[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,74,86],{"_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":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6296195,"mediaKeyId","2517166-ff47dd9a2d933955679cbd18336b933e","parentId",2517166,"title","Commissioners approve red-flag burn ban, parking rules, contracts and downtown property purchase; votes at a glance","audioSeconds",2858,"startMs",618000,"endMs",3476000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2517166-ff47dd9a2d933955679cbd18336b933e&start=618&end=3476","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2517166-ff47dd9a2d933955679cbd18336b933e/thumbnail_618000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6296195/McLennan-County/Texas/Commissioners-approve-red-flag-burn-ban-parking-rules-contracts-and-downtown-property-purchase-votes-at-a-glance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296195-938d008f9805abb9005dae7b646570b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153652&Signature=hMl3vGfeMc2xcsOIZWNdAwrEs3Yb0plNlpEQTHIGQ6kJh1d6IdAyqqrjRySGGF9jCT~Ic9St2YvYK-BG8WzZdL5uvn9gUL0qbY1SZcfZY9SU0wtnsaPcosJjMvdWhsuchrfNoxXW14AWbmIyIL09M9mtefZecjGoy3rqsO24WAmB2PYfG9kqCTqsbljgTp5agKFh8T8MemH5C1MpXOCgAq-LUojcIBBcN6ZYmoVIPAAN2FY3VM7iS4-hps8dTvz3c0OcBdU9AiuIwAsqs5O11aBPqlaiXhc6GUtLjGqzON7OMLwONt1qwLndGhGIntjepeNBZQhtvVa3-KoSHfvjmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","McLennan County, Texas","date","2025-03-05T05:52:56Z","article","McLennan County commissioners on Tuesday moved through a packed consent and contract docket, approving a short-term red-flag burn ban, adopting courthouse complex parking rules, accepting routine grant and vendor reports, and authorizing multiple contract renewals and amendments. The court also approved the purchase of a downtown commercial building for $425,000 that county staff recommended as a possible new site for county auditor and health services operations.

At the start of the meeting county staff reported an early-morning storm that left more than 14,000 customers without power across the county. Staff recommended, and the court approved, imposing a red-flag burn ban (no open burning) because of elevated wind-driven fire danger; the order directs posting and notification through the county website and local volunteer fire departments.

The court approved new courthouse complex parking rules designating county lots for official county business, jurors and parties to court from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday\u0000\u0011Friday; sheriff\u0000's deputies will patrol the lots and the court said towing could be considered later if nonauthorized parking persists.

Contracts and procurement decisions included:
- Authorization of an agreement with Municipal Services Bureau (payment processing vendor) to handle online auction payments for the tax office and a related amendment with GovEase to correct payee and fee provisions; the online auctions are scheduled to begin in April. The court approved the payment-collection agreement and the GovEase contract amendment.
- Awarding an RFP for scanning McLennan County archival files to Accela Technologies (highest-evaluated proposer), and rejecting bids for an aggregate surface-treatment solicitation to re-advertise.
- Renewal and amendments for multiple vendor services including BIS Digital (interview room support), Exela Technologies (document imaging support), CoreEMR (electronic medical records software for the jail), and Langham Engineering (additional materials testing for the downtown jail remodel).

Capital projects and real-property action: the court approved change order No. 4 and payment application No. 12 for the Chapel Road improvements project (payment application: $1,025,925.95). The court also approved a professional services payment and other routine project invoices tied to the justice-of-the-peace office renovation and ADA work at the records building.

Supplemental agenda: the court approved a commercial purchase contract for a building identified in the agenda as \"2124 North 20 Fifth Street\" for $425,000; staff said the site could house the county auditor and health services and noted a 90-day due-diligence period. Commissioners also approved a motion to deny a constable precinct vehicle asset/repair request after discussion about vehicle mileage, repair costs and alternative use.

Why it matters: the approvals affect multiple county operations\u0000\u0011from tax sales to jail remodeling to courthouse access and emergency fire-safety policy.

