Parker County Commissioners Court Regular Meeting - March 9, 2026

Parker County Commissioners Court met in regular session at the Parker County Courthouse in Weatherford, Texas, on Monday, March 9, 2026. County Judge Pat Deen presided with Commissioners Conley, Holt, Walden, and Hale present, along with County Attorney John Forrest. The agenda listed an 8:15 a.m. start; the meeting was called to order at 9:01 a.m., recessed at 11:02 a.m., entered executive session at 11:12 a.m., reconvened in open session at 11:43 a.m., and adjourned at 11:57 a.m.

Consent Calendar

• The Court approved submitted consent items, including auditor line-item budget adjustments, payment of routine bills, audit reports, Treasurer balance and pledge securities reports, payroll/insurance/retirement payments, county judge monthly reports, and personnel changes. The auditor certification of revenues and the Treasurer monthly investment report were marked not submitted.
• Approved renewal of bid PC25-08 for Home Improvement and Building Supplies to Higginbotham Brothers for an additional year, April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027, at the same terms as the original contract.
• Approved award of bid PC26-28 for Emergency Outfitting Equipment for the 2026 Chevrolet 1500 pickup to Dana Safety Systems for $4,630.
• Approved salvage/destruction of a Whirlpool refrigerator, the Sheriff's Office request to destroy a bulletproof vest past manufacturer warranty, and law library desk and shelving.
• Discussed property coverage for Parker County historical buildings; no action was taken.

Public Comments & Testimony

• At the County Fire Marshal position item, ESD 1 Fire Chief Stephen Watson, County Auditor Brianna Fowler, County Treasurer Becky McCullough, and Parker County Emergency Management Jason Lane addressed the Court; their comments preceded withdrawal of the motion.
• Public hearings for subdivision revisions were opened and closed with no public response for Crazy Horse Ranchos at 11:46 a.m., Green Estates at 11:48 a.m., and Rhodes Ranch Estates at 11:50 a.m. The public hearing for Encore Industrial Park is listed on the agenda, but that item received no action.

Discussion and Approval Items

• Elections: Approved contracts for the March 31, 2026 and May 2, 2026 General and Special Elections and authorized the County Attorney to sign contracts.
• Burn ban: Following Fire Marshal Frank Watson's presentation, the Court approved not extending the burn ban past March 9, 2026.
• County Fire Marshal hiring: Commissioner Walden moved and Judge Deen seconded a motion to begin the process of hiring a County Fire Marshal position as a county employee; after testimony, Judge Deen withdrew his second, Commissioner Walden withdrew the motion, and no action was taken.
• ESD 6: Reappointed Donna Tillman, Tim Lewelling, and Tom Huffines to the ESD 6 board of directors.
• Sheriff's Office building: Approved a feasibility study for expansion of the current Sheriff's Office building, taking $7,500 from Program Contingency, and authorized the County Judge to sign the contract.
• Jim Wright building: Approved exterior repairs proposal from Komatsu Architecture for $29,600, funded from the Buildings and Grounds budget. The Court also voted to decline the $3,894 formal presentation option and instead read the report directly to save that money for other uses.
• Transportation: Freese and Nichols gave an update on bond projects; no action. Approved an Advanced Funding Agreement with TxDOT for IH-20 frontage roads from Dennis Road to Old Dennis Road and authorized the County Judge to sign. Approved a change order for the Ric Williamson Memorial Highway.
• K-9 stipend: Approved $250 per pay period for the Sheriff's Office K-9 handler.
• 287(g): Approved notice of intent to enter into an MOU between the Parker County Sheriff's Office and U.S. ICE to train and credential deputies for immigration enforcement functions under the 287(g) program.
• 287(g) funds: Approved acceptance of supplemental and/or reimbursement funds from U.S. ICE for the 287(g) program.
• Homeland Security: Approved and signed Resolution 26-10 applying for the OOG State Homeland Security Grant 5911901.
• Special Utility District: Approved water line right-of-way applications at 465 Big Valley Circle, 2121 Taylor Road, and 635 Big Valley Circle, all in Precinct Three.
• Radio tower: Approved installation of a generator at the Main Tower site.
• Motorola: Approved Certificates of Milestone Acceptance from Motorola.
• Discover litigation: Approved taking action regarding claims representation in class action litigation against Discover over credit card fees.
• Pauper disposition: Approved Order 26-11 for cremation disposition of a pauper and payment of $850 to Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services.
• Accepted into the minutes: Parker County Buildings and Grounds Department Quarterly Report, the executed Tyler Munis amendment removing the recruiting module, and the executed Thrift Mart Partnership Lease Extension.

Executive Session

The Court recessed at 11:02 a.m. and entered closed session at 11:12 a.m. under Texas Government Code Sections 551.071, 551.072, 551.076, and 551.087, reconvening at 11:43 a.m.

• Land development regulations and attorney consultation: no action.
• TCEQ settlement regarding Enforcement Case No. 68101: approved accepting the settlement, requesting participation in the supplemental environmental program, and asking TCEQ for an extension.
• Property at the southwest corner of Champions Drive and E. Bankhead Highway, Aledo, Texas: approved use of the contract and MOA provided by Bailey Ranch for the property.
• Justice Center and Jail update, county real estate allocation and improvements, county website security upgrade and expansion, and economic development negotiations: no action.

Plat Approvals and Public Hearings

• Precinct 1: Approved extension of the Waterstone Estates construction bond letter of credit deadline to June 21, 2026. Released the Double H Estates maintenance bond letter of credit and accepted Magnolia Court as a county-maintained roadway.
• Precinct 2: Approved final revision for Rhodes Ranch Estates, 26.723 acres and two lots; final plat for Hite Addition, 10.005 acres and one lot, and accepted right-of-way deed off Cottonwood Trail; final plat for Trinity Oaks Estates, 50.066 acres and eighteen lots, accepted construction bond letter of credit for $160,000, and accepted right-of-way deed off Sarra Lane; approved revisions for Green Estates, 5.699 acres and one lot, and Crazy Horse Ranchos, 2.963 acres and one lot. Released Silver Spurs Ranch construction bond letter of credit and accepted maintenance bond letter of credit.
• Precinct 3: Approved final plat for 2LM Development Phase Four, 5.000 acres and one lot. Encore Industrial Park final revision, 29.114 acres and three lots, and acceptance of two additional special warranty right-of-way deeds off Fairview Road received no action.
• Precinct 4: Approved the groundwater study waiver for Dalzell Acres, 3.008 acres and two lots. Approved the Oncor Electric Delivery permit request by PIKE Electric to set an electric pole across county right-of-way on E Bankhead Drive.

Key Outcomes

All listed motions were made and seconded by court members and carried. No roll-call vote counts were recorded in the minutes. Key actions included approving the consent agenda, the election contracts, the $7,500 Sheriff's Office feasibility study, the $29,600 Jim Wright repairs, burn ban expiration without extension, ESD 6 reappointments, K-9 stipend, 287(g) MOU and funding acceptance, Resolution 26-10, three water line permits, generator installation, Motorola certificates, Discover claims representation, the $850 cremation order, the TxDOT agreement and highway change order, the TCEQ settlement, and the Bailey Ranch contract and MOA for the Aledo property. The County Fire Marshal hiring motion was withdrawn, and several executive session items and the Encore Industrial Park plat items had no action.