HAYS COUNTY, Texas — The Hays County Commissioners Court used its Jan. 7 meeting to approve a broad slate of administrative and operational items, including ceremonial bond acceptance for newly elected officials, appointments to the Hays County Historical Commission, a proclamation designating Jan. 20, 2025, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and multiple vendor contracts and budget amendments.

Most items were approved on voice or roll‑call votes and were taken as single‑action consent blocks or individual agenda items when discussion was requested.

Key actions at a glance
- Ceremonial swearing and acceptance of official bonds: The court accepted bonds for newly elected and reelected county officers and performed a ceremonial swearing for officials already operationally sworn in. (Agenda item F1 — approved unanimously.)

- Hays County Historical Commission appointments: The court approved a slate of appointments to the Hays County Historical Commission (F2). The approved slate included Anna Juarez, Anita Collins, Anthony Davis, Grace Ann Fox, Jim Herbert, Joe Ramirez, Lila Knight, Linda Coker, Nicholas Casio, Hoot Gibson, Robert Frizzell, Robert Rizzo, Sally Ramirez, Sarah Simmons and Tim McHutchinson. The court clarified it was approving membership only; selection of the commission chair remains for the commission itself.

- Proclamation: The court adopted a proclamation declaring Jan. 20, 2025, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Hays County and heard remarks from Dunbar Heritage Association organizers about the 23rd annual observance (F3).

- Deputy constable appointment: The court approved the appointment and swearing‑in of Justin Drake as a full‑time deputy constable for Precinct 4; Drake transferred from the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and the court completed a ceremonial oath (G10).

- Letter of support for JBCR: The court approved a letter of support for Hill Country MHDD Centers regarding a future jail‑based competency restoration program (K10). (See separate article for detailed debate and context.)

- Interlocal memoranda of understanding and internships: The court authorized memoranda of understanding with Texas State University for a public‑health internship program (K7), with Texas State University College of Health Professions (K6), with the University of Texas Houston for integrated community opioid network work (K5), and with Texas Department of State Health Services for direct program contracts (K8). All MOUs were approved on roll call.

- Contracts, awards and procurement: The court approved a range of procurement actions including:
• Award of IFB 2025‑B03 to Bennett Paving Inc. for Shadow Creek Subdivision hot‑mix replacement — $162,750 (I1).
• Selection of Freese & Nichols for Hays County stormwater program updates (discretionary exemption) (I2).
• Selection of LJA Engineering for right‑of‑way acquisition services for the SH‑45 Southwest Extension ROW (I4) and Quiddity Engineering for Centerpoint Overpass design in Precinct 3 (I5).
• Renewals and purchases in the consent block, including inmate commissary specifications, hauling solid waste extensions, and equipment and training purchases for the sheriff’s office (G19–G37).

- Finance and retiree assistance: The court authorized the county treasurer to enter short‑term payment agreements with Hays County retirees to prevent loss of retiree health insurance when payments are missed; the treasurer said arrangements would be short term and standardized (K3).

- Development plats and planning: The court ratified plats for Sunfield Phase 6 Promenade Parkway and Rainbow Ranch Subdivision (J1 and J2) and set public hearings for other subdivision matters (J3, J4).

Consent slate and roll call
The court opened and approved a large consent slate covering G1–G37, including payments, payroll authorizations, budget amendments, grant acceptances and event permits. Votes on the slate and the individual items called for roll calls; the court recorded unanimous support on the items taken as presented, with one item (a utility permit for Deer Lake Road) pulled for future consideration and public notice after public comment from local landowners.

Administration and personnel
The court approved several personnel items requested by county departments, including adding positions in the sheriff’s HR office and the auditor’s office to handle increased workloads tied to civil‑service duties and grant compliance. The court also authorized contracting and project management selections for precinct facility projects and approved change orders and maintenance bond acceptances for road and subdivision work.

What’s next
Several items require follow‑up: contracts selected subject to negotiated agreements (I2, I4, I5) and a pulled utility permit related to Deer Lake Road will return to a future docket after staff review and public notice. The court moved to executive session on multiple legal and personnel topics before adjourning.

Roll calls and procedural notes
Where roll calls were recorded the court filed votes as noted in the meeting minutes; most actions were unanimous. When an elected official had a potential conflict the transcript includes recusal (for example, one commissioner recused from I5 because of a family member connection).