Comal County commissioners approve $1.09 million in claims, accept Vogel Dam spillway bond and renew public‑health grant; approve jail overtime transfer

COMAL COUNTY, Texas — The Comal County Commissioners Court on Oct. 2 approved $1,088,883.59 in claims, accepted an off‑site improvement bond for reconstruction of the Vogel Dam emergency spillway berm, approved renewal paperwork for a state public‑health preparedness grant, and authorized a transfer of funds to cover jail overtime, among a slate of proclamations and appointments.

The court approved claims totaling $1,088,883.59 — EFT payments of $387,179.50 and regular claims of $701,704.09 — on a motion by Commissioner Hogg and a second by Commissioner Leacock. The motion passed with the court present; one member, Commissioner Crownover, was noted as absent.

The meeting included several ceremonial proclamations recognizing National 4‑H Week and Domestic Violence Awareness Month and naming three local "living legend" honorees: Wilfred Slaughter, Carole Johnson and Michael Meek. Each proclamation was approved by unanimous voice vote of the members present.

Infrastructure: Vogel Dam spillway bond

County staff asked the court to accept off‑site improvement bond number 30254162 as surety for reconstruction of the Vogel Dam emergency spillway berm and to authorize the county judge to sign related documents. The county engineer told the court, “This dam was designed in 1956 and built in 1957 by NRCS,” and said the berm was cut during installation of a water line by a private water company along Sheenthal Road.

The engineer said the water company prepared plans to repair the berm and install the water line; those plans received approval from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Aug. 26 and local Natural Resources Conservation Service approval on Sept. 18. The court accepted the bond and authorized the judge to sign on a motion by Commissioner Hogg and a second by Commissioner Leacock. Staff recommended the work begin this month and be completed by the end of 2025.

Public health grant and related services

Cheryl Frasier, public health director, told the court the county’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) cooperative agreement with the Texas Department of State Health Services will be fully funded after a recent amendment. “We did get that extra 28% funding,” Frasier said, and asked the court to approve the contract renewal and authorize her to submit the application. The court approved the renewal on a motion by Commissioner Leacock and a second by Commissioner Hogg.

Under separate remarks tied to a proclamation for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a representative of the local crisis center told the court the center served more than 1,300 clients in the past year, about 70% of whom they sheltered were children, and delivered more than 36,000 services. The center said it expects to receive keys for a new 90‑bed shelter by the end of the year.

Wellness Works donation and employee expo

The court accepted a $1,000 donation from Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union for the county’s Wellness Works Health Fair, to be deposited to line item 0100002426. A county staff member said the second annual Health and Wellness Expo drew about 301 county employees and helped administer 104 flu vaccinations at the event.

Jail staffing and overtime funding

Sheriff’s office representatives requested a line‑item transfer moving salary funds from two unfilled positions into the overtime budget to maintain staffing through the remainder of 2025. The jail official said staffing shortages persist but that five new hires will start the following Monday and five more are in background checks; the office is also planning job fairs targeting veterans and Texas State University criminal justice students. The court approved the transfer on a motion by Commissioner Hogg, seconded by Commissioner Leacock.

Appointments and other administrative items

The court approved appointing Holly Wagner as an unpaid reserve deputy constable for Constable Precinct 3, accepted a county auditor line‑item transfer to cover a higher‑than‑expected software subscription renewal, and approved other routine administrative transfers and renewals.

Executive session and real‑estate authorization

The court convened an executive session under Texas Government Code provisions for real‑estate, economic development and privileged legal matters. When the court returned to open session it authorized Commissioner Leacock to enter into an earnest‑money contract as discussed in executive session; no additional contract details were disclosed publicly.

Votes at a glance

- Claims (Oct. 2, 2025): Approved. Motion: Commissioner Hogg. Second: Commissioner Leacock. Totals approved: EFT $387,179.50; regular claims $701,704.09; total $1,088,883.59. - Proclamations (National 4‑H Week; Domestic Violence Awareness Month; Living Legends: Wilfred Slaughter, Carole Johnson, Michael Meek): All approved by voice vote. - Donation: Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union, $1,000 to Wellness Works Health Fair — approved. - Off‑site improvement bond 30254162 (Vogel Dam spillway berm repairs): Accepted; county judge authorized to sign — approved. - Department of State Health Services PHEP cooperative agreement renewal (public health director authorized to submit): Approved. - Appointment: Holly Wagner, unpaid reserve deputy constable, Precinct 3 — approved. - Line‑item transfers: county auditor (software subscription), jail (hourly personnel → overtime) — both approved. - Executive session authorization: Commissioner Leacock authorized to enter earnest‑money contract — approved.

The court recessed at the close of business after completing the listed items.