Votes at a glance (selected passed items):
- Red-flag burn ban: motion made and seconded; vote recorded as passed by voice vote.
- Courthouse complex parking rules (7 a.m.\u0000\u00116 p.m. weekdays): approved by voice vote.
- Municipal Services Bureau payment-processing agreement and GovEase contract amendment (online tax-auction payments): approved by motion and second.
- Accela Technologies awarded RFP 25-006 for archive scanning: approved by motion.
- Purchase of downtown property (agenda item supplemental B1): motion to approve purchase at $425,000; motion seconded and approved.
- Denial of constable precinct vehicle/repair request: motion to deny carried by voice vote.
- Chapel Road change order No. 4 and pay application No. 12 ($1,025,925.95): approved by motion and second.

Next steps and follow-up: staff will finalize the online auction payment-processing arrangements and proceed with the first online sale; county administration will handle due diligence on the downtown purchase during the 90-day inspection period; project managers will process construction payments and report progress to the court.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Commissioners' Court 3-04-2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its March meeting the McLennan County Commissioners Court approved a red-flag burn ban, new courthouse-parking rules, multiple vendor contracts and a $425,000 purchase of a downtown commercial building; the court also accepted routine reports and authorized several contract amendments.","taxTitle","taxId",2712,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6296200,"Contractor Linebarger tells county it collected about $9M in delinquent taxes over five years",491,853000,1344000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2517166-ff47dd9a2d933955679cbd18336b933e&start=853&end=1344","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2517166-ff47dd9a2d933955679cbd18336b933e/thumbnail_853000.jpg","/articles/6296200/McLennan-County/Texas/Contractor-Linebarger-tells-county-it-collected-about-9M-in-delinquent-taxes-over-five-years","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296200-97be4701cd318e75c4aca2d47eec5cea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153652&Signature=j6nIBQsZpTS1Qm4yKnu3gRQ30QlJAPYysyCR14rCyj6vqykAnvSaxrGtimPiqSE9HVTKr9Tkheyu8jjjxKIcD6VG5MXaAMz1sWIc5OLgO9Bpxk7B99Rf3uXzX2RsExt2AgMoLeupYi3lR43jrqobK1-OFLrMCKFrfuHUqkeffPERkZdOMh4aWeDmCFFvB9BrjJe82CeeCrx81UPp~lzZ1veQGKm~kspLIfFWZQB92Msc97wIlmPviWFoOKzrXU4gA1wLwtTX7yKl5pyPg2FO1Lm5t-KYvvk3tN7MVPCs5LNpX-0K5q3Wxs3PjxfcjpKcdDpaq2x3xBbmoCWsdsCjJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Linebarger, the county\u0000's delinquent-tax collection firm, briefed McLennan County commissioners on its work over the five-year reporting period and on current collection activity.

Scott Ward, an attorney with Linebarger\u0000's Northeast Texas team, told the court the firm filed 452 lawsuits and disposed of 261 during the report period and mailed 45,277 notices to delinquent taxpayers. Ward said, \"just under $9,000,000 collected in a 5 year period,\" and clarified that figure represents delinquent taxes plus accrued interest; Linebarger\u0000's collection fees are added separately and are paid by delinquent taxpayers.

Ward described the county\u0000's delinquent-roll profile: a large share of accounts are flagged as noncollectible because they are deferrals for elderly homestead owners; other sizable pieces are in active lawsuits, active collections and judgments. He noted the firm tries to work both the largest accounts and the numerous small accounts, and that accounts owing $500 or less are often handled without filing suit to avoid increasing the taxpayer\u0000's obligation with court costs.

Ward also discussed plans to transition tax-sales activity to an online auction format. He said roughly 214 tracts were posted for sale during the reporting period and about $1.66 million was produced to taxing entities from those sales. Linebarger is preparing to conduct its first online sale April 1, with some sales possibly still occurring on the courthouse steps depending on timing.

