Polk County court approves replat, personnel actions, jail AC bid and routine measures

Polk County Commissioners Court on Feb. 11 approved a series of routine and administrative actions, including a replat for two lots, personnel requests from the sheriff's office, fiscal amendments and a recommended vendor for new jail air-conditioning units.

The court held a public hearing and approved a replat of Shelter Code Section 2, Lots 28 and 29 in Precinct 1 (the properties will be recorded as Lots 28A and 29A). Commissioner Robertson moved to approve the replat and the motion carried after a voice vote.

During public comments, Jeremy Wright, representing Smith Towing, thanked the court for the county—s towing rotation and described his company's equipment and local expansion plans. "It's a blessing to us," Wright said, adding that his company aims to clear highway incidents quickly to improve safety.

On personnel and sheriff's office requests, the court approved two temporary measures: (1) a request to pay deputies overtime for transport duties on days off, to be paid from unused jail personnel salaries while vacancies remain; and (2) payout of specified accrued vacation and holiday time for two jail employees (the amounts and employees were provided to the court packet; the transcript listed values for the vacation and holiday payouts but did not name the employees). The court recorder said the jail had approximately $54,000 in unused salaries available to fund the overtime request.

The court ratified a revision to the county Personnel Management Form to restore emergency leave eligibility for certain spouse-family relationships after a staff member's sister-in-law passed and the updated policy had inadvertently excluded such coverage.

Auditor-recommended FY2025 budget revisions and amendments (labeled 2025-7 and 2025-7A in the packet) were approved by the court.

For bid number 2025-16 (three new AC units for the jail), the maintenance department recommended McWilliams and Son based on warranty, installation timeline and capacity. The court approved the award and the county indicated it would temporarily fund the purchase from the general fund because the maintenance budget would be overdrawn; the court said it would amend the budget at the next meeting to replenish the general fund.

The court authorized the sale of fireworks during the Texas Independence Day period (Feb. 25 through midnight March 2, 2025) by adopting the authorizing order included in the packet.

Following a nuisance-hearing determination in Polk County Justice Court for causes AH0064, AH0072, AH0073 and AH0079, the court ordered abatement and allowed the commissioners to arrange or contract for cleanup; the court also authorized assessing abatement costs, legal-notification costs and an administrative fee of $100 with interest beginning 31 days after assessment.

The court adopted a new plat-filing form to be attached to unapproved subdivision plats filed with the county clerk; the form is intended to notify purchasers and third parties that the subdivision has not been approved by the commissioners court and to prompt distribution of the filing to the county office for review.

An informational item recognized Polk County's 2025 wellness committee and noted the county earned $9,000 in reward funds from TAC for hosting health events; prior years' TAC earnings were listed in the packet.

Votes at a glance: - Replat Shelter Code Section 2, Lots 28 & 29 (to record Lots 28A and 29A): approved (mover: Commissioner Robertson; second: Commissioner Fervis; outcome: approved). - Consent agenda including addendum of $455,568.03: approved. - Pay overtime for transport deputies from unused jail salaries (temporary): approved. - Payout of accrued vacation/holiday time for two jail employees: approved. - Ratify revision to emergency leave policy to include certain spouse-family relationships: approved. - FY2025 budget revisions and amendments (2025-7 / 2025-7A): approved. - Bid 2025-16, three AC units for jail — award to McWilliams and Son: approved (court will fund from general fund now and amend budget later). - Authorize fireworks sales Feb. 25'March 2, 2025: approved. - Nuisance abatement orders AH0064, AH0072, AH0073, AH0079: approved to abate and assess costs. - Adopt plat filing form for unapproved subdivisions: approved.

The court conducted these items largely by motion and voice vote; no contested roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript.