[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6393189,"mediaKeyId","2107768-0b759841980fca7cfc2048614b3c02b4","parentId",2107768,"title","Van Zandt County commissioners approve grants, staffing change and committee appointments","audioSeconds",1499,"startMs",3140000,"endMs",4639000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2107768-0b759841980fca7cfc2048614b3c02b4&start=3140&end=4639","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2107768-0b759841980fca7cfc2048614b3c02b4/thumbnail_3140000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6393189/Van-Zandt-County/Texas/Van-Zandt-County-commissioners-approve-grants-staffing-change-and-committee-appointments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393189-6e3c3150cf7f3ba635574df038a462b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1774836140&Signature=DRJhcgSYRfiq5J3qNK1wQ7IIrIDgbSdVMfDPVa10aJmyIFeDNgA5Z8eoKW2HLFy6sC8MB1YgJ7GJitnNbOJLyExUUGoEyxGwiXJwqPpyHGweMbKAkQfbH8s269Wzv0GIYzkIpVC00dmKpAXVfF8zthqwSWtStoPGWEn29lLMSyc3tnvb29IUCv01I1BE1JcjlTNV6Dozng5CRJkfOzGqJC6xFDxSXiFmBtsO9gKUq7gAQjGLP46UEfeHD6-8Mosz5YD9GABBOBfvG3h4gUaO-PT638k4kE6wlkTpnHXxGsTK4kO-hU7IsoSLPK4-F3e2N-CpZ3Lled5pFHPfkXyHrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Van Zandt County TX","date","2025-01-13T17:00:55.63Z","article","Van Zandt County Commissioner’s Court on Jan. 13 approved a package of routine and personnel items, including authorization to apply for a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant, a transfer to fund a full‑time fire marshal and the creation of a standing committee to oversee the county’s P25 radio project.

The court, convened at 9:01 a.m., approved the consent agenda and then voted on discrete items. The court authorized the district attorney’s office to apply for the VOCA victim assistance grant for the 2025–26 term; approved line‑item transfers to fund the conversion of the fire marshal position from part time to full time; appointed a committee to continue work on the countywide P25 radio project; and approved several employee‑handbook changes including shortening the required separation/return window for rehired retirees and removing a transitional note on holiday pay.

Why it matters: the VOCA grant covers most of a victim‑assistance coordinator’s salary and operating costs and the county’s 20% match was identified in the staff report. Making the fire marshal position full time was presented as necessary to support increased abatement and inspection work. The P25 committee is intended to manage the multiyear radio project and report back to the court.

Key details recorded in the meeting:
• VOCA grant application — The grant was described as competitive; the requested budget includes approximately $50,000 for salary, $2,120 for travel and training and $1,500 for office supplies. The grant is an 80/20 award; the county’s 20% match was stated as $18,183. The court approved the application by voice vote.

• Fire marshal funding — The court approved line‑item transfers to cover the remainder of the fiscal year after converting the fire marshal position to full time. No single dollar amount for the transfer was specified in the public discussion.

• P25 radio project committee — The court appointed a standing committee to continue oversight and planning for the countywide P25 radio system. Named primary members included the County Judge, Sheriff Bridger, Deputy Zapata, Ron Bieber, Jeremy Jones and consultant Barry Black; dispatch and IT staff were named as associate members. The court clarified the committee will make recommendations and that any contract or purchase will return to the court for approval.

• Personnel and handbook items — The court approved changing the county’s rehired retiree waiting period to 31 days (to align with retirement-system timing) and removed a transition note in the holiday pay policy. Both motions passed by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: motions were made, seconded and passed by voice vote with those present saying “aye.” The meeting record did not show a roll‑call tally for each item.

The court heard other business and presentations after the votes and recessed to executive session at 10:15 a.m. for a closed discussion on a contract negotiation.

Ending: The court scheduled follow‑up and reporting for the P25 committee and accepted the staff recommendation to apply for the VOCA grant. Specific implementation steps and dollar amounts for some transfers were left to staff to finalize and bring back to the court.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Van Zandt County Commissioners Meeting 1/13/2025 a","oneSentenceSummary","Van Zandt County Commissioner’s Court on Jan. 13 approved a package of routine and personnel items, including authorization to apply for a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant, a transfer to fund a full‑time fire marshal and the creation of a standing committee to oversee the county’s P25 radio project.","taxTitle","Van Zandt County, Texas","taxId",63777,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393175,"Public commenter opposes possible new justice center, questions secrecy and cost estimates",332,406000,738000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2107768-0b759841980fca7cfc2048614b3c02b4&start=406&end=738","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2107768-0b759841980fca7cfc2048614b3c02b4/thumbnail_406000.jpg","/articles/6393175/Van-Zandt-County/Texas/Public-commenter-opposes-possible-new-justice-center-questions-secrecy-and-cost-estimates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393175-8891f7c73f7cc4c48c8910a20868b10c/orig.mp4?Expires=1774836140&Signature=Z3QvtGAgf~~E2Y7QwBvBjmoiQ8WAoT6nqDmFJbHdhi6vkaeruHmweFQ89aXnaOLvD~gQZ1M73XfEdkefUlV-RrQlWl3fH9yPSuFsG0BkU7TQmgT8mKLhxqcjp4RoCcxG3GFsDTUiXdTMdbJdIpGMWz-4VLS0qnxChaXURQsw6949l2~eEurG-poDn6CW7Enp3d5qZ1GVQzEcIpl4xa65hXMgmY3RbuByKT4ytZ9WKU0MeIf80KtgUfYqv0~-p7vJKmEDcU~zAU5daglpy33I4bjbZrJV4ORfzaOnsc4FN5ueoyT7GmHzqW7hqWAle9B7Nw3mXDsZk6bPhKDxYaFUcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the public‑comment period at the Jan. 13 Van Zandt County Commissioner’s Court meeting, Ronnie Jones spoke about agenda items related to potential courthouse or justice‑center planning and expressed opposition to spending county money for land, leases or construction without broader public disclosure.

