[{"_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",6262886,"mediaKeyId","3110885-9b34907e21cea56c4cfb65f5a4193bb8","parentId",3110885,"title","At a glance: Liberty County Commissioners approve strategic plan, housing certification, grants and routine items","audioSeconds",1595,"startMs",1261000,"endMs",2856000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3110885-9b34907e21cea56c4cfb65f5a4193bb8&start=1261&end=2856","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3110885-9b34907e21cea56c4cfb65f5a4193bb8/thumbnail_1261000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6262886/Liberty-County/Texas/At-a-glance-Liberty-County-Commissioners-approve-strategic-plan-housing-certification-grants-and-routine-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262886-f5d3a5fd20a13c0ab416f606745d40c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169464&Signature=ngvkBl-VYnoBc2sXuuSThjkTmIOVu0EQ~ao3WeaA6rHws7xZpeGjrgxGXLxiNP1seTBDcjd3PcSHHjOeYk6F~97jLq9RBY7F1cKWvJYYWuMRxABtze4jLIC8Go3KOkoQTwdN1ZkUpr~FYe3xkfV0DLqMmjSNjmOS2zFdWSEsAbTzf6ibPosM~vuNnPtzuXbx6QYmpSnIoS2sRfj~3XnAKs4LJxnZti9Lqmk-eSSnQs23~-C4L3U50R6EbyZAmgaz0YGe4FH3aasd0SXU~ybYqBcKbo7fiFH2G3MfXmok7i5XjneJE3S8l~q2ASSBBWb1yW9UbJmnLPMMYIqmz6sa4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Liberty County TX","date","2025-04-22T00:00:00Z","article","The Liberty County Commissioners Court handled a packed agenda of administrative, budgetary and planning items and approved a slate of routine and substantive measures during its meeting. Highlights include adoption of the county’s updated strategic plan, approval of the Liberty County Housing Authority certification, multiple CDBG/ARPA payments for infrastructure projects, authorization of Cinco de Mayo fireworks sales, and a series of procurement and personnel items.

Nut graph: Several items were routine and passed with no substantive debate; the court also discussed municipal utility district (MUD) formation mechanics and tabled two commercial site plans pending additional engineering/No‑Rise review.

Votes at a glance (key items recorded in the meeting packet):

- Consent agenda (including add‑ons): motion passed (mover Bruce, second David).
- 8.1 — Certification of PHA plans (form 577 SL): approved (mover Bruce, second David).
- 8.2 — Order authorizing fireworks sales for Cinco de Mayo (May 4–5, 2025): approved (mover Bruce, second David).
- 8.3 — Annual strike‑off of aged tax receivables per Texas tax code (statutory limitation): approved (mover Bruce, second David).
- 8.4 — Overpayment refund to HCH Santa Fe, $7,419.66: approved (mover David, second Bruce).
- 8.5 — Acceptance of $3,000 donation from Liberty Elks Lodge for district costume program: approved.
- 8.6 — Adoption of the 2025 Liberty County Strategic Plan (Texas A&M): approved (mover Greg, second David).
- 8.7 — Approve TAC/Hebp interim COBRA administration transition (May 1–Dec 31, 2025): approved (mover David, second Bruce).
- 8.8 — Appointment of Penny McMillan to HGAC Aging & Disability Advisory Committee: approved (mover Bruce, second Greg).
- 8.9 — Contract award to GOV, Inc. for victim notification software (statewide automated victim notification): approved.
- 8.10 — 1‑day shredding service for JP Precinct 5: approved.
- 8.11–8.13 — Progress payments to Schaumburg & Polk for Ames sanitary sewer improvements (ARPA funds): progress payments 1 and 2 and invoice approvals approved.
- 14–16 — CDBG‑DR draw request #6 and payments to LJ Engineering (mid‑mod / drainage study) totaling approximately $806,955 (draw) and other payments of $385,830 and $421,125: approved.
- 17 — Letter approving advanced drainage system polypropylene use in county projects: approved.
- 18–19 — Environmental review and select bids for CDBG housing buyout / replacement homes and related contracts: approved.
- 21 — RFP #25‑10 autopsy transport and cremation services (multi‑vendor award): approved.
- 22 — Transfer of assorted Road & Bridge assets among precincts: approved.
- 23 — Roof repair quote for Precinct 4, $22,000: approved.
- 24–25 — Approve solicitation and list of surplus items for online auction: approved.
- 26–27 — Purchase of D5M truck ($294,380) via HGAC contract and resolution for financing with Government Capital: approved.
- 28–29 — Hallet Materials and Harrington Agri Goods commercial site plans and No‑Rise certificates: both tabled pending LJA (engineering) reviews and required No‑Rise documentation.
- 30 — Purchase of replacement vehicle for the fire marshal via cooperative contract: approved.
- 31 — Executive‑session action: court approved hiring outside counsel to prepare and file responsive documents related to a TCEQ remedial order; motion passed in open session after executive session.

