Hunt County court unanimously approves resolution consenting to creation of Wolf Creek Municipal Management District

Hunt County Commissioners Court voted unanimously on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, to approve a resolution consenting to the legislative creation of the Wolf Creek Municipal Management District, a developer-backed measure county staff said will be sent to state legislators for filing before the Friday deadline.

Court members recessed Tuesday's meeting and reconvened on Wednesday to complete consideration of the resolution after ongoing negotiations between the county, the city and the developer, Daniel (staff member) told the court. Daniel said the developer had agreed to the changes proposed by the county's and city's lawyer, Julie Ford, and that the version before commissioners reflected those edits.

Why it matters: If the legislation is filed, passed by the Texas Legislature and signed by the governor, the law would allow the district to exercise certain powers, including borrowing, but those powers would be conditioned on a development agreement with the City of Greenville and subject to review by the Texas attorney general, court members were told. County staff said the legislation would take effect Sept. 1 if enacted, and the developer would have until Sept. 1, 2027 to secure the required development agreement and approvals that enable the borrowing powers described in the measure.

County staff described the immediate next steps as the developer's lobbyists taking the county- and city-approved resolution and the attached bill language to the county's state senator and representative for filing. Daniel told the court he had been informed that the county's state representative had not previously been contacted about the proposal and that the filing timeline was tight.

If the bill is not filed by the Friday deadline, county staff said it is unlikely the measure would move forward in the current session. Daniel told commissioners that, while a legislative suspension of the filing rule is possible, it would require a four-fifths vote in both chambers and historically occurs only for urgent measures. He said developers had indicated they preferred legislative creation in order to complete construction sooner; if that path failed, the developer could pursue another type of district or a district established by election.

The court emphasized limits on the district's powers written into the resolution and draft bill. Daniel said the resolution includes language specifying that the district would receive the broader authority only if a development agreement is executed by the City of Greenville; county and city versions of the resolution use the same template language to ensure attorney general review of any proposed bond authority that would be secured by assessments on property.

Commissioners had recessed the matter from the previous day because attorneys for the city, the county and the developer were still negotiating details. Daniel told the court negotiations extended into the night before the reconvened session, and that the developer accepted the changes recommended by county and city counsel, including language governing how property may later be added to the district.

The court voted on a motion to approve the consent resolution. The motion was made and seconded; the presiding judge called for the ayes and declared the motion carried.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve the resolution consenting to legislative creation of the Wolf Creek Municipal Management District ' Approved (unanimous among members present).

Next steps: Court staff said the approved resolution and the bill language will be forwarded to the developer's lobbyists to pursue filing with the county's state legislators by the filing deadline. County staff also noted that, even if legislation passes, the district would not be authorized to exercise borrowing powers until the City of Greenville executes the required development agreement and the attorney general approves any bond authorization.

The court adjourned at 1:14 p.m.