The Hill County Commissioners Court approved a resolution supporting proposed state legislation aimed at increasing funding for county road infrastructure during a meeting held Tuesday, March 24.
The resolution states that counties are responsible for maintaining more than half of all public road miles in the state but receive only a small share of state transportation funding. It states that this funding has remained unchanged since 1954 despite decades of population growth, inflation and increased demand.
The proposed legislation would allocate one penny (5%) of the state motor fuels tax to the County and Road District Highway Fund for distribution to counties.
The resolution also notes that counties do not receive any revenue from electric vehicle registration fees, even though those vehicles also use local roads. A companion legislative proposal would dedicate 5% of electric vehicle registration revenue to the County and Road District Highway Fund.
The resolution states that the increased allocations would provide a sustainable, pay-as-you-go funding mechanism to improve county roads without increasing tax rates or imposing new burdens on taxpayers.
Commissioners directed that the resolution be sent to state lawmakers and the Texas Association of Counties in support of the measure.
Fourteen Hill County residents approached the microphone during open forum to express their concerns about the amount of solar, wind and data center development in the area. They asked the court to stop granting tax incentives for projects that they feel are destroying the rural way of life and popping up near their homes and farms.
Linda Polley, speaking on behalf of concerned Hill County residents, urged the court to be transparent and responsive to public input. She expressed concerns about closed-door meetings, limited public hearings and the use of vague project names in agendas. She voiced opposition to tax abatements and incentives for solar farms, wind farms and data centers, saying that the developments negatively impact residents, and cautioned against “growth for the sake of growth.” Polley presented a resolution banning incentives for the companies and asked that it be placed on the court’s next agenda for consideration.
Jana Burch said that she lives in the oldest home in Hill County and she and her husband, a disabled veteran, moved back to the county for the rural way of life. Now, she says they are awakened at 5 a.m. due to a concrete plant behind her house making bases for wind turbines. “I have a sick sense that the deals have already been made,” she said, referencing the wind, solar and data center developments. “That upsets me. I don’t think there has been full disclosure.” She questioned the benefits of offering tax abatements to such industries, saying that they do not bring meaningful jobs or improve residents’ quality of life.
Other speakers asked the court to at least hold off on future incentives until it is clear how the current developments impact Hill County. They also questioned the effects on wildlife and preserving farmland for future generations. Safety was another concern raised by speakers, as they said county roads see increased traffic from construction activity.
In other action, the court observed and recorded the recent inspection of the county jail by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).
Hill County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Tim Westmoreland said that the March 9 inspection was the second annual inspection since Sheriff Hunter Barnes took office in January 2025, and the jail passed both inspections.
Westmoreland pointed out that Barnes inherited a jail that had failed multiple inspections and was in enhanced inspection compliance status with TCOLE. He said that the policies put in place by the sheriff and his team resulted in an inspection with no deficiencies last March, putting the facility back into normal inspection status.
“This latest zero-deficiency jail inspection we incurred is more evidence that the jail is headed in the right direction continually since Sheriff Barnes took office,” said Westmoreland.
The court reviewed and accepted bids for county supplies for a one-year period beginning April 1.
Fuel bids were accepted from the following: Precinct 1 – Scott Oil Company; Precinct 2 – Dixie LP Gas; Precinct 3 – Dixie LP Gas for onsite fuel and Farmers Co-op for offsite fuel; Precinct 4 – Itasca Co-op for onsite and offsite fuel.
Bids for road base were accepted by all precincts based on quantity, quality and availability from: Cemex, Canfield Materials, Janek & Whitten Construction, Conners Construction and Vulcan Construction.
Wilson Culverts was the lone bidder in the category of steel pipe and culverts, and all commissioners accepted the bid.
Bids from providers of asphalt and emulsions were accepted based on quantity, quality and availability from: P2 Emulsions, Ergon Asphalt, Cleburne Asphalt Products and Texas Materials Group.
Commissioners accepted a bid from Yoder Bridges for bridges, and CXT Inc. was accepted for box culverts.
Bids for material hauling were accepted from Hillsboro Sand and Gravel in precincts 1 and 2 and from Janek & Whitten Construction in precincts 3 and 4.
Precinct 1 accepted a bid from Blue Diamond Surface Cleaning Solutions for power washing services, and the remaining three commissioners selected 4R Services Unlimited.
The court accepted Precinct 4 Commissioner Martin Lake’s resignation from the county’s investment committee and unanimously voted to appoint Precinct 1 Commissioner Jim Holcomb as the court’s representative on the committee.
Commissioners convened in closed session to hear an update from the Hillsboro Economic Development Corporation on ongoing economic development activity in the City of Hillsboro.
The court’s next meeting will be Tuesday, April 14, at 8:30 a.m. in the county courtroom of the Hill County Courthouse.
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