Aransas County commissioners approve burn ban, contracts and budget adjustments; list of actions at a glance

Aransas County Commissioners Court met March 2025 at the Aquarium Education Center in Rockport and approved a series of routine and project-related items, including a temporary outdoor burn ban, contract renewals and budget amendments.

The court adopted an order prohibiting outdoor burning for up to 60 days and approved routine reports, contract renewals and budget adjustments. Several items were approved by roll call with all members present voting aye.

Why it matters: The actions include short-term public-safety measures (an outdoor burning prohibition), procurement decisions that affect county operations and capital projects, and budget amendments and payments tied to county construction and grant projects.

The court approved motions that ranged from procedural housekeeping to procurement. Highlights, in order of perceived public importance:

- Outdoor burn prohibition: The court approved Order ODASH02-2025, banning outdoor burning for up to 60 days (through about April 9, 2025, subject to extension).

- Resolution on electrical energy storage (HB 1378): The court adopted a resolution urging the legislature to consider restrictions on siting and storage of lithium battery energy storage systems, citing local fire-suppression concerns.

- Contracts and retention: The court renewed a contract for transport of decedents and related services with Jordan Marshall General Home and Crimestory Incorporated (contract amounts discussed in session), and authorized a retainer with Allison, Bass & Magee LLP (listed in the agenda as Allison Bass and McVee LLP) to provide legal services for the county’s aquarium rebuild project.

- Road materials procurement: The court accepted a single bid for 2025 road culverts and pipes after re-solicitation; staff noted a roughly 15% price increase from 2024.

- Grants and capital projects: The court authorized applying for a Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act (CAPRA) grant to help cover part of the county’s match for a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) project for the Lamar Beach Road drainage/shoreline project. A separate agenda item awarded a professional survey contract for a Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) Coastal Management Program project; that award was contested and is addressed in a separate article.

- Routine reports and approvals: The court approved the Aransas County Historical Commission fourth-quarter 2024 report, accepted the annual Department of Public Safety profile, accepted the jail dietitian’s menu evaluation, approved an updated executive assistant and senior mechanic job descriptions, and approved several budget amendments and accounts payable items, including contract retainage payments for GLO street projects and purchases using SB22 funds for law enforcement vehicles.

Votes at a glance (motion text summary, outcome): - ODASH02-2025 (outdoor burn prohibition, up to 60 days): approved by roll call (Commissioner Chaney Aye; Commissioner Castellanos Aye; Commissioner Russo Aye; Judge Garza Aye). - Resolution supporting consideration of restrictions in HB 1378 (electrical energy storage siting): approved by voice vote/roll call (unanimous Aye). - Approve Aransas County Historical Commission Q4 2024 report and 2025 budget allocation ($10,000 budgeted; expenses ~ $7,700 in 2024, returning ~$2,300): approved (unanimous Aye). - Reduce surety for Mireya Subdivision based on engineer’s report (work >50% complete): approved (unanimous Aye). - Renew contract for death-transport/autopsy/cremation services (Jordan Marshall / Crimestory): approved (unanimous Aye); contract line-item amounts discussed by staff. - Retain Allison Bass & McVee LLP for aquarium project legal counsel and authorize county judge to sign retainer: approved (unanimous Aye). - Award bid for 2025 road culverts and pipes (single bid received; staff recommendation to accept): approved (unanimous Aye). - Accept jail dietitian evaluation of menu and routine operations report: accepted (unanimous Aye). - Accept and present annual DPS profile report to court: accepted (unanimous Aye). - Authorize application for CAPRA grant to assist the county’s match for FEMA HMGP Lamar Beach Road drainage project: approved (unanimous Aye). - Authorize award of survey contract for GOMESA CMP PSM Coconut Cove Ranch acquisition project (Peyton Dawson) with one amendment posted to the file: approved after discussion (unanimous Aye). - Approve Inogen Healthcare item (agenda item listed): approved (unanimous Aye). - Approve updated job descriptions for executive assistant and senior mechanic: approved (unanimous Aye). - Approve various budget amendments (including election scanner purchase and auditor engagement) and accounts payable items detailed in the finance packet: approved (unanimous Aye).

What the court did not do: No substantive action was taken in closed session; the court reconvened to open session and announced no action from closed session.

The court’s agenda and staff packets include more detailed line items and invoices (GLO retainage and payments to contractors, SB22-funded vehicle purchases, and other capital project invoices). The court noted that some purchases reflect state procurement pricing and market fluctuations.