Comal County commissioners approve claims, plats, grant applications, personnel changes and routine transfers

Comal County Commissioners Court on Feb. 6 approved routine county business including claims totaling $1,750,008.15, multiple subdivision plats and surety extensions, grant applications to the Office of the Governor for specialty-court programs, the creation of a new sheriff's office corporal position and several administrative line-item transfers.

The court opened by approving February 2025 claims: electronic funds transfers of $232,222.78 and regular claims of $1,517,785.37, for a total of $1,750,008.15. The motion to approve claims was made by Commissioner Hogg and seconded by Commissioner Leacock and carried by voice/hand vote.

Why it matters: These routine approvals release payments, extend developer sureties, and allow the county to submit competitive grants and maintain operations across departments.

Most significant actions

- Letters of credit/surety: The court accepted one-year extensions (Amendment 3) to irrevocable standby letters of credit for roads and improvements in 4 S Ranch Unit 9A (FTFC22107) and 4 S Ranch Unit 7B (FTFC22108). County planning/engineering staff recommended extension because city acceptance remained pending. Motions to extend were moved by Commissioner Hogg and seconded by Commissioner Leacock and were approved.

- Plats and development approvals: The court approved amendment-to-plat requests for Canyon Lake Hills Unit 5 (combine Lots 2210, 2211, 2212 into Lot 2210R) and Summit Estates at Fisher Unit 1 (combine Lots 63 and 67 into Lot 63R). The court also approved final plat actions for Gatehouse Unit 3 (accept dedication of right of way on FM 1102, accept a standby letter of credit FTFC25004 as surety, approve variances and authorize the county judge to sign). Each motion was moved and seconded by commissioners and approved by the court.

- Construction within inundation area (Vintage Oaks at the Vineyard Unit 26): The court approved an owner request to construct a portion of a pool and house within a restricted building setback/inundation area for Lot 2049, subject to the owner recording an affidavit that includes the engineering analysis and topographical survey in the Comal County Official Public Records. County engineering staff told the court the applicant’s hydraulic model showed the proposed encroachment would not impact the calculated water surface for the 100-year analysis; the judge authorized the owner to record the affidavit. Motion to approve was moved by Commissioner Leacock and seconded by Commissioner Hogg and carried.

- Materials donation request: The court approved a local government assistance request letter to accept 4,200 tons of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) offered to counties. The material will be used for shoulder-up material. Motion by Commissioner Hogg, second by Commissioner Leacock; approved.

- Park improvements donation: The court approved a donation agreement with KMI Sports Construction LLC to donate, install and certify three sets of bleachers at Jumbo Evans Sports Park (fields A, C and D); existing bleachers at those fields will be moved to fields E and F. County staff said the company will oversee installation and certify the work. Motion by Commissioner Crownover, second by Commissioner Leacock; approved.

- Specialty courts grant resolutions: The court approved resolutions authorizing submission of grant applications to the Office of the Governor under the Specialty Courts Program for three programs: the Accountability Court (requesting support for an assigned supervision officer, drug testing and program expenses; presenters requested $89,092), the Challenge Court (requesting $103,213) and the Mental Health Court (resolution approved; applicant said the county applied previously and attended the RISE conference; an amount for the current application was not specified in the record). Motions were approved (movers and seconders identified on the record) and the judge was authorized to sign.

- Juvenile prevention grant (SAFE): The court approved authorizing submission of a juvenile justice and truancy prevention grant application through the Office of the Governor to support the Student and Family Empowerment (SAFE) program; staff said the funding covers therapy services for youth identified as at-risk for delinquency or truancy. Motion by Commissioner Hogg, second by Commissioner Leacock; approved.

- Public health and emergency preparedness: The court approved the Department of State Health Services contract renewal under the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement for FY26 and approved routine monthly public-health reporting. Public health reported 304 immunizations, 10 lab tests, 11 state labs, 97 notifiable condition reports and 43 epidemiologic investigations for the prior month.

- Employee handbook and DOT policy updates: The court approved an updated Comal County Employee Handbook (effective 02/06/2025) with language changes and new or revised policies including prior service/rehire, a standalone whistleblower policy, FMLA/short-term disability clarifications, pregnancy accommodation language, and a clarified sick-leave pool amendment. The court also approved updates to the county DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing Program to maintain compliance with 49 C.F.R. Part 382. Motions to approve were carried.

- Sheriff’s office: The court approved creating a new corporal position (position code 017475009) in the sheriff’s office and approved a 2025 addendum to the interlocal agreement with Comal Independent School District for provision of law enforcement services (SROs). The sheriff told the court Comal ISD requested the position as the SRO program expands under Senate Bill 3; staff said the county expects to fill 22 of 23 positions by March and may return with a further addendum to expand the currently listed number of SRO spaces.

- Small procurement and equipment approvals: The court approved use of Justice Court technology funds ($6,382) to buy one new and one replacement ticket-writing (citation) device for Constable Precinct 2, and approved several small line-item transfers across departments (courthouse security copier maintenance, Road & Bridge copier maintenance, sheriff’s equipment classification changes due to price increases).

