Comal County approves claims, burn ban and a slate of routine actions on Aug. 14

Comal County Commissioners Court approved a series of consent and action items Aug. 14, including claims totaling $3,468,333.99; several development surety extensions; health-plan agreements; an outdoor burning ban; and orders required for elections and judicial bond amounts.

Claims: The court voted to approve claims presented for Aug. 14, 2025: electronic funds transfers of $1,792,075.62 and regular claims of $1,676,258.37, for a total of $3,468,333.99. Commissioner Hogg moved to approve the claims and Commissioner Licott seconded; the motion carried.

Development and finance items: The court approved a two-month continuation certificate extension for construction bond K41845855 (Kenwood Unit 1) so final closeout documents can be completed; it approved Amendment 1 to irrevocable standby letter of credit FTFC 24726 as a one-year extension for road and drainage improvements in Simmons Valley South Entry Road; and it authorized the county judge to sign the associated surety agreement.

Employee benefits and administrative agreements: The court approved the Texas Association of Counties Health and Employee Benefits Pool administrative services agreement and stop‑loss agreement for plan year 2025–26 and authorized the county judge to sign. Staff said those agreements were reviewed by general counsel and are part of the county’s self‑insured plan.

Public safety and elections: The court adopted an order prohibiting all outdoor burning in unincorporated Comal County effective Aug. 15 at 6 a.m., citing dry conditions and fires in surrounding counties. The court also approved an order calling a special election on Nov. 4, 2025, for constitutional amendments and authorized necessary actions to place the order on record.

Judicial bonds and appointments: Following the recent legislative change in Senate Bill 387, the court approved addenda increasing bond amounts to $500,000 for statutory county court judges and county court judges who preside over guardianship or probate proceedings. The court also directed the county clerk to record the district court judges’ reappointment of the county auditor, Jesse Ra, to a two-year term.

Animal control and executive session action: The court designated Animal Control supervisor Mitchell Pratt as the local rabies control authority under the Rabies Control Act of 1981. The court convened in executive session under Texas Government Code §551 to discuss litigation and privileged matters, then reconvened and approved a release agreement between Tom McIvor (name appears in the record; transcript also shows a variant spelling) and Comal County and authorized the county judge to sign.

All motions reported on the action agenda were seconded and carried by voice vote; the meeting record shows unanimous or unopposed voice approvals on the listed items. The court did not take formal action on the tow-rotation workshop item; that matter will return for further consideration.