Freestone County accepts cybersecurity compliance certificate; reviews hiring and election logistics, tables handbook revision

A county staff member told the Freestone County commissioners the county has submitted a cybersecurity compliance certificate to the state and that required training through the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) and the state Secretary’s office had been completed or scheduled.

The staff member said the county submitted the compliance certificate for completion of Freestone County cybersecurity requirements and noted that TAC cybersecurity training had been taken. The staff member said the state-required training through the Secretary’s office must be completed by Sept. 1 for relevant personnel. A motion to accept the compliance certificate was made, seconded and, according to the meeting record, taken to a vote; the transcript records the motion, a second and the vote process, but not a roll-call tally. The meeting record indicates the acceptance motion proceeded.

Commissioners also discussed internal hiring and vacancy-posting procedures. Staff described a common procedure used by several counties that announces vacant positions to the public and employees, with vacancies posted for three business days and applications accepted from county employees only during that period to allow internal consideration before external recruitment. The court agreed to review existing language and said staff would check the policy wording to ensure current practice was reflected.

Early-voting logistics for an upcoming election were raised; a constable asked that early-vote and election-day operations be held at the Civic Center rather than First Baptist Church and staff said they would confirm whether locations such as the fire station or Wortham Community Center should be used and update profiles accordingly.

County officials discussed mobile-device security and inventories in light of evolving cybersecurity threats. The staff member referenced a Texas Department of Information Resources tip and said the county will review its inventory of mobile devices, encourage use of secure networks and consider additional training or awareness efforts to remain more than minimally compliant.

Finally, the court discussed a revision from TAC to the county handbook. A commissioner asked to table the handbook revision for additional review; the transcript records a motion and a second to table the handbook update.

The transcript records motions and seconds for the compliance-certificate acceptance and for tabling the handbook revision but does not include detailed roll-call vote tallies in the available excerpt.