[{"_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":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6260497,"mediaKeyId","3130706-4f4e12efb4258b54339de450a024aab6","parentId",3130706,"title","Bell County roundup: audit approved, plat actions, contract award; childcare tax‑exemption fails","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",12548000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3130706-4f4e12efb4258b54339de450a024aab6&start=12548&end=12548","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3130706-4f4e12efb4258b54339de450a024aab6/thumbnail_12548000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6260497/Bell-County/Texas/Bell-County-roundup-audit-approved-plat-actions-contract-award-childcare-taxexemption-fails","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260497-578f102e264b635f360bfcab3770aa38/orig.mp4?Expires=1775091155&Signature=C7ADnkxbDGGkxEDRBHuMiSMVeMKQc6UECMpEN0tePZaIYAlN5GzIEvAt7NPCvTE3uCkkDpEkwEL7wNno1OsK7XGSNv0F52ZWVF36xg3GAwEQ6oZBywO0W03o-2~nZYJKT5klJiEz8tnFhfKh9H~fB7hKE2aos9rAOoHn2iVVQAdKARTlUHQ60TetqG-uJefofdVf28wNGYyseLUNyexCnBZBWkUc41QWUAAAYbiiNqQwX~o3qWjiZZaYzD8GqQRtk62u2RdWdyxZ-9gvPJbM52gQO0JBpkaEEUF3TKJjeqk6QKzpACOJzXm3fgp~C4qG9Qza4xT2B~6Xy3fr9z2vcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bell County","date","2025-04-21T00:00:00Z","article","Bell County Commissioners Court on Monday completed a busy meeting that included approval of the county’s FY2024 annual audit, action on multiple plats and contracts, adoption of election‑precinct adjustments, and a failed motion to grant a county property‑tax exemption for qualifying child‑care facilities.

Key outcomes at a glance:

- FY2024 annual audit approved: The court accepted the external auditors’ report and approved the fiscal year 2024 comprehensive annual financial report after auditors reported an unmodified (clean) opinion with “no findings or material weaknesses.” Court materials noted the Bell County Auditor’s Office earned the Government Finance Officers Association certificate for financial reporting for the 44th consecutive year.

- Consent agenda: The court approved the consent agenda with one departmental item (the public assistance subgrant item) pulled for separate consideration.

- FEMA subgrant for Little Elm Creek tabled: The item proposing acceptance of a Texas Department of Emergency Management public‑assistance subgrant for flood mitigation at Little Elm Creek and associated budget amendments was tabled until the court receives additional information and confirmation of an extension from TDEM/FEMA. County staff told the court the contractor costs are estimated (Sears contract $637,000 plus debris monitoring) and that reimbursement requires FEMA/TDEM approval; motion to table was made by Commissioner Reynolds and seconded by Commissioner Schneider.

- Precinct reconfiguration adopted: The court approved changes to a set of election precinct boundaries to comply with Texas Election Code provisions limiting precinct sizes. Staff told the court the change brings the county to 72 election precincts and does not reduce the number of polling locations (42 sites) below the statutory minimum.

- Plats: Several final plats were considered; the court tabled two plats that were missing required signatures and approved others, including Airedville Meadows (three‑lot, ~9.996‑acre subdivision in Precinct 3).

- Contract award for county annex: The court awarded CSP‑22‑25 (construction of a county annex) to Baird Williams Construction for $9,853,590, plus the negotiated concrete paving addition and a door deduct as discussed in the evaluation. Commissioners said the award represented best value after reviewing proposals and evaluations.

- Appointment: Melanie Kirchmeier was appointed to Bell County Emergency Services District No. 1 to serve an unexpired term through Dec. 31, 2026.

- Child‑care tax‑exemption vote failed: The court considered authorizing a 100% county property‑tax exemption for qualifying child‑care facilities (per Texas Tax Code §11.36 and related state rules). After discussion — including testimony from local child‑care providers — the motion failed 4–1. Presenters asked the court to reconsider in future sessions, noting the tax change could reduce operating pressure for licensed quality providers.

Why it matters: The audit approval confirms the county’s FY2024 financial statements and supports continued access to capital markets and transparency. The Chaparral Road funding item (considered separately at the meeting and covered in depth above) and the CSP contract award have direct budget and capital‑project implications. The failed exemption vote affects the county’s ability to extend tax relief to some child‑care operators; advocates said any help could support quality programs and retention of local slots for subsidized families.