Ending: Most measures passed with routine unanimous votes. Items involving detailed engineering (No‑Rise certificates and commercial site plan approvals) were tabled until LJA engineering review and required documentation are complete.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Liberty County TX Regular Meeting April 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Commissioners Court approved the 2025 strategic plan, certified the Housing Authority plan, authorized fireworks sales for Cinco de Mayo, approved multiple CDBG/ARPA payments and contracts, authorized COBRA administration changes and took a series of routine procurement, asset and personnel actions.","taxTitle","Liberty County, Texas","taxId",69549,"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},6262891,"Commissioners approve county certification for Liberty County Housing Authority plan",201,1388000,1589000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3110885-9b34907e21cea56c4cfb65f5a4193bb8&start=1388&end=1589","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3110885-9b34907e21cea56c4cfb65f5a4193bb8/thumbnail_1388000.jpg","/articles/6262891/Liberty-County/Texas/Commissioners-approve-county-certification-for-Liberty-County-Housing-Authority-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262891-7e9ee90dd446ed7b0fb02f4c5534243b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169464&Signature=YpSBMDq5iiQAxNNlttozzXdM2P9Xix0Trc~s6WTOA4YJ~e0G3XO64~~VcYumAdkRb~XCg~vjgxWiFjT3SfBye6S7vz3JIpdkP~-J9aSjfD9-XA4an9cDtwE9NMeABExVtRYpqIT5MBPDPQ7eiyhsYK1Q0ZJaa~Mm07pZBMmCVJcsur4PtohW4Ioish3dmyNbsi5oHbfI8LBVXQzuHpHNuP4BW2YKwe3OyxdGbDlOWTo9ASHepdSEZvc7r2c0Zm~ZNhOZg~Ou2Q~uicx-vMkyrw5eg6NJ03uZuX9SwsjxZk3rsRihApfBx0E0rlYFQZKchayyxS81qj6kc9GJf6-EJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Liberty County Commissioners Court approved a motion authorizing the county judge to sign a certification form confirming that the Liberty County Housing Authority’s five‑year public housing plan aligns with the county’s consolidated strategic plan.

Stephanie Berry, executive director of the Liberty County Housing Authority, told the court the PHA must provide an annual plan and a five‑year plan on a standard HUD form (577 SL) and that the certification demonstrates alignment with the county’s housing chapter in the consolidated plan. Berry said the housing authority serves approximately \"238 to 245 families\" as heads of household and that broader—unspecified—assistance also flows to more households.

Why it matters: The certification is an administrative step that allows the local housing authority to sign and submit required documents showing how its goals and outreach strategies align with local government housing strategies. Berry emphasized outreach to landlords in outlying parts of the county and improved communications with landlords and tenants.

The court voted to approve the certification; the judge may sign the form so the housing authority can proceed with its PHA filing.

Ending: County staff confirmed the judge may sign the certification on the county’s behalf and the motion passed with no recorded opposition.","The court approved a certification that the Liberty County Housing Authority’s five‑year plan aligns with the county consolidated plan, authorizing the judge to sign the required form so the housing authority can submit its Public Housing Agency (PHA) plans.",{"_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},6262896,"Commissioners adopt updated 2025 Liberty County strategic plan drafted with Texas A&M",499,2339000,2838000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3110885-9b34907e21cea56c4cfb65f5a4193bb8&start=2339&end=2838","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3110885-9b34907e21cea56c4cfb65f5a4193bb8/thumbnail_2339000.jpg","/articles/6262896/Liberty-County/Texas/Commissioners-adopt-updated-2025-Liberty-County-strategic-plan-drafted-with-Texas-AM","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262896-50c975294791a1389594766ad62bb322/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169464&Signature=c5hmbxMvaT0XevhTIgsdZEv~F~Q9U91aPt5wyLOVoxp4D5ZVrWkx99OtyfICyD8LFXsdtcf~3HKUP322kecoaIs6wExjwtSHADqxXOgo1P908eddH0IZYCQzYYxvEW6M5erCdpxT4LHCFNcQnL0OSjdOoFtVnqjjXOsAu6wcOndfYtm1lPstevY1KZ7crFOVSGdGbYPOL3UvIT8SD9VW552yXCpbSi4YeFUjBAAxCFobWwDpdNtnYb8Nr7aJtR92fIWrkgC5MpA91CZTAxk-QQ5CvFhM6paz8DJG0BoG1-5GLS4ZIGJ4Yk-iGG07MqmqKFg4gVVM-ebP73h4M94oVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Liberty County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to adopt an updated county strategic plan for 2025 that was prepared in partnership with Texas A&M University’s Texas Target Communities program.

The plan, which replaces the county’s earlier strategic planning work begun in 2016 and adopted in 2017, lays out priorities across transportation, drainage, health, and economic development. County leaders told the court the plan will be used to justify and pursue grant funding, that it contains a new health chapter, and that printed copies will be posted online after approval.

