[{"_1":2,"_135":-5,"_136":-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",[32,75,87,99,111,123],{"_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",6531638,"mediaKeyId","3516088-cd6dd96df46f6b0220e9a8f5d632379e","parentId",3516088,"title","Votes at a glance: Lavaca County Commissioners Court — May 27, 2025","audioSeconds",6643,"startMs",450000,"endMs",7093000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3516088-cd6dd96df46f6b0220e9a8f5d632379e&start=450&end=7093","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3516088-cd6dd96df46f6b0220e9a8f5d632379e/thumbnail_450000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6531638/Lavaca-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Lavaca-County-Commissioners-Court-May-27-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531638-c2440dbe5bf3246d6c208f7ac57ca817/orig.mp4?Expires=1770733084&Signature=BpWxrGp0wjRE12AdD0JaUSkFEzSueiXW9ib1Bu3RcEz~Hho9BTirUvckGTUxKZ9Xtv-Ez67ezUxsGalLzv4FvQpslbLl-uPoIU9VXhY9bmg9~Do9jRYsJPKPJn3ezQXod6a2pR-CW~TncLAeudx84X176rMHsP4t7qUrfPpvQjLbeNOn2RszLVlLvtOI5G6Ipds61Ha~JLb1meqpX2abdq5TmBPtBVcQxm9NuTqTsFT2Ye38~wwVo6mXWPgbySXna5GazNZ3eBNwvask2J1ybiQsHfnGSRkfkgcKB6L4HTCuEQnJdNykIwsQPkRruHB9Ky2qad~7ymEVpIuSDyDPNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lavaca County","date","2025-05-27T14:53:53Z","article","This is a compact summary of formal actions taken by the Lavaca County Commissioners Court at its May 27, 2025 regular meeting. Where a specific mover or seconder was recorded in the transcript the entry records the precinct; where no personal name was recorded the court’s precinct labels are used. If numeric details were not specified in the transcript the record shows \"not specified.\" All items below reflect the recorded motion and outcome as taken on the public record.

- Designate representative to calculate the 2025 no-new-revenue tax rate and 2025 voter-approval tax rate. Motion to appoint Debbie A. Sebshek (Tax Assessor) passed (motion: Precinct 4; second: Precinct 3).

- Award and rebid concrete-and-labor bids. Court accepted specified awards to bidder 1791 (JRC Concrete) for listed county roads and rejected other bids for rebid due to price disparity (motion: Precinct 1; second: Precinct 2).

- Boiler replacement bid (courthouse HVAC): Motion to table pending additional information and review (motion revised to table by County Judge; second: Precinct 1). Outcome: TABLED.

- Proclamation: KJZT Family Life Society — declare June 14, 2025 National Flag Day. Motion passed (motion: Precinct 4; second: Precinct 3).

- Acknowledgment: Governor Greg Abbott’s renewed disaster proclamation concerning border security. Motion passed (motion: Precinct 2; second: Precinct 1).

- Acknowledgment: Governor Greg Abbott’s renewed disaster proclamation concerning serious drought conditions. Motion passed (motion: Precinct 3; second: Precinct 4).

- Authorize filing an application to claim unclaimed capital credits from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Motion to apply passed (motion: Precinct 3; second: Precinct 4).

- Declare two filing cabinets surplus property for the County Clerk’s Office. Motion passed (motion: Precinct 2; second: Precinct 1).

- Approve meter services/equipment rental agreement between Pitney Bowes and the County District Clerk’s Office. Motion passed (motion: Precinct 4; second: Precinct 3).

- Approve contract with Guardian RFID for electronic inmate check system at the county jail (one-year trial with 60‑day termination; first year funded from commissary funds). Motion passed (motion: Precinct 4; second: Precinct 3).

- Maintain current county representatives to Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission Board of Directors (Judge Keith Mudd and Wayne Faircloth). Motion passed (motion: Precinct 4; second: Precinct 3).

- Reininger Family Living Trust subdivision exemption: Approved conditioned on incorporation of Appendix I language disclaiming county maintenance and final attorney review before recordation (motion: Precinct 1; second: Precinct 2).