- Information security funding and missed invoice: The court approved a transfer of $97,000 from administrative contingency to add or replace information-security products and identity protections as part of a renewal. Staff disclosed a 2023 maintenance invoice had not been paid to the county’s reseller; the vendor reported the county’s contract remained paid and service was not interrupted. The court approved paying the overdue 2023 maintenance invoice.

Votes at a glance (action item number and short outcome)

1. Approve claims (Feb. 2025): Approved (motion: Commissioner Hogg; second: Commissioner Leacock). 2. Proclamation — Career and Technical Education Month: Approved (motion: Commissioner Hogg; second: Commissioner Crownover). [see separate article on proclamation acceptance] 3. Amendment to plat — Canyon Lake Hills Unit 5 (combine lots): Approved (motion: Commissioner Leacock; second: Commissioner Hogg). 4. Amendment to plat — Summit Estates at Fisher Unit 1 (combine lots): Approved (motion: Commissioner Crownover; second: Commissioner Webb). 5. Construction within inundation area — Vintage Oaks Unit 26 (Lot 2049): Approved with affidavit recording requirement (motion: Commissioner Leacock; second: Commissioner Hogg). 6. Accept Amendment 3 — Letter of credit FTFC22107 — 4 S Ranch Unit 9A (1-year extension): Approved (motion: Commissioner Hogg; second: Commissioner Leacock). 7. Accept Amendment 3 — Letter of credit FTFC22108 — 4 S Ranch Unit 7B (1-year extension): Approved (motion: Commissioner Hogg; second: Commissioner Leacock). 8. Final plat — Gatehouse Unit 3 (accept ROW, surety FTFC25004, variances): Approved (motion: Commissioner Webb; second: Commissioner Crownover). 9. Local government assistance request — accept 4,200 tons recycled asphalt pavement: Approved (motion: Commissioner Hogg; second: Commissioner Leacock). 10. Donation agreement — KMI Sports Construction LLC — bleachers at Jumbo Evans Sports Park: Approved (motion: Commissioner Crownover; second: Commissioner Leacock). 11. Resolution 202502 — Accountability Court grant application (~$89,092 requested): Approved (motion: Commissioner Hogg; second: Commissioner Leacock). 12. Resolution 202503 — Challenge Court grant application ($103,213 requested): Approved (motion: Commissioner Hogg; second: Commissioner Leacock). 13. Resolution 202504 — Mental Health Court grant application: Approved (motion: Commissioner Leacock; second: Commissioner Hahn). 14. Resolution — Juvenile justice & truancy prevention (SAFE program): Approved (motion: Commissioner Hogg; second: Commissioner Leacock). 15. Contract renewal — DSHS Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP): Approved (motion: Commissioner Hogg; second: Commissioner Leacock). 16. Employee handbook updates (effective 02/06/2025): Approved (motion: Commissioner Webb; second: Commissioner Crownover). 17. DOT Drug & Alcohol Testing Program updates (effective 02/06/2025): Approved (motion: Commissioner Hogg; second: Commissioner Leacock). 18. Use Justice Court technology funds ($6,382) for ticket devices — Constable Precinct 2: Approved (motion: Commissioner Hogg; second: Commissioner Leacock). 19. Sheriff’s items — create corporal position 017475009 and 2025 CISD interlocal addendum: Approved (motion: Commissioner Hogg; second: Commissioner Leacock). 20. Line-item transfer — Sheriff: capital to noncapital equipment (ticket rider classification): Approved (motion: Commissioner Hogg; second: Commissioner Leacock). 21. Line-item transfer — Courthouse security: hospitalization to copier lease/maintenance: Approved (motion: Commissioner Hogg; second: Commissioner Leacock). 22. Line-item transfer — Administrative contingency to IT software subscriptions ($97,000 net new cost for added security services): Approved (motion: Commissioner Webb; second: Commissioner Crownover). 23. Line-item transfer — pay unpaid 2023 maintenance invoice for information-security system: Approved (motion: Commissioner Webb; second: Commissioner Crownover). 24. Line-item transfer — Road and Bridge administration office supplies to copier lease/maintenance (shortfall $135): Approved (motion: Commissioner Hogg; second: Commissioner Leacock).

Discussion versus decisions: Most items were approved with little debate. Notable substantive discussion points included the engineering review and affidavit requirement for the Vintage Oaks inundation-area encroachment (item 5), county staff explaining the reason for extending developer sureties pending city acceptance (items 6–7), public-health monthly metrics and planned employee education events, and IT staff explaining a missed reseller invoice from 2023 (items 22–23). Several grant applicants explained program purposes and budget line items (items 11–14).

Meeting context and next steps: No executive session was held. Staff said the sheriff’s office expects to return with an addendum to increase the number of SRO spaces once positions are filled. Several grant submissions require the county judge’s signature for final application package submission.