 2, 2.14 acres — approved.
• Abandonment process: Cougar Meadows — approved.

Precinct 4

• Revision: Lakeridge Ranches, 113.39 acres, ETJ City of Fort Worth — approved.
• Process to lower speed limit on Bankhead Highway at Kelly Road (public hearing) — approved.
• Process to post four-way stop sign at Bear Creek, Ridgehill Drive, and Scenic View Drive (public hearing) — approved.
• Release of 121.12 acres from City of Weatherford ETJ (KBM Trust) — listed; no separate motion recorded.
• Addendum with Town of Annetta North for road repair services — approved.

Key Outcomes

• All recorded motions passed unanimously (5–0) with no noes.
• Several agenda items (8C, 8J, some precinct plat items) had no recorded votes in the minutes; these are noted above as discrepancies between the agenda and minutes.
• The court discussed but took no final action on land development regulation options (8S, 8T), transportation project reporting, and Motorola milestone certificates.
• Executive session was held for attorney consultation and Justice Center real estate.
• The meeting was adjourned by unanimous motion.