- Dennis Berger Jr. subdivision exemption (Precinct 3): Motion to table pending county attorney review. Outcome: TABLED (motion: Precinct 3; second: Precinct 4).

- Consent agenda: Court moved into and approved the consent agenda as read; items within consent were approved en bloc.

Ending: The court adjourned at the end of the session and set its next regular meeting for June 9, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 27, 2025 Regular Called Meeting Lavaca County, Texas Commissioners Court","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal votes, approvals and tablings from the Lavaca County Commissioners Court meeting on May 27, 2025.","taxTitle","Lavaca County, Texas","taxId",69547,"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},6531642,"Commissioners report new paving tests, seek public help after sealcoat damage",176,6600000,6776000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3516088-cd6dd96df46f6b0220e9a8f5d632379e&start=6600&end=6776","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3516088-cd6dd96df46f6b0220e9a8f5d632379e/thumbnail_6600000.jpg","/articles/6531642/Lavaca-County/Texas/Commissioners-report-new-paving-tests-seek-public-help-after-sealcoat-damage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531642-e8c2489a8356ba9e62068abfca2c5691/orig.mp4?Expires=1770733084&Signature=gIOdBWuPZzhvTTxFY7pJcuOZHAjn2XLzvYIKPyc7PFDfD-As1MV9xztoFdKzMQ8JYv-zWU49x7wRHjt3v4-cZaA7teBUgpUXJbuU87sQCs-oOVp-lMRn6PE3i9IvcOsfUQFK9R4yM42QCAS20FZE8ugg5J1TeBZ5ZAUrB2E7CaSAoUh-Hij7llXWsAXkmY9qZTFisvMa~5qRGBIv89iOKM06or-Lygo-bA2VLDyiPrFDD9NGtgdRgWYffT4QKOnqu2xCmvN9TjrQSZ5uKl7jOw21N6I1wonUXa2z6PBdXQOcNveGNt78sow0VNhVMMCogf1rkMCJtOZmRHTJCqp1LQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lavaca County Commissioners Court discussed progress on a new road-sealing program and asked residents for help identifying motorists who damaged a recently sealed stretch of County Road 198.

County staff reported the county tested newly acquired paving equipment and sealed three miles of County Road 198. Within days, drivers damaged the new sealcoat: on the first run, the county observed three break-throughs; additional incidents occurred after subsequent passes. Commissioners said the damage is difficult to police without license-plate evidence or eyewitnesses; the county has some fixed surveillance cameras but cannot cover every location.

Why it matters: Commissioners said frequent damage to recently completed resurfacing raises costs and undermines pavement longevity. The court urged the public to report incidents directly to sheriff’s dispatch at (361) 798-2121 rather than calling commissioners, because dispatch can mobilize enforcement faster.

Other operational notes: Commissioners discussed machine scheduling and coordination among precincts so the paving unit can be shared without disputes. The road department said they are documenting each incidence and repair cost.

Ending: Commissioners asked community members to report suspected damage and truck traffic that tears up county roads to the sheriff’s office so the county can investigate and potentially recover repair costs.","After sealing three miles of County Road 198, county crews reported vehicles breaking through the new surface; commissioners asked the public to report damage and trucking activity to the sheriff’s office.",{"_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},6531647,"Commissioners approve electronic inmate-check system for county jail; first-year cost covered by commissary funds",247,2076000,2323000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3516088-cd6dd96df46f6b0220e9a8f5d632379e&start=2076&end=2323","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3516088-cd6dd96df46f6b0220e9a8f5d632379e/thumbnail_2076000.jpg","/articles/6531647/Lavaca-County/Texas/Commissioners-approve-electronic-inmate-check-system-for-county-jail-first-year-cost-covered-by-commissary-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531647-c8a6c88ce102d473a5242756f7551b93/orig.mp4?Expires=1770733084&Signature=G8BUbj2Ob9CYRhRqdO4-QXUGYjEw6JRa-EwAA2ERjpGFHfxIgRu9E1KWJr0Du6A0oeFNYw-BbxIXnP7dph5ChG8kzAHxbrI882mCFUtl4EXRCLUe12EbhRQU7PjtC0uvPMhFpciXlvFrXAxCpHyCsmsxF4clMjRYZp55Emv2LUobY9gu-MjSEkiqMODnXo9b7WiF-92PTC-9gJf61Z5QG724S6aSCz~ujNYOmq7TbNjON8WvpS035lTycus1wMlNcqIw42i9Tcz7-rm-QAAF80AW9op4jdwsYET6Tq3~wemkNmDY76dwQ3Q6cQV217Z3f4IZ-FA3nfnh1g70VMH6Sw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lavaca County Commissioners Court approved a contract May 27 with Guardian RFID to install an electronic inmate check system at the county jail, a move county officials said will increase record accuracy, officer safety and regulatory compliance.

