Atascosa County commissioners approve proclamations, order special elections and clear grants, permits and personnel actions

Atascosa County Commissioners Court on Feb. 25, 2025 adopted two proclamations, ordered special elections related to emergency service districts, accepted a presentation for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant project for the county’s water treatment system and approved a series of personnel, permitting and development items.

The court unanimously approved a proclamation designating Feb. 25, 2025 as Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month after a presentation by Andrea Rathmell of Safer Path Family Violence Shelter. Rathmell told the court that work with youth uses the Safe Dates curriculum and cited a statistic used in her presentation: “80 percent of girls continue to date their dating partner after being physically abused,” which she said underscores the need for early education and prevention.

The court also approved a proclamation recognizing Career and Technical Education Month after remarks from Sarah Evans, career and technical education coordinator at Pleasanton High School. Evans said over 90 percent of Pleasanton High students are enrolled in a CTE pathway and described the school’s 13 CTE pathways and student organizations that provide work‑based learning and certifications.

On elections and district matters, the court ordered a special election to be held May 3, 2025, on a proposition to annex the Rossville area into Atascosa County Emergency Services District No. 1 and to authorize the new district tax rate up to the limit described in Section 48(e), Article III of the Texas Constitution (health and safety code authority was also cited). The court separately ordered a May 3 election on the creation of Atascosa County Emergency Services District No. 2; both orders were made and carried by motion.

County staff presented the county’s HUD Section 3 compliance plan for a TxCDBG grant (CDV‑23‑0227) awarding $500,000 for work at the county water treatment plant at 3430 County Road 407. The project scope, as described in the presentation, includes a 100,000‑gallon storage tank, cooling tower, filter pumps, piping, electrical work and related components. The county’s grant administrator (Langford) will track Section 3 business and worker participation and post registration information for targeted low‑income area residents; the court accepted the presentation and directed that the materials be entered into the minutes.

On procurement and IT, the court heard a $106,051.92 quote from Liftoff LLC to transfer Microsoft licensing from SHI to Liftoff. Commissioners asked procurement and the county attorney to verify whether competitive solicitation was required; the item was tabled to allow staff to complete procurement review.

The court approved a number of development and public‑works items: final plats for Trinity Acres and Somerset Valley and a final plat for Somerset Estates (all in Precinct 2) were approved; a plat land swap (Merrill Gomez preliminary plat) was approved; a SAWS street permit on Stacy Road was approved with a repave condition; and temporary water‑line permits for EOG on County Road 413 were approved in two separate motions. The Auditor reported a vehicle trade‑in: a 2016 Hamm pneumatic roller (trade value $13,725) toward a 2020 Volvo pneumatic compactor priced at $63,175 (net $49,450 after trade‑in) on the Texas BuyBoard contract; that purchase was approved.

Personnel actions approved included multiple promotions and pay adjustments in the sheriff’s office and jail (several corrections officers and deputies moved to higher tiers with specified hourly pay and uniform allowances); approval to begin the hiring process for a recommended HR director candidate following executive session; approval of new hires in elections and other county offices; and an update to the county personal‑leave policy to clarify equitable distribution across 8‑, 12‑ and 24‑hour shifts (effective Jan. 1, 2025). The court also accepted the sheriff’s 2024 racial profiling report for the department into the minutes.

Other administrative approvals included annual enrollment in the state‑mandated cybersecurity awareness training (fee: $5 per user) and an ESRI software renewal for county rural development from 3/5/2025–3/4/2026 in the amount of $4,618.39.

Votes at a glance: Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month proclamation — motion by Commissioner Gillespie, second Commissioner Riley; carried. CTE Month proclamation — motion by Commissioner Gillespie, second Commissioner Pavelic; carried. Order of election to annex Rossville to ESD No. 1 (May 3, 2025) — motion by Commissioner Riley, second Commissioner Bowen; carried. Order of election to create Atascosa County ESD No. 2 (May 3, 2025) — motion by Commissioner Gillespie, second Commissioner Pavelic; carried. HUD TxCDBG CDV‑23‑0227 presentation and Section 3 plan acceptance — motion by Commissioner Gillespie, second Commissioner Pavelic; carried. Liftoff Microsoft licensing quote ($106,051.92) — tabled on motion by Commissioner Mason, second Commissioner Bowen. Equipment trade (Hamm roller for Volvo compactor, net $49,450) — motion by Commissioner Riley, second Commissioner Gillespie; carried. Multiple personnel promotions and hires — motions made and seconded as recorded in the minutes; carried. Modular building donation/sale to rural health for $10 — motion by Commissioner Gillespie, second Commissioner Bowen; carried. ESRI renewal ($4,618.39) — motion carried.

The court recessed into executive session under Texas Government Code sections 551.071 (consultation with attorney), 551.074 (personnel) and 551.072 (deliberation regarding real property). On return, the court authorized the HR director committee chair to begin the hiring process for the recommended HR director candidate and approved disposition of two county properties per the closed‑session discussion. The court set its next regular meeting date as noted in the minutes.