\"It's a road map that tells folks what direction we're heading and why,\" County Judge Brown said, describing the plan as a tool to prove need in competitive grant processes. Alexis Cordova, who helped coordinate the local process, said students and faculty at Texas A&M participated in drafting and updating the plan, and that the rewrite saved the county tens of thousands of dollars compared with buying consulting services.

Why it matters: County officials said the plan will be used to support future applications for HGAC, GLO and other federal or regional grants and to prioritize projects such as a potential Dayton bypass, drainage studies and a countywide thoroughfare plan.

The court signaled immediate next steps: use the updated plan to support a mobility study and an approved thoroughfare planning grant through HGAC, and to incorporate the plan’s health chapter into county health planning. Commissioners encouraged residents to review the document and provide feedback during future updates.

Ending: The motion to adopt the 2025 Liberty County strategic plan passed unanimously. Officials said the plan will be posted online for public access.","The Liberty County Commissioners Court adopted an updated county strategic plan developed with Texas A&M’s Texas Target Communities program; officials said the plan will guide grant applications and infrastructure priorities including drainage and thoroughfare planning.",{"_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},6262901,"Judge Brown explains how single‑voter MUD elections work, urges public review",311,827000,1138000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3110885-9b34907e21cea56c4cfb65f5a4193bb8&start=827&end=1138","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3110885-9b34907e21cea56c4cfb65f5a4193bb8/thumbnail_827000.jpg","/articles/6262901/Liberty-County/Texas/Judge-Brown-explains-how-singlevoter-MUD-elections-work-urges-public-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262901-40854477d3b0dfb1a44aff75e7fb267f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169464&Signature=oqaUqjOvW2E3bs1JebJjtPNqvMtgzJEkDxiPKgapFh3UcsyJ0Y-L8R3UnZNeqEHQLFYfthGJzNPTXvOJx3u1UF1WMlrHMWW3Rzmr8XoSZjohKLZymsnE5DCSDv5MYNBnFIhgUq4tZs1GXxmrnQoe0t7GtbPNwpecYbBBBVFfF7YNj4sWagaqTM-qGtdssYDmDmlTxUXoG-5cMvk6euFCYepwvvDh3dUPFS9y9bwFoyEhX4PxnOv7WYiQWymsetnTNPktZBSyxPghvYrvQWqKpUvTnYWmdusp4IHloROStL1YMKeDAuDrVxtGM5JXR-cmNryG2OqJF~C6d3i1YvbKyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Judge Brown spent a substantial portion of the meeting explaining how municipal utility district (MUD) formation elections work and why some MUD votes appear to involve very few eligible voters.

In a lengthy explanation during the public information portion of the Liberty County Commissioners Court meeting, Judge Brown said state law determines who votes in a MUD election and that, in some cases, only a single registered voter lives inside the legally defined district at the time of the vote. \"It only takes one cow to vote,\" he said, using a pasture analogy to illustrate that a MUD’s boundary — not the county — determines eligibility.

Why it matters: MUDs are special districts that fund roads, water and sewer infrastructure for new subdivisions. The sheriff, school districts and surrounding properties can be affected by the tax and service footprint of a MUD, but county officials do not set MUD boundaries or appoint MUD boards; the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) governs certain aspects of MUD formation and board approval.

Judge Brown told the court that some MUD organizers place a manufactured home or trailer in a planned subdivision to create a registered voter inside the district so the formation election can proceed. \"If you don't live in that district, you don't get to vote, okay, for that MUD,\" he said.

He encouraged residents to consult the county’s special‑district public records page to see which MUDs have filed with TCEQ and to contact county staff with questions. He also noted that a MUD tax affects only property inside the MUD boundary and that any expansion of a MUD requires public processes governed by state law.

The judge and other speakers said county staff are compiling filings from TCEQ and notifying the public where formation petitions have been received. \"You can look up and see who's filed for MUDs,\" Judge Brown said. He also noted the county has created a special‑district tracking file to help officials and residents monitor rapidly increasing filings.

Ending: Commissioners did not take additional formal action on the specific MUDs described; the court’s discussion was informational and aimed at public awareness. Residents with questions were advised to consult the county’s public records and TCEQ filings to confirm whether they reside inside a proposed MUD boundary.","Liberty County Judge Brown described how municipal utility district (MUD) formation elections can be decided by a single eligible voter in a small newly populated tract, urged residents to check public records and explained limits of county authority over MUD governance.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

At a glance: Liberty County Commissioners approve strategic plan, housing certification, grants and routine items

Commissioners approve county certification for Liberty County Housing Authority plan

Commissioners adopt updated 2025 Liberty County strategic plan drafted with Texas A&M

Judge Brown explains how single‑voter MUD elections work, urges public review