What to watch next: Staff will return with more details on the FEMA/TDEM extension and the Little Elm Creek subgrant, final contract papers for the awarded construction contract and design/bid documents for the Chaparral Road project. Child‑care providers indicated they will continue to press for a local approach to provide relief or targeted support.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bell County Commissioner's Court\tApr 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commissioners approved the FY2024 audit and awarded a construction contract for a county building annex, adopted precinct boundary adjustments, handled multiple plats, tabled a FEMA subgrant question and voted down a county property‑tax exemption for qualifying childcare facilities.","taxTitle","Bell County, Texas","taxId",2687,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6260501,"Central Texas Food Bank launches Bell County needs assessment, finds 1 in 5 food insecure",903,949000,1852000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3130706-4f4e12efb4258b54339de450a024aab6&start=949&end=1852","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3130706-4f4e12efb4258b54339de450a024aab6/thumbnail_949000.jpg","/articles/6260501/Bell-County/Texas/Central-Texas-Food-Bank-launches-Bell-County-needs-assessment-finds-1-in-5-food-insecure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260501-6219690032cc5cb09f44c0fe5a6b171e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775091155&Signature=THqb48~dtAbmjhf-XpeXaK9aej0DmxSaG~uogjpNK6BSnq42RGl0TDMFn1SlvWKMbWdvS9DpJ4FV6X~OAOTwVLPQKRQ0HfSD6i2wBsplrjKDjPOA058~Ch~7qr2gbMQ6yYWijwjKDUur0ahQOq2yZndtUQ5I0R-yTVhM5YdEtUSjFHFbx3WiNvw9JM0h7KYezjEku84bbPnJWHOd1G5o7k-o7ZyWl4CiFvanjF3sHnubT8~WQNXnWwmJzsF4VQ~wvB-nWNcSHnrKQGhj6hDnlcKZFrRcT-c8wuHWJFeD8ldV30T6sTir8vkBkHR6nwGhr3YNtmWl2jqQ1G9ryGibAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Central Texas Food Bank representatives on Monday described the early results of a Bell County needs assessment they are conducting with local partners, reporting that roughly one in five Bell County residents are food insecure and that charitable food providers face gaps in access to fresh produce and service hours.

Tracy Earhart, vice president of research and strategic partnerships for Central Texas Food Bank, told the commissioners the food bank serves the region from a main warehouse and a new Waco facility and that in the bank’s 21‑county service area it moves large volumes of food (the presentation cited 74,000,000 pounds sourced last year) and serves tens of thousands weekly. “We serve about 93,000 people every single week,” Earhart said.

Initial scan findings presented to the court include:
- A 20% food‑insecurity rate in Bell County, which the presenters estimated equates to roughly 76,000 people.
- SNAP enrollment and disability rates higher than the Central Texas average in parts of Bell County.
- Agricultural land in Bell County is heavily weighted toward livestock; only about 0.3% of agricultural land is used for fruits and vegetables, and the county has few produce processors.
- A robust charitable network exists (the food bank identified 42 partner providers in Bell County) but access gaps remain: service hours are limited after 5 p.m. and on weekends, and west Bell County has sparser service than the east.

Earhart said the needs assessment emphasizes community voice as well as quantitative data. The process includes neighbor surveys, interviews and focus groups; the bank and partners expect to bring findings back to the community in late September or early October and publish a formal report by the end of the year.

Beth Corbett, the food bank’s vice president of government affairs and advocacy, outlined the federal policy context and how changes to federal commodity and SNAP programs affect local charitable networks. Corbett said federal commodity purchases and SNAP rules had recently changed and that shifts in federal support typically increase demand on local pantries when benefits fall.

Why it matters: The assessment is intended to inform local and regional decisions about food distributions, local processing and retail capacity, and investments that could reduce downstream reliance on charitable food assistance. Presenters emphasized partnerships with Fort Cavazos and local agencies; commissioners were invited to join stakeholder interviews and to suggest local questions for the research team.

