The Hill County Commissioners Court heard from County Judge Justin Lewis about his transition to district judge and approved subdivision regulations during a special meeting held Tuesday, March 4.
Lewis said that he was expecting the Senate to confirm the governor’s appointment in the coming days, and he was working to wrap up policy updates that have been ongoing in the county judge’s office prior to the transition.
“It’s been a pleasure serving you gentlemen all these years,” said Lewis. “It’s been a pleasure serving the citizens of Hill County, and I thank them for allowing me to hold this job for this long.”
The judge said that he will miss his current position but is looking forward to the challenges in his new role.
“It’s been one of the greatest honors of my life to be the county judge for the past 18 years, and I thank you all for working with me.”
Lewis said that one of his last actions as county judge will be to set a special court meeting after his confirmation to allow commissioners to vote on his replacement.
Updated subdivision rules that had been discussed at the court’s previous meeting were approved with the caveat that they will be reviewed again by the county attorney and surveyor.
As the county continues to experience rapid land development, some of the document’s goals are to protect county infrastructure, preserve the value of existing properties and keep new development from burdening county taxpayers.
Commissioners voted to advertise for bids for county supplies, to be effective April 1. Commissioners are required to seek bids on goods or services they plan to spend more than $50,000 on in a year’s time. Bids will be requested in several categories, including onsite fuel and road materials.
The court will also seek proposals on liability and property insurance. Lewis said that it has been a couple of years since the court sought bids, and it is time to check into options.
The court also authorized Lewis to sign agreements related to a Community Development Block Grant the Post Oak Special Utility District received from the Texas Department of Agriculture. The district is upgrading water infrastructure with the $500,000 grant.
An interlocal agreement was approved with the Heart of Texas Council of Governments that outlines the county’s participation in the emergency notification service program provided by Everbridge in the region. The county uses the system to alert residents about severe weather and other emergencies in their area.
A public hearing was set during the court’s regular meeting Tuesday, April 8, on a proposal to implement a 35 mile-per-hour speed limit on HCR 1240 near Whitney ISD campuses. A public hearing will be held the same date on a proposal to extend the school zone on the county’s portion of the road.
Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding between the sheriff’s office and the Humane Society of North Texas. The agreement allows the two entities to work together on animal cruelty and neglect investigations in Hill County.
The State Plan of Operation between the State of Texas and the sheriff’s office was also approved. The agreement allows the county to participate in a program that provides useful equipment to law enforcement from time to time.
The court observed and recorded the annual racial profiling report that the sheriff’s office and other law enforcement agencies are required to submit to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. The report shows that the department made 3,926 stops for the year, and the race of the individual was not known to the officer prior to the stop in 3,886 cases. The vast majority of those stopped were white (3,159), and the report showed no complaints of racial profiling.
Commissioners declared several items surplus equipment to be sold through Kaddatz Auctioneering. They included a Case roller in Precinct 3 and multiple outdated items in Precinct 2, including an asphalt distributor, dump trucks, trailers, a brush cutter, a power washer, a forklift and other equipment.
The court also voted to submit a grant application to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program administered by the Texas Division of Emergency Management. If received, the funds would allow the county to buy portable generators with a 25 percent local match.
The court’s next regular meeting was set for Tuesday, March 11.
Commissioners meet each second and fourth Tuesday of the month in the county courtroom of the Hill County courthouse.
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