Court approves audits, contracts and ARPA reallocations; sets public hearing and accepts vessel turn-in partnership

The Chambers County Commissioners Court handled a series of routine and programmatic actions, including acceptance of audit reports, contract awards, ARPA reallocations, and an interagency vessel turn-in program.

Votes at a glance (actions recorded during the meeting): - Sheriff’s office audit reports (2023 and 2024): Motion to receive and file the sheriff’s office audit and press fund audit reports carried by voice vote. (Agenda item 2.1) - Public hearing set for welfare plan: The court set a public hearing on April 22, 2025 at 10 a.m. for "Chambers County's welfare plan." Motion carried. (Agenda item 4.1) - Kilgore Parkway change order No. 11: Court approved change order No. 11 to Texas Materials / Bridal Gulf Coast for Kilgore Parkway in the amount of $31,400 for additional safety items, described as a cleanup for a crash cushion already installed. Motion carried. (Agenda item 4.3) - CDBG-DR (flood/drainage) variance request: Court granted a variance under Article 6, Appendix F of the Chambers County subdivision and land development regulations to allow a roadway improvement from 16-foot existing width to 20 feet rather than the 24-foot county standard, for the North Anewet Drainage Project; county staff indicated the narrower width is necessary due to existing right-of-way constraints. Motion carried. (Agenda item 5.1) - Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (DR-4798) consultant selections: The court approved GrantWorks for grant administration and Hewitt Zollars as the architect/engineer for contiguous drainage work tied to Airport Road, with a grant application deadline noted as extended to April 5. Motion carried; no grant dollar amount was specified at the time. (Agenda item 5.2) - ARPA reallocations for law enforcement equipment: Court approved reallocating $10,378.20 from unused ARPA small-business grant funds to purchase an in-car radar and camera system for Chambers County Precinct 5, and approved reallocating $39,581.19 to purchase 27 ballistic vests and carriers for the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office. Motions carried. (Agenda items 5.3 and 5.4) - Anahuac Library / historical commission space: Court accepted for the record that the new Anahuac Library design will include exhibit space, office space and a private restroom for the Chambers County Historical Committee; commissioners directed staff to consult on final drawings. Motion carried. (Agenda item 7.1) - Preventative maintenance contract for emergency generators: Court approved an annual preventative maintenance contract with Coastal Power Products in the amount of $25,150. Motion carried. (Agenda item 7.3) - Vessel Turn-In Program: The court accepted a proposed partnership with the Texas General Land Office and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to host a vessel turn-in program at the Chambers County Solid Waste Facility (Highway 65). Ricardo Saldana of the General Land Office described the program and volunteers; the court approved moving forward and public outreach. Motion carried. (Agenda item 10.1) - Architectural engagement for volunteer fire station planning: The court engaged BRW to develop conceptual designs for volunteer fire-station replacement or renovation planning. Motion carried. (Agenda item 10.2)

Other procedural notes: The court pulled a road/bridge item (South Wind Section 4 roadway into county maintenance program) for further review and deferred action. Several items were accepted into the record rather than requiring formal motions. Many votes were taken by voice; for items where the transcript records only a voice vote, the record shows the motion carried with no roll-call tally provided.

Where discussion occurred, staff provided clarifications: county staff explained the drainage variance is a compromise to improve an existing 16-foot roadway to 20 feet due to constrained right-of-way; grant staff said the hazard mitigation application scope and dollar amount were still being defined; ARPA staff said funds remain available through December of next year for eligible allocations.

The court adjourned at 10:27 a.m.