Ellis County Commissioners approve consent agenda, development plats, contracts and settlement in unanimous votes

Ellis County Commissioners Court approved a series of routine and substantive items in a single meeting, voting unanimously on a consent agenda, multiple plats and contracts, vehicle purchases, and a settlement agreement related to a municipal utility district application. The court also ordered a Nov. 4, 2025 special election on 17 proposed constitutional amendments and approved an early voting schedule.

The court approved the consent agenda (items A-1 through A-19 and F-1 through F-7) on a motion by Commissioner Lane Grayson with a second from Commissioner Stinson. The court recorded no opposition.

Among the development items approved were preliminary and final plats and a replat: preliminary plat Skyline Estates Phase 2 (approx. 24.462 acres, 16 lots), final plat Howard Hills (approx. 36.055 acres, 7 lots), Overbay Addition replat (approx. 9.999 acres), and Barajas Valley Estate (approx. 2 acres, 1 lot). Motions and seconds were recorded on the record and each item passed unanimously.

The court released maintenance bonds and accepted infrastructure for The Ranch at Stonehill (approx. 125 acres), approving release of drainage and paving maintenance bonds in the amounts of $597,422.59 and $819,317.48, and accepting eight roads totaling 9,675 linear feet into the county maintenance system.

Purchasing approvals included a $101,574 contract with Capital Construction Group for renovation work at the Ellis County juvenile facility (using TIPS cooperative contract #22010702), and two replacement vehicle purchases for the District Attorney’s Office: a 2025 Ford Explorer from Ennis Ford in the amount of $40,314.46 and a 2025 Ford Explorer from Sampac Ford in the amount of $39,553. The juvenile facility project will begin with $20,000 from the state juvenile budget grant fund and the balance from the Permanent Improvement Fund in the FY2026 budget. All purchasing items passed unanimously.

Road and infrastructure contracts approved included resurfacing Castle Ridge Road with Texas Materials Group Inc., DBA Texas BIT, for $162,384.30, and resurfacing sections of Pierce Road and Cole Road with Texas Materials Group for $739,629.06.

The court set a public hearing for Aug. 19 (the next regular meeting date as stated) regarding the installation of stop signs at the intersection of Hoyt Circle and Hoyt Road, to notify the public and allow comment.

The court authorized a task order (007) with Helmuth, Obata & Kassebaum, Inc. (HOK) to develop a conceptual design for a relocated Ellis County jail at the Ellis County Farm, in the amount of $177,100 plus reimbursable expenses, to begin a multi-phase planning and financing process.

The court ordered the special election on Nov. 4, 2025 to present 17 proposed constitutional amendments submitted by the 89th Texas Legislature and approved an early voting schedule and locations that add Knights of Columbus to the county’s usual early voting sites.

After an executive session, the court approved a settlement agreement with Our Calling Inc. related to a municipal utility district matter, authorizing the County Judge to execute the agreement. That action was moved by Commissioner Stinson and seconded by Commissioner Grayson and passed unanimously.

The court’s formal motions were made by named commissioners as recorded on the public audio: many items were moved by Commissioner Lane Grayson, Commissioner Stinson, Commissioner Ponder, or Commissioner Butler, with seconders recorded where provided. In all cases where the court recorded the vote, items passed with no opposition.

Votes at a glance (selected items): - Consent agenda (A-1–A-19; F-1–F-7): approved (mover: Commissioner Lane Grayson; second: Commissioner Stinson; outcome: approved unanimously) - 1.1 Skyline Estates Phase 2 preliminary plat (16 lots): approved (mover: Commissioner Stinson; second: Commissioner Grayson; outcome: approved unanimously) - 1.2 Howard Hills final plat (7 lots): approved (mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Stinson; outcome: approved unanimously) - 1.3 Overbay Addition replat: approved (mover: Commissioner Ponder; second: Commissioner Butler; outcome: approved unanimously) - 1.4 Release of maintenance bonds, The Ranch at Stonehill (drainage $597,422.59, paving $819,317.48) and acceptance of 8 roads (9,675 linear feet): approved (mover: Commissioner Ponder; second: Commissioner Butler; outcome: approved unanimously) - 1.5 Barajas Valley Estate plat: approved (mover: Commissioner Butler; second: Commissioner Ponder; outcome: approved unanimously) - 2.1 Juvenile facility renovation contract (Capital Construction Group; TIPS #22010702) $101,574: approved (mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Butler; outcome: approved unanimously) - 2.2 Vehicle purchase (2025 Ford Explorer, Ennis Ford) $40,314.46: approved (mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Ponder; outcome: approved unanimously) - 2.3 Vehicle purchase (2025 Ford Explorer, Sampac Ford) $39,553: approved (mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Stinson; outcome: approved unanimously) - 3.1 Order special election (11/04/2025) on 17 constitutional amendments: approved (mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Stinson; outcome: approved unanimously) - 3.2 Early voting schedule and locations (adds Knights of Columbus as a full-duration early voting site): approved (mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Stinson; outcome: approved unanimously) - 3.3 Castle Ridge Road resurfacing (Texas Materials Group / Texas BIT) $162,384.30: approved (mover: Commissioner Stinson; second: Commissioner Grayson; outcome: approved unanimously) - 3.4 Resurfacing sections of Pierce Road and Cole Road (Texas Materials Group) $739,629.06: approved (mover: Commissioner Stinson; second: Commissioner Grayson; outcome: approved unanimously) - 3.5 Public hearing set for stop sign installation at Hoyt Circle & Hoyt Road (public hearing scheduled): approved (mover/second not specified in record; outcome: approved unanimously) - 3.6 Task order 007 with HOK for jail conceptual design $177,100 plus reimbursables: approved (mover: Commissioner Grayson; second: Commissioner Ponder; outcome: approved unanimously) - 3.8 Settlement agreement with Our Calling Inc. (related to MUD application): approved (mover: Commissioner Stinson; second: Commissioner Grayson; outcome: approved unanimously)

The court entered executive session under Texas Government Code Chapter 551 for legal consultation, litigation and real property deliberations and later returned to open session before approving the settlement agreement and adjourning.

The court recorded unanimous votes for the listed items when a recorded vote was taken; for several routine items the clerk announced passage after an aye chorus. The record does not show any “no” or “abstain” votes on the actions listed above.

Ending: The court adjourned following completion of the agenda; the formal adjournment vote was moved by Commissioner Grayson, seconded by Commissioner Stinson, and passed with no opposition.