Van Zandt County commissioners approve grants, staffing change and committee appointments

Van Zandt County Commissioner’s Court on Jan. 13 approved a package of routine and personnel items, including authorization to apply for a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant, a transfer to fund a full‑time fire marshal and the creation of a standing committee to oversee the county’s P25 radio project.

The court, convened at 9:01 a.m., approved the consent agenda and then voted on discrete items. The court authorized the district attorney’s office to apply for the VOCA victim assistance grant for the 2025–26 term; approved line‑item transfers to fund the conversion of the fire marshal position from part time to full time; appointed a committee to continue work on the countywide P25 radio project; and approved several employee‑handbook changes including shortening the required separation/return window for rehired retirees and removing a transitional note on holiday pay.

Why it matters: the VOCA grant covers most of a victim‑assistance coordinator’s salary and operating costs and the county’s 20% match was identified in the staff report. Making the fire marshal position full time was presented as necessary to support increased abatement and inspection work. The P25 committee is intended to manage the multiyear radio project and report back to the court.

Key details recorded in the meeting: • VOCA grant application — The grant was described as competitive; the requested budget includes approximately $50,000 for salary, $2,120 for travel and training and $1,500 for office supplies. The grant is an 80/20 award; the county’s 20% match was stated as $18,183. The court approved the application by voice vote.

• Fire marshal funding — The court approved line‑item transfers to cover the remainder of the fiscal year after converting the fire marshal position to full time. No single dollar amount for the transfer was specified in the public discussion.

• P25 radio project committee — The court appointed a standing committee to continue oversight and planning for the countywide P25 radio system. Named primary members included the County Judge, Sheriff Bridger, Deputy Zapata, Ron Bieber, Jeremy Jones and consultant Barry Black; dispatch and IT staff were named as associate members. The court clarified the committee will make recommendations and that any contract or purchase will return to the court for approval.

• Personnel and handbook items — The court approved changing the county’s rehired retiree waiting period to 31 days (to align with retirement-system timing) and removed a transition note in the holiday pay policy. Both motions passed by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: motions were made, seconded and passed by voice vote with those present saying “aye.” The meeting record did not show a roll‑call tally for each item.

The court heard other business and presentations after the votes and recessed to executive session at 10:15 a.m. for a closed discussion on a contract negotiation.

Ending: The court scheduled follow‑up and reporting for the P25 committee and accepted the staff recommendation to apply for the VOCA grant. Specific implementation steps and dollar amounts for some transfers were left to staff to finalize and bring back to the court.