The county’s jail leadership, including the jail administrator, presented the system as a replacement for manual logbooks and head-count records that are vulnerable to error and delay. The handheld system records officer ID, time and location for checks, can generate real-time alerts when required checks are missed, and includes panic/duress features for officer safety.

Funding and contract terms: County representatives said start-up costs for the first year will be paid from inmate commissary funds so the initial purchase will not require general-fund dollars. The recorded first-year cost in the presentation was $4,294.70, with subsequent annual costs noted at $3,995 per year if the court elects to continue. The court approved a one-year agreement with a 60-day termination window to allow local evaluation before committing to a longer-term arrangement; after successful evaluation, the vendor proposed a five-year term at the stated renewal price.

Court action: The motion to approve the contract was made and seconded on the record; the court voted to approve the procurement. County staff said they worked with the auditor and county attorney during vendor selection and recommended the product as the best available option.

Ending: Installation and a one-year evaluation period will proceed. Staff will report back on system performance and whether the county should continue under the proposed five-year term.","Court approved a contract with Guardian RFID for an electronic inmate check system to digitize head counts and staff checks; first-year cost $4,294.70 funded from inmate commissary funds and a one-year trial with a 60-day termination window was approved.",{"_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},6531652,"County approves Reininger subdivision exemption with condition that roads remain private",413,3463000,3876000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3516088-cd6dd96df46f6b0220e9a8f5d632379e&start=3463&end=3876","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3516088-cd6dd96df46f6b0220e9a8f5d632379e/thumbnail_3463000.jpg","/articles/6531652/Lavaca-County/Texas/County-approves-Reininger-subdivision-exemption-with-condition-that-roads-remain-private","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531652-c52dca6aff2681cbe14f4bc8d64e2bda/orig.mp4?Expires=1770733084&Signature=kLJ2oC9E92Q6yrKmrnUXrkBE00y9-e~FHquc2SC2jlh36wivgJf5vt8~1iQ864av33sCxe0J0vf2lMvx9gMZdqlBdqQfCC1CBFiR7-LC6zBcX8zJwArcSau-786rUJN74ooiavT-GcwbGckGzqefLNdBrLYsIb7uuKKupCD2Pa1VkZoBZk84UcnFxEWLS5MRYnw9-jUToBw1bhhnvmL9ASUExC2mZtScZgIR6z~OGOxhmr0sUs~ZLCqa8~VkU5IV6W-0AHGWZuuYt7IxcpXdmX6n28Q~OML5I-K~9z8Roz20LT5QG9fN96gcickIZCGpiLBNw0h5H1sCG9VvDaAK0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lavaca County Commissioners Court on May 27 approved a certificate of exemption for the Reininger Family Living Trust subdivision, conditioned on incorporating specific language from the county’s subdivision regulations (Appendix I) into the road dedication instrument to confirm that roads will remain private and that the county will not assume maintenance responsibility.

Assistant County Attorney Forrest Crischell advised the court that, on the facts before the county, the proposed road easement did not meet common-law tests for a public road. Crischell reviewed relevant legal considerations, including common-law precedent and the statutory exemption provision the county uses (Local Government Code §232.0015). He recommended the court strike a provision in the submitted dedication instrument that read in effect that roads would remain private “unless all owners in the Lavaca County Commissioner’s Court agree otherwise.” Instead, Crischell recommended inserting language from Appendix I of the Lavaca County Subdivision Regulations that explicitly states roads “are private roads and shall remain the property of the owner, subdivider, developer, and or subsequent owners of the property” and that maintenance will be the responsibility of the owner/developer.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the change is intended to protect the county from future political or financial pressure to assume maintenance for private roads after development has occurred. County staff and attorneys flagged potential downstream issues including drainage, floodplain considerations on adjoining tracts, third-party access by a neighboring landowner (identified in court as Mr. Ragusa), and implied expectations created when private roads serve multiple parcels.

Applicant response: Attorney Jesse Allen and a representative for the applicant (referred to in the record as Ms. Yost) participated in the discussion and submitted revised road-use documents. The court said the revisions and proposed wording were acceptable in principle but asked that county and applicant counsel finalize the exact language. The court approved the exemption conditioned on final attorney review and insertion of Appendix I language into the dedication instrument.

Action and next steps: The court’s motion (made and seconded on the record) approved the Reininger Family Living Trust subdivision exemption subject to adding Appendix I language and subject to final review and signature by county and applicant counsel. Staff will prepare the final dedication instrument incorporating the agreed language and return it for execution.

Ending: With the county’s conditions in place, the court moved to approve the exemption; attorneys for both sides will finalize the instrument before it is recorded.","After executive session and legal review, Lavaca County approved a certificate of exemption for Reininger Family Living Trust conditioned on inserting Appendix I language to keep roads private and disclaim future county maintenance.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531658,"Courthouse boiler replacement bid tabled while county seeks more details",374,1172000,1546000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3516088-cd6dd96df46f6b0220e9a8f5d632379e&start=1172&end=1546","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3516088-cd6dd96df46f6b0220e9a8f5d632379e/thumbnail_1172000.jpg","/articles/6531658/Lavaca-County/Texas/Courthouse-boiler-replacement-bid-tabled-while-county-seeks-more-details","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531658-f1ff0fcbbe5c30d5b54919cc67cc594f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770733084&Signature=XslK2W4SYjVV1v-5xxyTmFyvE5lDV9UWaYTSFy6wg~nJjkjJqgMrxVUBDBysWJiFnPbluX2cHtDkXGCfOHoWXtU2UAgAnxTyXweXOGg2qwid8-lAiKz1DLd-qq5uossjjCtPqc6PIrTfYCS7D32fPPmQBT8A03sxJjE~efLxOQKM1O7J7Lt4HD74a2WCwGdOtXvcpkfyZqTkSAoFx8EG~1jgvMPsOaU0~BsmhiY8TG394eAh-z1Mukb4lvepOyNJ0gAazfl8idj6otB1aIfjOoYa21xVe6~vDEiK-WkmxYzcu6aDSeTdfDL6RPPKbd32o1psYDgMLmCPZTaigoMKbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lavaca County Commissioners Court tabled action May 27 on a bid to replace the courthouse boiler after members questioned a price increase, surcharge language, warranty terms and whether the contractor had equipment in stock.

Why it matters: The boiler is part of the courthouse heating and cooling system and commissioners said repeated repairs over many years have cost the county substantially. Commissioners directed staff to gather more information before taking further action.

What commissioners heard: The county received an initial, informal estimate from a vendor (Dalton Steaming Controls) and later a formal bid of $59,500, roughly $9,500 higher than the earlier figure. The bid document included a nonnegotiable surcharge clause tied to tariff increases and other charges “beyond our knowledge or control,” language the court said needed clarification. Commissioners also asked whether the vendor had equipment in stock and raised warranty questions about the work and parts.

Additional requests and context: The judge asked the auditor to prepare a report on how much the county has spent on HVAC repairs over the past five years; commissioners estimated cumulative costs may exceed $100,000. Commissioners asked staff to expand the bidder pool and consider statewide vendors and to bring additional procurement documentation back for court review. The court amended the original motion (which sought rejection) and instead tabled the item pending further information and legal review.