Jones said he had learned about a $60,000 hold on a building and that he had heard widely varying cost estimates for a new justice center, including figures “from a $148,000,000 to $250,000,000.” He urged the court to disclose plans before incurring further expense and questioned the need for a new jail if existing facilities were meeting state standards.

Direct quotes from Ronnie Jones:
• “If the purpose is to build a new justice center, I am against it.”
• “If the people are involved in that prior to y’all discussing buying something for that purpose … then I’m against it.”

Jones also asked for clarity about what happened to previously uncommitted county reserves and urged commissioners to keep citizens informed; he said he was not categorically opposed to an investment if the public had been properly informed but objected to perceived secrecy.

Why it matters: public comments signaled local concern about transparency, long‑range capital planning and the scale of potential courthouse or jail projects. Commissioners did not take action during public comment; the meeting later moved to executive session on a separate contract negotiation.","During public comments Ronnie Jones urged commissioners to be transparent about potential courthouse or justice‑center plans and objected to preliminary spending, citing figures he said he had heard as high as $250 million.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393180,"Commissioners debate reactivating county collections unit to pursue long‑unpaid local fees",855,3428000,4283000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2107768-0b759841980fca7cfc2048614b3c02b4&start=3428&end=4283","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2107768-0b759841980fca7cfc2048614b3c02b4/thumbnail_3428000.jpg","/articles/6393180/Van-Zandt-County/Texas/Commissioners-debate-reactivating-county-collections-unit-to-pursue-longunpaid-local-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393180-f4e3e2a014339104d1f17aaefce0252c/orig.mp4?Expires=1774836140&Signature=U~5wCUm6PilrF5Gct0Y5q5b1XqD-1sWRJkBXSlQ-kcWjmVoiNBnrWWqm62nFoqDCVEcD~CtFQ2gG4ojwhD2cMAU3mTPfm~Gdp6Lqn8mF~Ln6jab5gmfZZhObVbfAboqDgaAoqKwzI9R4C~KVKk628ETZF-UbkiX7N8fAkmDzgXaqcruSw4Nsj0tKJvFTIn7Iq60SZkoOk6YMypMGFTTTrBOeplv36QT-kLGFj-2D6pUtgVifoRjUmbv1J1ZerMf6c7xyGwPSkGTBPkUQCfCUk6OBRu5Nsh69xvRoum1~eqjL9Q2S6pWtRxGh73WtjqzdWzOI4VgBncJLjpjrQbgIPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Van Zandt County commissioners on Jan. 13 discussed reactivating a county collections function or expanding outside legal contracts to pursue unpaid civil fees ranging from septic‑system maintenance charges to other departmental balances.

The discussion was prompted by the fire marshal’s office and other departments reporting uncollected fees, in some cases dating back to about 2010. Commissioners and staff described the problem as twofold: (1) some maintenance‑contract firms are not remitting the $30 annual septic maintenance fee the county requires and (2) the county currently lacks an internal unit with authority and budget to pursue civil fee enforcement beyond issuing notices.

Why it matters: uncollected fees represent foregone revenue and diminish enforcement credibility when staff require compliance without an effective follow‑up mechanism. Reactivating collections could increase recoveries but requires funding and legal authority for enforcement.

What was said and not decided:
• Statutory limits — Speakers clarified that some county actors (for example, the fire marshal and certain departments) can accept payments or issue citations but do not have the statutory authority to enforce civil collections; enforcement commonly requires a justice‑court or district‑court referral and, for further action, a contracted law firm.
• Scope and cost — Commissioners noted there is currently no funding in this year’s budget to stand up a county collections office. Several commissioners favored scoping the work (what fees to collect, whether to pursue historic balances or start fresh) and presenting budget and operational proposals for the next fiscal year.
• Septic fees — The fire marshal noted the $30 annual maintenance fee that contractors are required to remit; some contractors appear not to have been remitting these funds for years. Commissioners expressed reluctance to retroactively penalize residents and said they preferred starting new enforcement or pursuing contractors rather than charging residents for 10+ years of arrears.

