Kendall County commissioners approve routine agenda items, conservation easements and grant applications; adopt purchasing policy

Kendall County Commissioners on March 25 approved a slate of routine financial and policy items, authorized two conservation‑easement transactions funded by Proposition A, adopted a new county purchasing policy and approved multiple grant actions.

Votes at a glance (actions approved by the court) - Proclaim April 6–12, 2025, as National Crime Victims Rights Week in Kendall County. Motion by County Judge Shane Stolarzak; seconded by Commissioner Chapman. Vote: 5–0. - Approve consent‑agenda items including minutes, monthly financial reports and routine departmental reports. Motion by Commissioner Chapman; second by Commissioner Carpenter. Vote: 5–0. - Approve accounts payable claims in the amount of $2,029,973.61. Motion by Commissioner Wiesgen; second by Commissioner McCall. Vote: 5–0. - Extend emergency disaster declaration and countywide burn ban (see separate article). Motion by County Judge Shane Stolarzak; seconded by Commissioner Wiesgen. Vote: 5–0. - Authorize the county to host a Texas Association of Counties (TAC) Regional Risk Management Pool workshop on Sept. 25, 2025, at Ring Mountain Event Center and waive associated vendor fees. Motion by Judge Stolarzak; seconded by Commissioner McCall. Vote: 5–0. - Approve renewal of county property insurance through the TAC Risk Management Pool (policy year beginning July 1). Motion by Judge Stolarzak; seconded by Commissioner Wiesgen. Vote: 5–0. - Adopt a written county purchasing policy to implement the purchasing agent’s duties under the Texas Local Government Code (purchasing agent to circulate forms and require employee acknowledgement). Motion by Judge Stolarzak; seconded by Commissioner Chapman. Vote: 5–0. - Appoint a two‑commissioner committee (Commissioners Wiesgen and Carpenter) to revise the court’s rules, procedures and decorum document with general counsel. Motion by Commissioner Wiesgen; seconded by Commissioner Carpenter. Vote: 5–0. - Authorize the county to pursue purchase (i.e., acquisition of a conservation easement) on 625 State Highway 46 East, Boerne (26.84 acres); owner will donate the value of the easement and the county’s obligation is limited to closing costs not to exceed $75,000. Motion by Judge Stolarzak (discretionary procurement exemption under Local Government Code §262.024); seconded by Commissioner Wiesgen. Vote: 5–0. - Authorize the county to pursue purchase (conservation easement) on 3335 State Highway 46 West, Boerne (120 acres); owner will donate the value of the easement and county obligations limited to closing costs not to exceed $75,000. Motion by Judge Stolarzak (procurement exemption cited); seconded by Commissioner Wiesgen. Vote: 5–0. - Approve submission of a Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant application for EMS radios and related equipment (requested award: $25,743). Motion by Judge Stolarzak; seconded by Commissioner Chapman. Vote: 5–0. - Approve a letter of permission for Saint John Lutheran Church to sell beer and wine at the Kendall County Youth Agricultural & Equestrian Center during the Wild Game Dinner on April 26, 2025; servers must follow TABC rules. Motion by Commissioner Wiesgen; seconded by Commissioner Carpenter. Vote: 5–0.

Executive‑session action (recorded on return to open session) - The court approved a stipend distribution plan for volunteer fire departments that had been budgeted in FY2025. The court reported allocations (described by commissioners) that include Comfort and Bergheim receiving $15,000 each for stipend disbursement to volunteers; Boerne volunteer allocation described at $5,000; other departments (Alamo Springs, Sisterdale, Waring and Kendall‑area departments listed in court) identified for $10,000 each. The court also approved Sisterdale Volunteer Fire Department’s stipend policy (motion carried by the three‑member quorum attending from open session after training absences). The court directed legal staff to receive and approve each department’s written stipend policy before disbursing quarterly payments.

Public comment and transparency concerns - During public comment Michael Ethridge raised process and transparency concerns about the Proposition A committee that is evaluating land purchases and conservation easements. He told the court he could not find public minutes or a clear membership record for the committee in the county minutes and urged greater public reporting; he also argued county tax dollars should not be used to acquire private conservation easements where the public will not have access. Ethridge said he found that some easements with the Cibolo Conservancy were not listed on the national conservation‑easement database and urged the court to seek greater transparency if it places public funds under an outside land trust.

Context and what’s next - The two conservation easements approved at the meeting were described by staff as donations of easement value by the landowners; county participation was limited to closing‑cost support (not purchase of the fee interest). The court noted that titles and deed records confirm easement filings at closing; staff said title companies will confirm any prior encumbrances before recording. The court asked staff to add the name of the land trust that will hold any given easement in future agenda paperwork to improve public clarity.

Why this matters: The purchases and policy adoptions shape how Kendall County will spend Proposition A bond funds for open‑space and park purchases and how county procurement and risk management will operate going forward. The grant applications and insurance renewals affect public‑safety and county infrastructure budgets and operations.