The Walker County Commissioners Court voted Monday to approve Ryan McCormack as the county’s Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, with a planned start date of Jan. 13.

Eric Zimmerman, District Extension Administrator for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, told the court he regarded McCormack as “a good one to fill our vacant ag and natural resource position here in Walker County,” and outlined a short training and mentoring plan before McCormack assumes local duties.

Zimmerman said the agency will send McCormack to a three-and-a-half-day statewide new-employee orientation in College Station, assign him a local mentor — Brandon Greggs, Ag and Natural Resources agent in Montgomery County — and cover related travel expenses. Zimmerman said those steps are intended to give the new agent an overview of agency expectations and local program practices before he begins field work.

McCormack told the court he plans to move to the Huntsville area pending the hire and said he looks forward to serving Walker County stakeholders. The court approved the appointment by voice vote after a motion and a second; no roll-call tally was recorded in the public discussion.

In other routine business the court approved several consent- and agenda-item motions with brief motions and voice votes. Those included a small OEM reimbursement transfer, a 50-cent per-unit price increase by Ellis Trucking for specified limestone base line items, and the purchase of a water truck.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of claims and invoices (consent agenda item 5): motion carried by voice vote; details and individual invoice amounts were not specified in the public discussion.
- OEM reimbursement (DR 4798): court approved transferring $525 to OEM project funds once funds are received.
- Ellis Trucking price increase: court approved a 50-cent increase for line items numbered 32 (a grama), 33 (limestone base) and 34 (crushed or coarse limestone base) as presented.
- Purchase of 2006 International water truck from GW Phillips Concrete Construction: court approved the purchase in the amount of $38,000 with payment to be approved at time of pickup pending receipt of a purchase order and invoice.
- Appointment of Ryan McCormack as Walker County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources: approved; start date Jan. 13; agency orientation and mentor assignment described by Zimmerman.

The court’s discussion on the McCormack appointment focused on his background and the onboarding plan rather than compensation or specific program duties. Zimmerman described McCormack as a recent Sam Houston State University graduate with experience in 4‑H and livestock programs and said agency staff will provide initial training and mentoring. No executive-session discussion or additional conditions were recorded on the public record for the appointment.

The court adjourned after taking the listed actions.