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Votes at a glance: Bell County Commissioners Court, March 10, 2025
Summary
A summary of motions and outcomes from the Bell County Commissioners Court meeting on March 10, 2025, including plats, interlocal agreements for inmate housing, US Army Corps contracts for park patrols, a burn ban extension and an architecture contract for the Temple Annex.
The Bell County Commissioners Court took votes on multiple routine and substantive items during its March 10 meeting. This roundup lists each motion, who moved and seconded it when recorded, and the outcome.
Key results at a glance
- Consent agenda: Approved (Motion: Commissioner Woodson; Second: Commissioner Schneider). Routine items included minutes, budget amendments and departmental submissions.
- Final plat, Moffett Water Supply addition (2 acres, 1 lot): Tabled for setback clarification (Motion to table: Commissioner Reynolds; Second: Commissioner Woodson). The county engineer reported a 15-foot building setback on the plat; commissioners requested a 25-foot setback per subdivision regulations and asked staff to return with corrections.
- Final plat, Winkler Plot (1.29 acres, 1 lot): Approved (Motion: Commissioner Reynolds; Second: Commissioner Woodson). County engineer reported required utility and right-of-way dedications; not in FEMA floodplain.
- Final plat, Mockingbird Acres (67.669 acres, 14 lots): Tabled (Motion to table: Commissioner Snyder; Second: Commissioner Reynolds). Commissioners and staff flagged a needed 40-mph curve design and driveway/access coordination with TxDOT on Highway 53.
- Replat, Sherwood Shores Phase 8 (0.2386 acres, combine two lots into one): Approved with variance to setback requirements (Motion: Commissioner Snyder; Second: Commissioner Woodson). Commissioners granted variances after staff said many existing lots in that subdivision encroach on the standard setbacks.
- Terminate Burnet County guaranteed-bed inmate housing agreement and ratify county judge's termination: Ratified (Motion: Commissioner Whitson; Second: Commissioner Snyder). County staff said the prior 96-bed guaranteed contract was terminated after local jail capacity improved; the action was taken to stop paying for unused guaranteed beds.
- Interlocal agreement with Vernon County for inmate housing (as needed): Approved at $80 per inmate per day (Motion: Commissioner Woodson; Second: Commissioner Reynolds). County staff said the $80/day rate was comparable to other as-needed housing agreements.
- FY2025 law enforcement contract and amendment with US Army Corps of Engineers for Stillhouse Lake Recreation Areas (May 17'Sept. 7, 2025): Approved (Motion: Commissioner Woodson; Second: Commissioner Schneider). The package covers deputy patrols at multiple Corps-managed parks and facilities at Stillhouse Lake.
- FY2025 law enforcement contract and amendment with US Army Corps of Engineers for Belton Lake Recreation Areas (May 4'Sept. 20, 2025): Approved (Motion: Commissioner Schneider; Second: Commissioner Woodson). The contract covers deputy patrol at Corps-managed areas at Belton Lake.
- Use of DA vacancy funds to add one assistant district attorney (midyear): Approved (Motion: Commissioner Woodson; Second: Commissioner Snyder). Annualized cost presented in meeting at approximately $142,701; DA reported available vacancy funds to pay remainder of FY2025.
- District attorney requested additional investigator (group 3-14 step 08): Approved (Motion: Commissioner Woodson; Second: Commissioner Schneider). Annualized investigator cost presented in meeting (approx. $101,633); DA reported vacancy funds to cover midyear hire.
- Extension of outdoor burning restriction (burn ban): Extended through 10:00 a.m. April 7, 2025 (Motion to extend: Commissioner Snyder; Second: Commissioner Reynolds). Fire marshal and emergency management staff recommended extension due to dry, windy conditions and continued grass fires.
- Cancel contract with Neal Architecture Group and enter contract with Garcia Architects for design of Temple Annex (not to exceed $332,000): Approved (Motion: Commissioner Snyder; Second: Commissioner Reynolds). Staff said Garcia Architects is the same firm under a new name/EIN and the fee increased from about $300,000 to $332,000.
- Closed session (Tex. Gov. Code '51.076): Commissioners met in closed session on security deployment issues; no action taken in open session following the closed meeting.
Votes noted above were taken as recorded in the meeting transcript; in many cases the court used a voice vote with commissioners saying "aye," and the transcript does not record numbered roll-call tallies for every item.
