Comal County approves monthly claims, multiple routine contracts; rescinds softball batting-cage permission after closed session

Comal County Commissioners Court on Thursday, June 19, 2025, approved $4,033,239.83 in claims for June, authorized a set of routine contracts and plats, heard staff reports on recent heavy rainfall and broadband expansion requests, and voted to rescind a prior permission allowing a softball batting-cage structure to remain at Hidden Valley Sports Park.

The commissioners approved electronic and regular claims totaling $4,033,239.83 — EFT payments of $1,385,364.07 plus regular claims of $2,647,875.76 — by motion of Commissioner Hogg with a second from Commissioner Leacock. The vote was taken by voice; individual votes were not recorded in the minutes.

Why it matters: The court’s approvals finalize routine county spending and contract renewals and advance several development and utility actions across the county while staff follow up on public-safety and infrastructure concerns raised during reports.

Among the items the court approved were a donation agreement for two historical signs from the Dam Community Alliance to be placed on South Access Road; final-plat approvals and construction surety for Simmons Valley North Entrance Road; rights-of-entry requested by New Braunfels Utilities to assess two county properties for possible utility work; and several procurement actions including a software-support renewal for the sheriff’s office, an asphalt supply renewal, and small equipment purchases for justice courts and the constable.

The meeting included three substantive presentations. Robert Boyd, county staff member, briefed the court on a heavy rain event the prior week that produced localized flooding in the Garden Ridge and Natural Bridge Caverns corridor. Boyd said some locations saw “upwards of 7 inches” of rain and described how five flood-control dams on Dry Comal Creek—built in stages starting in 1957, with additional structures in the 1960s, 1970s and a fifth completed in 2012—helped reduce peak flows to the Comal and Guadalupe rivers. He also noted a rehabilitation project for an older dam will be brought forward with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) assistance and local funding needs.

Adrienne Reihult, external affairs director for Resound Networks in Texas, asked the court for a nonexclusive letter of support as the company applies for state broadband funding to expand service into underserved Hill Country areas that align with the company’s existing federal awards. “We’re hoping to fill out those gaps and reach even further in those Hill Country areas,” Reihult said.

County staff introduced the donated historical signs and a contractor who said he recreated the original brushwork of sign painter Eugene Meza. “I’ve been a sign painter for 30 years,” the contractor said, describing his effort to match the 1968 original.

After a closed executive session under the Texas Government Code, the court returned and, by motion of Commissioner Crownover with a second from Commissioner Webb, rescinded a previously granted permission that had allowed a batting-cage structure used by Canyon Lake Girls Softball to remain at Hidden Valley Sports Park. Court minutes state the group had been given notice about the issue and the rescission formalizes prior discussions.

Votes at a glance - Item 1: Approve claims for June 2025 (EFT $1,385,364.07; regular claims $2,647,875.76; total $4,033,239.83). Mover: Commissioner Hogg. Second: Commissioner Leacock. Outcome: approved (voice vote; individual tallies not recorded). - Item 2: Approve donation agreement with Dam Community Alliance for two historical signs on South Access Road. Mover: Commissioner Crownover. Second: Commissioner Leacock. Outcome: approved. - Item 3: Approve amendment to plat of Canyon Lake Hills Unit 3 (combine Lots 1562 and 1563; establish Lot 1562R). Mover: Commissioner Leacock. Second: Commissioner Hogg. Outcome: approved. - Item 4: Final plat approval of Simmons Valley North Entry Road; accept irrevocable standby letter of credit FTFC25358 as surety; approve developer agreement. Mover: Commissioner Crownover. Second: Commissioner Webb. Outcome: approved. - Item 5: Approve rights-of-entry/access agreements with New Braunfels Utilities to assess two county properties (Loop 337 at San Antonio Street and property near county engineer’s office at 3150 South IH-35). Mover: Commissioner Leacock. Second: Commissioner Hogg. Outcome: approved. Staff clarified the agreements authorize assessment only; any construction would require a later easement or agreement. - Item 6: Adopt order granting discretionary exemption for Motorola Solutions Inc. Spillman Flex public-safety software and annual license/support renewal. Mover: Commissioner Hogg. Second: Commissioner Leacock. Outcome: approved. - Item 7: Approve supplemental agreement No. 2 to bid 20231131 (cationic emulsified asphalt CSS-1h rebid) with Ergon Asphalt and Emulsions Inc.; authorize purchasing agent to sign. Mover: Commissioner Webb. Second: Commissioner Crownover. Outcome: approved. - Item 8: Purchase two replacement Brazos ticket writers and two five-year warranties for Constable Precinct 2, $5,354, from the Justice Court Technology Fund. Mover: Commissioner Hogg. Second: Commissioner Leacock. Outcome: approved. - Item 9: Purchase one Zebra label printer and three-year protection plan for Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, funded by the Justice Court Technology Fund. Mover: Commissioner Webb. Second: Commissioner Crownover. Outcome: approved. - Item 10: Accept 2024 annual audit reports for Comal County Emergency Service Districts 1–7. Mover: Commissioner Hogg. Second: Commissioner Leacock. Outcome: approved. - Item 11: Approve line-item transfer in the District Clerk’s office to purchase shelving units for preserved records; vendor matches county-clerk remodel units. Mover: Commissioner Crownover. Second: Commissioner Webb. Outcome: approved. - Item 12: Approve purchase to upgrade hardware for the sheriff’s office HVAC building-automation system; funded from account 0100175619; no budget amendment required. Mover: Commissioner Hogg. Second: Commissioner Leacock. Outcome: approved. - Item 13: Following a closed executive session under chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, rescind previously granted permission allowing Canyon Lake Girls Softball batting-cage structure to remain at Hidden Valley Sports Park. Mover: Commissioner Crownover. Second: Commissioner Webb. Outcome: approved.

The court took no additional public comment beyond the broadband request. Several items discussed—most notably the rights-of-entry requested by New Braunfels Utilities—were described by staff as preliminary assessments; any construction or easement will return to the court for further action. The court recessed after completing the agenda.