Williamson County commissioners approve payments, terminate vendor contract, adopt hazard‑mitigation plan and lift burn ban; votes unanimous

Williamson County Commissioners Court voted unanimously on a slate of financial and operational items during its May 29 meeting, approving fiscal reports and consent agenda items, terminating a services contract, adopting the county's 2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan and lifting a burn ban.

On routine financial business the court approved a supplemental funding report for April 22 totaling $25,428.03 and a previously submitted funding report of $17,095,291.67. County staff also reported 10 addendums, seven wire transfers, three quick payments and two benefit payments totaling $6,057,394.04; the auditor's office presented those items for payment and the court approved them as presented.

Contract termination: the court voted to terminate the Williamson County Services contract with Code Stream Solutions, ACN 618015731, effective May 29, 2025. The motion to terminate was recorded as moved by Commissioner Terry Cook and seconded by Commissioner Boles; the court noted the vote as 5–0. The agenda language cited the county's right to terminate with 30 days' notice and indicated staff would clarify contract language.

Hazard mitigation: Bruce Clements, director of the Office of Emergency Management, presented the proposed 2025 Williamson County Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan replaces a document written nine years ago and includes a county‑wide hazard risk assessment, inventory of critical infrastructure, vulnerability analysis and a prioritized list of mitigation strategies. Clements said the planning process began in late 2023, was carried out by contractor H2O Partners, and was funded by the Texas General Land Office (GLO). Williamson County received $76,000 for the plan; the county's initial application cost was about $2,500 and the county has already been reimbursed $52,000, with the remainder reimbursable once the plan is adopted. Commissioners approved the plan (motion by Commissioner Covey; second by Commissioner Bowles), and the court recorded the vote as 5–0. Clements said adoption also restores eligibility for future FEMA mitigation funding tied to an approved plan and that the county will review the plan annually.

Burn ban: Fire Marshal Mike Lugo recommended lifting the burn ban adopted March 25 because recent rains and controlled fire responses reduced countywide fire risk. Commissioner Bullock moved to lift the ban and Commissioner Covey seconded; the motion passed 5–0.

Other actions: the court approved a road‑naming/extension for a county route to be called Wilco Way to connect Southwestern Boulevard and Interloop, a change intended to improve two‑way access to the county complex and avoid address changes for existing buildings. The court also approved election precinct adjustments to keep precinct populations under the state limit (state law guidance cited in discussion) and approved multiple grouped consent and regular agenda items (consent items 3–53 with item 16 pulled; later grouped approvals spanned items 64–97 with some pulls noted). All recorded motions on the consent and grouped agenda items passed by recorded 5–0 votes.

Public comment: resident Jim Dillon used his public comment time to criticize perceived waste and frequent consent‑agenda approvals, citing a $13,000 backsplash expenditure for the expo kitchen and urging more review. Dillon also questioned the need for a county manager position; Commissioners and the new county manager responded that the agenda items were deliberated and staff work had been substantial.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of payments and funding reports (Item 2): approved, recorded vote 5–0. Key figures presented: $25,428.03 (supplemental), $17,095,291.67 (funding report), and $6,057,394.04 (addendums/wires/quick/benefits). - Termination of Williamson County Services contract with Code Stream Solutions (Item 22): approved, motion by Commissioner Terry Cook, second by Commissioner Boles; recorded vote 5–0. Effective date: 2025‑05‑29. - Adoption of the 2025 Williamson County Hazard Mitigation Plan (Item 56): approved, motion by Commissioner Covey, second by Commissioner Bowles; recorded vote 5–0. Funding: $76,000 from Texas GLO; county incurred $2,500 application cost; $52,000 already reimbursed. - Lift burn ban adopted March 25 (Item 57): approved, motion by Commissioner Bullock, second by Commissioner Covey; recorded vote 5–0. - Road naming/extension — Wilco Way (Item 62): approved, motion by Commissioner Coby, second by Commissioner Long; recorded vote 5–0. - Election precinct adjustments to meet state population limits (Item 63): approved, recorded vote 5–0. - Consent and grouped agenda items (Items 3–53, 64–97, except pulled items 16, 38, 81 and others noted on the record): approved as amended, recorded votes mostly 5–0.

The court recessed into executive session after adjourning the regular session and reconvened at 11:57 a.m., then adjourned with no reported motion out of closed session.