Kerr County Commissioners approve contracts, permits and routine items; burn-declaration set to expire Thursday

Kerr County Commissioners on Monday approved a series of routine and project-specific actions including facility contracts, event permits, procurement authorizations and budget items, and set a deadline to revisit a countywide disaster declaration related to wildfire risk.

The court voted unanimously on a number of items including approval for use of the courthouse grounds for the National Day of Prayer on May 1, a general contract with PetroSwift LLC to repair the Ingram Boat Dock in Precinct 4, a July 19 truck-only car show at Flat Rock Park, acceptance of $520 in donations to Kerr County Animal Services for February 2025, and acceptance of the 26th District Attorney’s 2024 racial profiling report. The court also approved reissuing a request for qualifications (RFQ) for engineering services tied to hazard mitigation grants for volunteer fire department generators.

The court approved a sole-source designation for Shider Tech LLC to supply automated license-plate reader (ALPR) equipment under a Stone Garden grant, a 5-year lease for a 1-ton truck with a landscaper’s dump bed for Road & Bridge, and the surplusing and planned May 10 auction of old Road & Bridge equipment. Two grant resolutions were amended to reflect changed grant numbers from the Office of the Governor.

The court set public hearings for two plat revisions (Kerrville South 2 Lot 16 and Elm Pass Ranch No. 2 lots) and approved minor interlocal housekeeping items for the Hill Country Subregional Planning Commission. It also appointed a commissioner (Tom Jones) to perform the investigation required under Texas Health and Safety Code §751.005 related to a mass-gathering permit for an April event and appointed a county representative to the Hill Country Regional Public Defender’s Office oversight committee.

On administrative items the court adopted a proposed FY2025–26 budget calendar; approved six budget amendments and payment of $1,880,399.20 in invoices presented Monday; approved adding an IT intern from Schreiner University to the county’s program; and authorized adding Cynthia Hernandez to the OASIS benefits portal as an administrator.

After discussion about wildfire risk, the court amended a motion to allow the judge’s disaster declaration that prohibits outdoor burning to remain in effect through Thursday morning, at which time the declaration will expire unless the judge renews it. Commissioners reiterated precinct-level authority to adopt or continue burn bans and said they would re-impose stricter restrictions if emergency management presents new concerns.

Several administrative and procedural changes were approved: the court voted to adopt a new process to maintain official recordings and records for Commissioners Court meetings and for juvenile, mental-health and probate dockets using electronic recordings supplemented by periodic certified shorthand court-reporter coverage for contested matters; and the court authorized staff to proceed with contract and procurement paperwork noted in the agenda packets.

Votes at a glance (selected items) • Agenda 1.1 — Approve National Day of Prayer use of courthouse grounds (motion passed, unanimous) • 1.2 — Approve general contract with PetroSwift LLC for Ingram Boat Dock (passed, unanimous) • 1.3 — Approve truck-only car show at Flat Rock Park, July 19 (passed, unanimous) • 1.4 — Accept donated bronze plaque from the Alamo Letter Society for courthouse grounds (passed, unanimous) • 1.5 — Accept $520 in donations to Animal Services for Feb. 2025 (passed, unanimous) • 1.6 — Accept 26th DA Racial Profiling Report (passed, unanimous) • 1.7 — Reissue RFQ for engineering services (passed, unanimous) • 1.8 — Sole-source designation for Shider Tech LLC (ALPRs) — $54,000 (passed, unanimous) • 1.11 — Appoint commissioner (Tom Jones) to investigate mass-gathering permit per Tex. Health & Safety Code §751.005 (passed, unanimous) • 1.12 — Appoint commissioner to Hill Country Regional Public Defender’s Office Oversight Committee (passed, unanimous) • 1.17 / 1.18 — Set public hearings for two plat revisions (April 28 public hearings set) (passed, unanimous) • 1.19 — Approve 5‑year lease for 1-ton truck with landscaper’s dump bed (passed, unanimous) • 1.20 — Surplus Road & Bridge equipment and schedule auction (passed, unanimous) • 1.21 — Approve FY2025–26 budget calendar (passed, unanimous) • 1.22 — Adopt electronic recording process for court and dockets, keep court-reporter safety net for contested matters (passed, unanimous) • 1.23 — Amended motion: countywide disaster declaration to remain in force through Thursday morning, at which time it will expire unless renewed (passed, unanimous) • 1.24 — Add Cynthia Hernandez to TAC OASIS benefit portal (passed, unanimous) • 1.25 / 1.26 — Amend grant-resolution numbers for two governor’s grants (passed, unanimous) • 1.27 — Approve Schreiner University intern for IT (passed, unanimous) • 2.1 / 2.2 — Approve six budget amendments and payment of presented invoices ($1,880,399.20) (passed, unanimous)

Most votes were taken by voice or show of hands and recorded as unanimous; no roll-call tallies with individual yes/no votes were recorded in the minutes provided.