Ending: The court voted to table the boiler replacement bid and directed staff and counsel to gather additional pricing, warranty and sourcing information before reissuing or awarding the contract.","Commissioners postponed action on a $59,500 boiler replacement bid after questioning price increases, tariff surcharge language, warranty and equipment availability; staff to research past HVAC expenditures and vendor sourcing.",{"_33":124,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":125,"_41":126,"_43":127,"_45":128,"_47":129,"_49":130,"_51":131,"_53":132,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":133,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":134,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531662,"Lavaca County accepts select concrete bids, orders rebids where prices diverged",530,500000,1030000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3516088-cd6dd96df46f6b0220e9a8f5d632379e&start=500&end=1030","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3516088-cd6dd96df46f6b0220e9a8f5d632379e/thumbnail_500000.jpg","/articles/6531662/Lavaca-County/Texas/Lavaca-County-accepts-select-concrete-bids-orders-rebids-where-prices-diverged","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531662-a1b2d833071d246bcedd5abc23b8e456/orig.mp4?Expires=1770733084&Signature=Bm~i6UVvAmjC6maBTha7pOQDYNqyz6kv9u8hkwmkJdTwHy5zNtEtFfkHsOiOqNDQjFQSszEKzkFUoeGQOptsl0B5dzPdgWYJaIefkyCMDQazrLLLVpyxGoO198GDYJoYoZyEUcR2sQAjlKZmRCJAy-WgkDK5klV2h3xabRXjsJahrH5ZKvwkE9UwE33aplqtHeUqkSkQMvL2-gVPUryX42SH8O3Aq80ur8ijUwoDxUExs2xvSUuY97UdjQ70aqiqxo6L0oFSw2djVdPMofIigwJEz7jm1LmM-rFnryGUV8lO7Pne9Vr6mqz4oqpDlJIRrYon-YqeB3COJI4fwDIniA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lavaca County Commissioners Court voted May 27 to accept several concrete-and-labor bids from JRC Concrete (bidder 1791) for specific county roads and to reject and rebid other road bids where prices varied widely and specifications were unclear.

County leaders said the county received uneven responses to a recent solicitation for concrete and labor: several road items produced bids that were not comparable because the county lacked engineering drawings and consistent specifications. The court accepted seven individual bids from bidder 1791 for a mix of Precinct 1 and Precinct 2 roads and directed staff to rebid the remaining road segments with better-defined specifications.

Why it matters: Commissioners said inconsistent bids pose a fiscal risk if low bids reflect different scopes of work than higher bids. The court opted to accept only bids it judged consistent and to rebid the rest after clarifying scope and arranging on-site contractor walk-throughs so bids will be more comparable.

Details: In the motion approved by the court, the following awards to JRC Concrete (bid number 1791) were accepted: Precinct 1 — County Road 1680 for $14,935; Precinct 2 — County Road 291 for $9,012.50, County Road 2904 for $5,407.50, County Road 271 for $9,012.50, County Road 2503 for $10,560.50, County Road 219 for $4,635, County Road 221 for $4,635, and County Road 223 for $4,635. Commissioners also specified that other bids with “too large a gap” between low and high prices be rejected and the county would re-advertise those segments.

Court discussion emphasized the absence of an engineer-prepared specification package. Commissioners said that without drawings and clear specs, bidders are effectively making different assumptions about what work is required; that divergence produced discrepancies of many thousands of dollars on the same item. One commissioner cited a $21,500 disparity on a given set of bids as the principal reason to rebid.

Next steps: Staff will prepare revised bid documents, schedule on-site contractor walkthroughs, and return recommended timelines and documentation to a future court session for formal rebid and award.

Ending: The motion was made and seconded on the record; the court voted to accept the enumerated JRC Concrete awards and to rebid remaining items. The court did not set specific rebid dates at the meeting; staff will prepare and return a timeline for the rebid process.","Commissioners approved multiple concrete-and-labor contracts to JRC Concrete for specified county roads and directed rebids on several other road projects after finding wide price discrepancies and no engineering specifications.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Lavaca County Commissioners Court — May 27, 2025

Commissioners report new paving tests, seek public help after sealcoat damage

Commissioners approve electronic inmate-check system for county jail; first-year cost covered by commissary funds

County approves Reininger subdivision exemption with condition that roads remain private

Courthouse boiler replacement bid tabled while county seeks more details

Lavaca County accepts select concrete bids, orders rebids where prices diverged