Mills County commissioners approve clean audit, award north‑side courthouse accessibility work and fund indigent care; grant procedures tabled

Mills County Commissioners Court on Monday accepted a clean audit from Eckert and Company for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2024, approved work on a new north‑side handicap entrance and sidewalk at the courthouse, authorized payment of a $5,129.48 indigent care bill, and moved ADA compliance duties from the treasurer’s office to the county judge’s office. The court also tabled further action on written procedures for grant (eGrants) applications.

The auditors told the court the county’s financial statements are “fairly presented” and that the firm issued an unmodified—or “clean”—opinion. Auditor Wayne Barrow of Eckert and Company highlighted the county’s general fund balance, noting the county ended the year with about $5.396 million in the operating fund and an increase in that fund of roughly $974,000 during the fiscal year. He also described net capital assets (net of depreciation) of about $15.0 million and long‑term debt service on bonds of about $7.7 million through 2040.

Judge and commissioners said they would accept the auditor’s recommendation that monthly reports from the clerk’s office be filed more promptly; the audit flagged some monthly reports that were not submitted in a timely manner. The court voted to approve the audit report.

After extensive discussion of competing proposals and site constraints around utilities, vents and a possible TxDOT easement, the court approved the original north‑side quote from Louie Coronado (Coronado Construction) for a courthouse handicap entrance and associated sidewalk repair. The motion to award the north‑side package passed 3–2. The court recorded that the work would be paid from the 1888 restoration fund (handicap entrance) and the building improvement fund (sidewalk repair); the motion included an upfront payment arrangement of $13,000 (three payments were referenced during the vote). County staff said the project must receive a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL) permit from the Texas Historical Commission before on‑site work begins.

The court also approved an indigent care payment of $5,129.48 to cover hospital services previously provided to a county inmate; the bill and the county’s longstanding practice of applying Medicare rates for indigent jail transport bills were discussed and the motion carried. Commissioners noted Hendricks Health had declined to sign a renewed agreement but that the county had an existing resolution requiring payment at Medicare rates.

Separately, the court voted to move the county’s ADA compliance officer duties from the treasurer’s office to the county judge’s office; the change was approved without further conditions. The Mills County Historical Commission reported it has signed off on the north‑side plan and reminded the court that, for historic buildings, federal and state accessibility guidance allows one required accessible entrance for historic structures but does not preclude additional accessible points.

The court discussed grant procedures and a set of recommended checklist items circulated by the treasurer (a model from Tom Green County and guidance from the Texas Association of Counties). Commissioners and staff agreed on the need for more transparency and for county review when a grant requires a local match, but declined to adopt a new policy at this meeting and voted to table formal procedures for later review. Emergency management and grants staff said time constraints on some state and federal grant programs can require rapid submissions; staff pledged to notify the court in advance when practical and to return with acceptance requests if awards are made.

Other administrative items: the court recorded receipt of bids from Louie Coronado for two precinct low‑water crossing repairs (one bid about $28,000 and another about $54,000 for material and work) and accepted a subdivision variance for the Herbert family; the variance was approved on the record. Commissioners also received updates on FEMA project status, dispatch console grant progress, procurement questions and ongoing road and bridge work.

The court adjourned after routine department reports and commissioner updates.