Comal County approves routine claims, reinstates burn ban and moves forward on mental health facility and jail competency program

Comal County Commissioners Court on Thursday approved routine claims and a series of administrative and public‑safety actions, including a contract amendment for a planned mental health observation facility, an interlocal agreement to provide jail‑based competency restoration locally, and a burn ban effective Jan. 17 at 6 a.m.

The court approved $1,656,330.79 in claims, accepted a $1,300 donation to the sheriff’s K‑9 unit from the New Braunfels Candle Company and authorized a second amendment to the architectural services agreement for the county’s Extended Observation Unit Crisis Residential Facility to address raised floodplain elevations, a staff member said. The court also approved an interlocal agreement with Hill Country Community Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center to provide jail‑based competency restoration services in the Comal County Jail.

County Treasurer Renee Couch told the court the county had a strong year for investment income and recommended approval of the monthly treasurer’s report. “For the year, our investment income, was 9.252,” Couch said during the presentation. The court approved the treasurer’s report.

A county staff member explained the architectural amendment — totaling $42,360 — is needed because recently updated floodplain information requires the project’s foundation to be raised about three feet and related civil work to be redesigned. The amendment will be funded from ARPA fund interest earnings; the court approved the change.

The interlocal agreement with Hill Country MHMR will let the county provide competency restoration services locally instead of sending…