Parker County Commissioners Court Regular Meeting – September 22, 2025

The Parker County Commissioners Court met on September 22, 2025, at 9:01 a.m. in the Commissioners Courtroom at the Parker County Courthouse. The meeting was recessed at 11:20 a.m. and reconvened at 3:03 p.m., with a second recess for executive session from 3:21 p.m. to 4:04 p.m. The court adjourned at 4:16 p.m. All commissioners (Conley, Holt, Walden, Hale) and County Judge Pat Deen were present. The meeting covered routine consent items, numerous approvals of interlocal agreements, vehicle purchases, subdivision plats, a public hearing, executive session discussions, and the adoption of the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget and tax rates.

Consent Calendar

• Auditor items: Certification of revenues, line item budget adjustments, payment of routine bills, and audit reports were submitted without discussion.
• Treasurer items: Report on fund balances, approval of payroll and insurance, monthly investment report, and release of pledged securities were approved unanimously.
• County Judge items: Acceptance of minutes, monthly reports, and personnel changes were approved as part of the consent motion.
• Purchasing items: Interdepartmental transfers of equipment, final results of online surplus auction (7/21/25-8/1/25) totaling $29,372.97 (allocated to various funds), discretionary exemptions under Texas Local Government Code 262.024 for October 2025-September 2026, salvage/destruction of a storage building at Juvenile Probation, notification of located missing inventory, and multiple vehicle purchases (see Key Outcomes for specifics) were all approved.

Public Hearings

• Precinct 1: Public hearing opened at 11:04 a.m. on the cancellation order (OR25-27) for Hagood Ranch Phase Two (179.37 acres, developer Hagood Ranch Partners LLC). No public comments were heard; the hearing closed at 11:04 a.m. The court approved the cancellation.
• Precinct 2: Two public hearings were held: one for Sarra Ranch Lot 37 & 38 revision (4.0 acres, developer Gayla Fernandez) and one for Sarra Ranch Lot 28 & 29 revision (4.0 acres, developers Brian Gourgues and Juleene Rushing). No public comments were heard for either; both were approved.

Discussion Items

• Presentation of 2024 Distinguished Service Award: Teri Hubbard of the Parker County Historical Commission presented the award from the Texas Historical Commission. The court approved a proclamation for the commission.
• Proclamation of Constitution Week: Linda Schmidt (Current Regent, DAR Weatherford Chapter), Harriet Helm (Honorary Chair), and Shirley Godfrey (Committee Chair) presented a request to proclaim September 17-23, 2025 as Constitution Week. Approved unanimously.
• License Plate Recycling Program: Tax Assessor-Collector Jenny Gentry presented a program to recycle license plates for Auto Registration to provide additional training funding. Approved.
• Interlocal Agreements and Contracts: Jamie Tierce, County Planner, presented several items: Interlocal Agreement with City of Willow Park for Dispatch Services (approved); with Brock ISD for School Resource Officer (approved); with City of Mineral Wells, Willow Park, Aledo, Weatherford College for Jail Services (all approved); and Claims Compensation Bureau for Visa Debit Card Antitrust Litigation (approved to engage in litigation). The contract with Emergency Services District #1 for Fire Marshal services was initially presented with no action, but later in the afternoon session it was approved with a 4-1 vote (Commissioner Walden opposed).
• Executive Session: The court entered closed session at 9:36 a.m., reconvening at 10:57 a.m., and later again from 3:21 p.m. to 4:04 p.m. Topics included consultation with attorneys on land development regulations, pending litigation regarding Texas Opioid Settlements, update on Parker County Justice Center and Jail, property at 1105 Santa Fe Drive, and Strategic Projects Coordinator position. No action was taken on land development regulations, the Justice Center update, or the coordinator position. The court approved submitting a claim to join new opioid settlements (motion by Commissioner Holt, second by Commissioner Walden). The court also approved the purchase of the property at 1105 Santa Fe Drive, Weatherford, Texas for $3.2 million plus closing costs, with the County Judge authorized to sign closing agreements and the Auditor and Treasurer to process the wire.
• Regional Transportation Council Update: County Judge Deen presented a discussion/update; notification only.
• Plats (Subdivision Approvals):
  • Precinct 1: Approved Oak Grove Addition revision (7 lots, 11.172 acres), Stone Creek Ranch groundwater study, final plat (43 lots, 106.34 acres), letter of credit, Clearview Estates final plat (84 lots, 107.88 acres within Springtown ETJ), letter of credit, Quail Hollow final plat (126 lots, 179.37 acres), denial of Frontier damage claim (200 Manderley Lane, May 21, 2024), and Jamie Acres revision (8 lots, 11.48 acres).
  • Precinct 2: Approved Sarra Ranch revisions (Lots 37&38 and Lots 28&29). No action was taken on the Zion Valley Phase Two groundwater study, final subdivision (62.60 acres), or letter of credit.
  • Precinct 3: Approved Country Place Section B revision (1 lot, 11.970 acres) and groundwater study waiver; extended maintenance bonds for Bulldog Crossing Phase Two and Three, and Ox Mill Creek Ranch Addition Phase Two.
  • Precinct 4: Approved Bear Creek Ranch revision (1 lot, 7.89 acres) and Aaron Acres final plat (4 lots, 10.0061 acres within Fort Worth ETJ). Notifications from City of Fort Worth regarding Walsh Ranch Quail Valley Planning Areas 7A and 7B were received for notice only.
• Accepted into Minutes: The court accepted the following executed documents without separate votes: Parker County Office of Emergency Services Quarterly Report; automatic bank draft authorizations for Auto Registration from Fire House Motors, Wayne Hodges Trailer Sales, Whit Tom Auto Group, Dutton Motors, and Trinity Resource Partners; Mid-Continental Restoration Main Courthouse Window Replace/Repair Agreement; renewal agreement with TXDPS for Lease 10647; interlocal agreements with City of Hudson Oaks for Jail Services and Dispatch Services; and the Regional Public Defender Office for Capital Cases.

