Grayson County commissioners approve routine payments, accept K‑9 donations and grant application; air‑ambulance supplement left unchanged

Grayson County Commissioners Court on Aug. 19 approved routine bill payments and a series of contracts and personnel items, accepted donations to support the sheriff’s K‑9 program, authorized a grant application for an inmate re‑entry program, and discussed — but took no action on — continuing a county supplement for employee air‑ambulance memberships.

The court authorized payment of routine bills dated Aug. 19, 2025 and approved several named payments: $96,918.36 to Relation Insurance Services for medical professional liability renewal for 2025–26; $108,811.23 to Fry and Associates LLC for installation of workstations at the new CSCD building; and $299,219.26 to the Grayson Appraisal District for fourth‑quarter 2025 appraisal services. Commissioners approved the payments by voice vote after motions and seconds; the court recorded the motions as carried.

The court also approved the appointment of Amy Whaley to the Child Welfare Board and authorized the county judge to sign residential services contracts with multiple counties for Grayson County Juvenile Services. The juvenile contracts list included Gillespie, Austin, Childress, Carson, Collingsworth, Donley, Hall, Cooke, Guadalupe, Hale, Howard, Martin, Glasscock, Limestone, Freestone, Midland, Randall, Upshur and Walker counties (as read into the record). Commissioners approved those renewals as presented.

The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office asked the court to accept a $31,500 donation check toward the purchase and training of an additional K‑9 and to accept four additional donation checks from local businesses to buy equipment for the county K‑9 program; the court voted to accept those donations. The sheriff’s office said the $31,500 check will cover both the new dog and handler training.

The court voted to authorize the county to apply to the Texoma Community Foundation for funds to buy the Hustle 2 behavioral re‑entry program and to help partially fund an inmate programs officer. The sheriff’s office told the court the Hustle 2 program cost is $5,000 and the county would seek $25,000 toward a program officer; the application requires no county match.

Other actions included declaring surplus equipment from Precinct 3 — older John Deere grader and backhoe — to be used as trade‑ins to settle a lease with RDO Equipment for a 2023 John Deere grader, and approving a professional services agreement between Grayson County and McManus Payne Consulting Engineers, LLC for engineering and development consulting services. A three‑lot plat titled Phillips Creek Estates 2 in Precinct 2 was approved after staff said it complies with Grayson County subdivision regulations.

The most extended discussion at the meeting concerned the county’s practice of paying a small annual supplement toward an employee group membership for three local air‑ambulance providers. Residents and county employees spoke in favor of maintaining the supplement, citing the cost of individual transport bills and gaps that can remain after insurance payment. Rob Crow, identified in the record as a former first responder and county resident, recounted personal experience with air transport and membership and urged the court to keep the program. "It's not an insurance policy. It's a membership program. Don't confuse the two," Crow said. He added, "I’m a proponent of this," and noted that county membership began in February 2005 and that roughly 146 employees participate.

Commissioners discussed that the county currently budgets roughly $20 per participating employee as a supplement while the employee share has been about $85–$90, and that some employees and their family members could lack full coverage under other insurers. After discussion, a commissioner proposed leaving the benefit in place for the current year and reconsidering funding or payroll‑based contributions at the next renewal; the court took no action to change the supplement at the meeting.

The court convened an executive session citing Texas Government Code Section 551.071 to consult with attorneys about pending litigation. The court returned to open session and announced that there was no action to be taken from the executive session and adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

Votes at a glance: motions to approve the consent agenda, to authorize the listed bill payments and the named contracts and appointments, and to accept the donations and grant application were made, seconded and carried by voice vote; the air‑ambulance supplement was discussed and left unchanged (no action).