Timeline and next steps: The food bank said the data‑collection and analysis phase is underway and the team will convene stakeholders to review findings in fall 2025, with a formal report by the end of 2025. Presenters asked for county engagement and flagged opportunities to use the assessment to guide investments in the local food economy.","Central Texas Food Bank briefed commissioners on an early-stage multi‑county food‑system needs assessment for Bell and Coryell counties, flagging a roughly 20% food‑insecurity rate in Bell County and gaps in fresh‑produce production and charitable service hours.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6260506,"Bell County approves $1.5 million to add turn lanes, design signals on Chaparral Road",4649,5332000,9981000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3130706-4f4e12efb4258b54339de450a024aab6&start=5332&end=9981","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3130706-4f4e12efb4258b54339de450a024aab6/thumbnail_5332000.jpg","/articles/6260506/Bell-County/Texas/Bell-County-approves-15-million-to-add-turn-lanes-design-signals-on-Chaparral-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260506-89cb91fd5d6fd32e281732697ce94485/orig.mp4?Expires=1775091155&Signature=A0AX5fcOkDPBKVrYLSVFC7a-80vhy3JKZNaRoM~Gv4iAGnKyD6tlSzUfBOcu-4sTtkmR3xnkSKq2lN2ud0vcEBRjY4vwsf8Ck~NsGvNd927WD7G4HBPJoAHP31yu7jmggLlStlUSOc~crOa3o~4tGMTGq65OTQichq84Ri6lm5enktU26TYOidrGELdSyFcLd8V3ydlbz6ynYhPtjmJ1DAePeLFntAsK3s15dILv7sTwoedIppYm33w1tv8Y0RlnZQyRfogYq9Qv38lpximhCgqqdmprsYXVhE6HLU~y0Coxrs~tjzTj8sNgg7OtZgfKG3rLnVOEwAoXxchkJYyn~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bell County Commissioners Court on Monday amended the county’s FY2024 capital improvement plan to include Chaparral Road improvements and approved funding of up to $1,500,000 from unallocated general‑fund reserves to advance design and initial construction work on the corridor.

The decision follows a lengthy public and commissioner discussion about the project’s scope, timing and best use of county crews versus contracted work. The court’s approved scope focuses on adding turn lanes in two trouble spots near Featherline and the high school and contracting for signal design; the final construction scope and schedule will be set after design.

Why it matters: Commissioners and residents said the stretch of Chaparral Road that serves two large schools and growing subdivisions is seeing increasing congestion and safety risk. Commissioners described the action as a near‑term intervention intended to reduce crash risk and improve traffic flow pending a longer, TxDOT‑led corridor project later in the decade.

The county’s engineering contractor, Colton Fisher of Freese and Nichols, told the court the engineering study shows the corridor currently operates at poor levels of service and that installing the proposed turn lanes and two coordinated traffic signals would improve the worst intersections to acceptable levels. “If we do all 5 of those proposed improvements, the intersections will be operating at a, b, and and possibly c,” Fisher said during the presentation, summarizing traffic‑model results.

Several commissioners urged a conservative, staged approach that preserves taxpayer money. Commissioners representing the two affected precincts said they intend to use county crews where feasible to widen shoulders and lay base mix so the work can be completed more quickly and at lower cost than a full reconstruction. Commissioner discussion repeatedly returned to the timing question: whether to wait for the larger Chaparral corridor project (a multi‑phase state project) or to build interim lanes and sleeves now so later work will not waste newly placed pavement.

The court amended a previously higher estimate and approved an allocation “not to exceed $1,500,000” to be drawn from the general fund unallocated reserve. The action passed 3–2.

What commissioners said and asked:
- Colton Fisher (Freese and Nichols) summarized the engineering options and recommended turn lanes at Featherline and at the high‑school T intersection plus signals at both locations to be timed together. He recommended building both signals together rather than one at a time to avoid making traffic worse on the other intersection. “Featherline is having most of the problems, and so installing the signal makes a massive difference,” he said.
- Commissioners debated whether to pay for full pavement sections now or to widen shoulders and place hot‑mix overlays that county crews can maintain until the longer corridor redesign is built. Several commissioners favored county crews building a matching pavement section to save money and permit a quicker summer construction window.
- Concerns raised included right‑of‑way, buried utilities that may require relocation, lead time for signal equipment and the need for signal timing/management once installed. Commissioners noted Killeen operates traffic signals in the adjacent city network and discussed a potential operation/maintenance arrangement with the city.

Next steps: The court directed staff to proceed with design work and staging and to use county forces for base and paving where feasible; final construction contracts and schedules will follow completion of more detailed design and bidding. Commissioners said they expect to return with design contracts and firm scope/bid packages for the work.

Ending note: The court emphasized the decision as an interim safety and capacity measure ahead of a longer state‑led Chaparral project; the $1.5 million allocation is intended to fund design and targeted construction so the county can improve safety before the larger corridor is built.","After hours of discussion about timing, right‑of‑way and budgets, the court amended the Chaparral Road capital project and approved up to $1,500,000 from unallocated general‑fund reserves to advance turn‑lane work and design traffic signals along the corridor.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bell County roundup: audit approved, plat actions, contract award; childcare tax‑exemption fails

Central Texas Food Bank launches Bell County needs assessment, finds 1 in 5 food insecure

Bell County approves $1.5 million to add turn lanes, design signals on Chaparral Road