No formal motion to establish a collections unit or to hire outside counsel was adopted; the court directed staff to gather reports on outstanding receivables and to return with a budgeted, scoping recommendation.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to provide reports showing delinquent accounts and options for staged enforcement so the court could consider funding and legal approaches during next year’s budget process.","Court discussed reactivating or expanding a county collections function after staff reported long‑uncollected fees (including septic‑system maintenance fees dating to 2010). No formal action or funding was approved; commissioners asked staff to refine proposals for next fiscal year.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393184,"Outside collection firm briefs Van Zandt County on tax‑collection timeline, delinquencies and sales",174,1404000,1578000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2107768-0b759841980fca7cfc2048614b3c02b4&start=1404&end=1578","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2107768-0b759841980fca7cfc2048614b3c02b4/thumbnail_1404000.jpg","/articles/6393184/Van-Zandt-County/Texas/Outside-collection-firm-briefs-Van-Zandt-County-on-taxcollection-timeline-delinquencies-and-sales","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393184-476c23f0cc693bc1224c9f056a2c5319/orig.mp4?Expires=1774836140&Signature=WJ-ZQL8~JKgSUfbHQu1nKGypU9Nf5KBxbkoeigGn0zpu2QktuZgVNG6xjmYiUQhwasKRQLCzfHRak8TzCHb7Y5oKNuw86Jgffk7RcerATlAFJPqIEYmkPeFzDyHRxaVSoo02Oe4n3ujSRBnsuzZd-GCOn5p-NISToz29skQBHevQWhqwmISotaChabllM8D6BZKhbyh2fGIWDy4owTyCPPUKCxrVinWF8uHTWF6eaVjJQkAE67wxx9q11~iYwHcttZJSlCaiVnRP-1DeVq7dGRTnk4JTB1oyT800cRDCMMW-sb87BNYaEi2Utu3mLLNgOJ1SH3DAgHGCxX~xl5J8jQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An outside collections team briefed Van Zandt County Commissioner’s Court on Jan. 13 about the county property‑tax collection calendar, collection steps and recent outcomes, providing detailed counts for mailings, lawsuits, judgments and sales.

The presenters — staff from the county’s collections provider — explained the normal tax timetable: appraisal values reflect ownership on Jan. 1; bills are mailed in October; taxpayers have until Jan. 31 to pay before accounts become delinquent on Feb. 1; and delinquent accounts generally are turned over to the collector on July 1. The presenter emphasized that the statutory delinquency date of Feb. 1 is fixed.

Why it matters: the court heard that aggressive early outreach and negotiated payment plans can preserve property ownership and collect revenue for county services and schools; conversely, prolonged delinquencies can lead to lawsuits and tax sales that permanently transfer property.

Selected figures and descriptions given at the meeting (speaker attribution retained to the presenter):
• Mailings: the collector reported sending an initial mailing campaign with several follow‑up notices; the presenter cited 18,271 notices sent during the 12‑month reporting period to delinquent taxpayers.
• Lawsuits and judgments: the presenter said the collector filed about 95 new lawsuits in the year‑to‑date reporting period covering roughly $40,000,000 in assessed liabilities; he said the office sought about 40 judgments against 65 properties totaling about $106,000 and reported recovering modest amounts before judgment in some cases.
• Tax sales and outcomes: last year the collector reported 61 tax sales that generated about $317,000; the presenter said most properties sold at tax sale are vacant or abandoned parcels and that sales of occupied homes are rare.
• Pending caseload: the presenter said there were 359 suits pending in district court totaling about $746,000 at the time of the briefing.
• Deferrals and return mail: deferrals for qualifying seniors were explained as a legal mechanism that delays collection but allows interest to accrue; the presenter said approximately 14% of accounts were in deferral and return mail (undeliverable bills) remained a meaningful obstacle.

The presenter described “soft” collection steps — outreach, negotiated payment plans and technology tools including an online property list and skip‑trace software — and said the firm prefers negotiated plans over sales where possible. He also described bankruptcy handling, tax‑warrant remedies for movable personal property and the use of local constables or sheriff’s deputies for service when necessary.

Ending: Commissioners asked clarifying questions about timing, service and how collections interact with county offices. No formal vote was required for the presentation; it was informational and intended to help the court monitor county revenue risk.","A contractor presented the county’s tax‑collection process and recent results: timelines for delinquency, outreach mailings, lawsuits and tax sales, plus data on suits, judgments and pending cases.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Van Zandt County commissioners approve grants, staffing change and committee appointments

Public commenter opposes possible new justice center, questions secrecy and cost estimates

Commissioners debate reactivating county collections unit to pursue long‑unpaid local fees

Outside collection firm briefs Van Zandt County on tax‑collection timeline, delinquencies and sales