Key Outcomes

• Online Surplus Auction: Final proceeds of $29,372.97 from the auction ending August 1, 2025 were allocated: $18,062.22 to Fund 10, $2,005.25 to Fund 1, $6,172.00 to Fund 3, $22,151.00 to Seizure Funds, and a $362.75 rebate with a new auction service.
• Vehicle Purchases (all approved):
  • BUY PC26-02: 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 2WD Crew Cab for County Attorney (Caldwell Chevrolet).
  • BUY PC26-03: 2026 Chevrolet Trax for Building & Grounds (Caldwell Chevrolet).
  • TSA PC26-04: 2025 Silverado PPV for Constable 3 with outfitting (Holliday Chevrolet).
  • BUY PC26-05: Two 2026 Chevrolet 1/2 ton CC for Sheriff CID (Caldwell Chevrolet).
  • BUY PC26-06: Fifteen 2026 Chevrolet Tahoes PPV (14 patrol, 1 interdiction) with outfitting.
  • BUY PC26-07: 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD CC for Animal Control (Caldwell Country Chevrolet).
  • BUY PC26-08: Three 2026 Chevrolet Tahoes PPV for Transport Department.
• Software Contracts: Approved OpenGov Financials Contract Amendment #3 for a one-year renewal (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) and Tyler Munis Change Order #2 (new financial software).
• Axon Contract for Constable 1: Approved lease for body cameras and tasers with annual payments of $6,630.36 (body/in-car cameras) and $3,847.68 (tasers) for five years.
• Personnel Actions: Waived 10-day posting for Deputy Constable in Precinct #4 and for North Residential Disposal Center Operator position (start date Oct 1, 2025). Accepted resignation of Joe Wilkinson from ESD #8 Board and authorized posting for replacement.
• Elected Officials Salaries for FY 2026: Approved with a 4-1 vote (Commissioner Holt voted no).
• Budget Adoption for FY 2025-2026: Approved with a motion to increase contingency amount to $5.7 million, of which $707,750 is for predetermined capital allocations, $3.2 million for land use and facilities, and $1,792,250 as generic contingency. The overall budget was adopted unanimously.
• Tax Rates for FY 2025-2026: Approved the following rates: General Fund Maintenance & Operations: 0.178562; Debt Service: 0.056460; Lateral Road and Bridge Fund: 0.050048; Total tax rate: 0.285070. Ratified by unanimous vote.
• Property Purchase: Approved purchase of 1105 Santa Fe Drive, Weatherford, TX for $3.2 million plus closing costs, with Judge Deen authorized to sign agreements.
• Opioid Settlements: Approved submitting a claim to join new opioid settlements.
• Fire Marshal Services Contract: Approved contract with ESD #1 for Fire Marshal services (4-1, Commissioner Walden opposed).

Note: The agenda listed a 8:15 a.m. start time, but the meeting opened at 9:01 a.m. per the minutes.