Commissioners debate creating stand-alone Parks & Recreation department; county director complains of exclusion from planning

Commissioners discussed a proposal to create a stand-alone Hays County Parks & Recreation Department on May 20, citing the county’s expanding park portfolio and the $75 million parks bond. Several commissioners expressed support; Director of Countywide Operations Tammy Crumley said the idea is timely but criticized the process, saying she was not consulted before the item appeared on the agenda.

Why it matters: The county approved a $75 million parks and open-space bond in 2020 and has since taken on numerous park projects that will require ongoing administration, operations and capital-management capacity. Proponents said a dedicated department would centralize management, improve program delivery and ensure consistent maintenance of county facilities.

Clash over process: Crumley, who currently oversees parks among other functions, told the court she only learned of the agenda item Friday and said that exclusion from planning conversations was “disrespectful.” She described the practical challenges of moving day-to-day bond administration in-house and urged a deliberate transition plan. Commissioners acknowledged the omission, apologized and recommended that the incoming county administrator be included in further planning.

Next steps: Commissioners discussed deferring a final vote until the new county administrator is on board and staff can develop job descriptions, budget estimates and an implementation timeline for FY 2026. No formal action to create the department was taken at the meeting.

Outcome: Discussion only; commissioners asked staff to coordinate with the new county administrator and bring a more detailed plan back for consideration in the next budget cycle.