Lavaca County commissioners approve TxDOT bridge funding agreement, authorize auction vendors and accept tax budget

Lavaca County commissioners on July 22 approved a series of routine but consequential items, including an advance funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation to replace a bridge on County Road 244, authorization to use two online vendors for surplus-property auctions, receipt and filing of the vehicle inventory tax budget for 2024–25, and two certificates of exemption from subdivision requirements.

The most consequential action was approval of a TxDOT advance funding agreement for County Road 244 (CSJ 0913-29-068). Precinct 2 described the project as part of a federal off-system bridge program administered by TxDOT, with a scheduled letting date in January 2026. The commissioner said the project is “100% federally funded” and requires no county match. The motion to approve the resolution to advance the funding agreement was made by Precinct 2 and seconded by Precinct 1; the court voted aye and the motion passed.

County officials also voted to add two vendors for online auction services to dispose of surplus county property. The court approved using Centimeters Company Auctions and GovDeals under Local Government Code LGC 263.152 to give the county an additional sales outlet for larger equipment and other surplus items. The motion was moved by Precinct 3, seconded by Precinct 4, and carried unanimously.

Miss Debbie, the county’s tax assessor-collector, explained the routine vehicle inventory tax budget she files annually under section 111.095 and said dealers pay vehicle inventory tax into a special account. She told the court that the interest earned on those funds is permitted for use in the assessor’s office. Commissioners confirmed the annual distribution process and unanimously approved receiving and filing the 2024–25 vehicle inventory tax budget.

The court also approved two certificates of exemption from subdivision requirements. The first granted an exemption to Jody Miller in Precinct 1 after clerical corrections to the application were noted. The second approved an exemption for property owned by Paul Hinkie Sr. and Annette Hinkie that will transfer to their daughter; the application was described as adjoining existing property near Hinkieville and approved under the local regulations cited in the record. A commissioner briefly observed a neighbor boundary and barbed-wire fence issue as an informal comment; no formal restitution was ordered.

All motions described above were made, seconded and passed during the session; commissioners moved the meeting into consent, muted microphones for consent items, and then adjourned. The court noted recent national events and the ongoing county budget season during the invocation and announcements, but took no action related to those matters.

Votes at a glance

• Advance funding agreement with TxDOT (County Road 244 / CSJ 0913-29-068): Motion by Precinct 2; second by Precinct 1; outcome: approved (unanimous).

• Authorize Centimeters Company Auctions & GovDeals for surplus sales (LGC 263.152): Motion by Precinct 3; second by Precinct 4; outcome: approved (unanimous).

• Receive and file 2024–25 vehicle inventory tax budget (section 111.095): Motion made and seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous).

• Certificate of exemption from subdivision requirements — Jody Miller (Precinct 1): Motion by Precinct 1; second by Precinct 2; outcome: approved (unanimous).

• Certificate of exemption from subdivision requirements — Paul Hinkie Sr. & Annette Hinkie: Motion by Precinct 1; second by Precinct 2; outcome: approved (unanimous).

What’s next

The court moved into its consent agenda for routine items and adjourned. The TxDOT project’s scheduled letting date is January 2026; no additional county funding was required for the advance agreement approved on July 22.