Why it matters: commissioners said delinquent-tax collection helps sustain county revenues and that understanding the mix of collectible and deferred accounts informs budgeting. Ward emphasized that some accounts, such as deferred homestead properties, cannot be collected until a sale, change of homestead designation or the owner\u0000's death.

Action: the commissioners received and approved the annual report from Linebarger by voice vote.

","Linebarger reported on delinquent-tax collection activity for McLennan County, describing collection volumes, the composition of noncollectible accounts, and plans to move to online property sales; commissioners accepted the report.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6296205,"McLennan County applies for Operation Lone Star grant to offset costs of detainees",158,2548000,2706000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2517166-ff47dd9a2d933955679cbd18336b933e&start=2548&end=2706","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2517166-ff47dd9a2d933955679cbd18336b933e/thumbnail_2548000.jpg","/articles/6296205/McLennan-County/Texas/McLennan-County-applies-for-Operation-Lone-Star-grant-to-offset-costs-of-detainees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296205-30fc8b8153f068df828b0e018ab71745/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153652&Signature=XurWZjAC2iOVS-2Kiv~jWKrVRFxmE~tFHlY5-DKLvzIU3emeUs-Sb10om98MFNb6FJc6tDDQoYTSamc723euqV8jAvvivF1ANwczBYg3iM-xppovJBZRxTpe3nqW7JUP9uduU40SbWH5gmAhcPLJFtIleDmfxlJdW66rxk1wbi75FAeAjh9SQij9S2K7tv58QQ~7TReifoyKXZZHcznzQfpTfNITQiWllPU8bMQy46mSSQx0fDd5maMr3V5OwK00n1CWMvRa2zPKAJ13k5G0djU46fa~2aoGockPhrWFT9LaGO4xRFLkzhkhxlTsl9uw9MoqvHKi5R5HDeMjPJ5HsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","McLennan County commissioners on Tuesday authorized submission of an application to the Office of the Governor\u0000Public Safety Office Operation Lone Star grant program and approved related disaster-declaration and memorandum materials to seek reimbursement for local costs associated with inmates held on immigration detainers.

The sheriff\u0000's office reported that as of the meeting it was holding 85 inmates who had immigration detainers and also faced state charges. A sheriff\u0000's office representative told the court, \"Currently, we have, as of right now, 85 inmates in custody with immigration detainers who also pay state charges.\" The speaker said housing, food, medical care and related local costs for those individuals exceed $1.5 million, not counting additional costs such as indigent defense or prosecutorial time.

County staff and the sheriff\u0000's office framed the application as a step to recover some of those local expenses and as preparation in case additional state funding becomes available. A county commissioner moved to approve the grant application and to authorize submission of the related grant resolution, local disaster declaration and any necessary interlocal memorandums; the motion was seconded and carried.

Why it matters: county officials said the jail population tied to immigration detainers is producing a notable, ongoing cost to McLennan County taxpayers. Applying for Operation Lone Star money would provide a direct reimbursement stream for housing-related expenses if the state awards funds.

What the court approved: the record reflects the court voted to submit the FY26 Operation Lone Star application and to file supporting documents including a local disaster declaration and memorandums of understanding necessary for the grant. The court\u0000's motion was seconded and approved by the commissioners present.

Next steps: county staff will complete and submit the Operation Lone Star application and the related documents authorized by the court. Commissioners said they expect initial grants to be modest and to seek further state support if available.

","County commissioners approved submitting a grant application under the Office of the Governor\u0000Operation Lone Star program to seek state reimbursement for costs tied to inmates held on immigration detainers; sheriff\u0000's office officials told the court 85 such detainees were in custody and local housing costs exceed $1.5 million.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners approve red-flag burn ban, parking rules, contracts and downtown property purchase; votes at a glance

Contractor Linebarger tells county it collected about $9M in delinquent taxes over five years

McLennan County applies for Operation Lone Star grant to offset costs of detainees