Ellis County commissioners approve elevator controls, two dump trucks, road-classification resolution and funding moves

The Ellis County Commission approved a package of operational and capital items at its regular meeting, including repairs to the public courthouse elevator, purchase of two new dump trucks for public works, adoption of a county road-classification resolution and funding to complete a community center project.

Greg Herbert, Buildings and Grounds, told commissioners the courthouse public elevator was put in about 1995 and current service technicians can no longer source the control cards. "They can fix this elevator with used parts," Herbert said, arguing that installing new control boards now is preferable to repeatedly cannibalizing older units. The commission approved PO 7846 to replace the elevator control system and directed staff to coordinate the work around the court schedule; commissioners estimated the elevator could be out of service for roughly three weeks during the upgrade.

Bridal McNeay, Public Works Director, recommended purchasing two Freightliner 108SD dump trucks under the state contract through Truck Center Companies to replace an aging fleet. McNeay described a strategy to specify a Henderson bed to allow future bed transfers and reduce long-term upfitting costs, and outlined expected delivery timing: chassis in January with final upfitting by April. Commissioners discussed winter-service features and life-cycle planning; the board approved PO 7845 for the two trucks.

On transportation policy, Public Works staff presented the decennial review of the county—s Federal Aid Secondary (FAS) and collector classifications. Staff said traffic and right-of-way records show no net benefit to changing classifications now and recommended maintaining the existing map to preserve grant eligibility and continuity with neighboring jurisdictions. The commission adopted County Functional Classification Resolution 2024-15.

Sheriff Scott Brown summarized the county—s renewed contract with Advanced Correctional Healthcare (ACH) for inmate medical care in 2025. The contract was reviewed by county counsel and adjusted to add protective language; the cost is budgeted at $175,005.61 for 2025 and "won't exceed this amount for this coming year unless something major happens," Brown said. Commissioners approved the contract.

County Administrator Darren Myers described participation in NACO—s Operation Greenlight to light county facilities green during Veterans Day week and introduced a resolution of support; the commission approved the resolution. Myers also reported the commission had previously approved $241,605 to Grow Hays for the Bob and Patch Schmidt Community Center and, citing positive budget trends, moved to release those funds pending receipt of an invoice; the motion passed.

Myers and Herbert also briefed the commission on recent hail damage to skylights and an insurance claim that could return about $600,000 for vehicles and building repairs. Staff presented a roughly $72,000 bid to replace the skylights like-for-like; commissioners approved PO 7847 to proceed and discussed longer-term options to reduce future hail exposure.

Bobby Browning, county clerk and election official, reminded voters that voter registration for the general election closes at 11:59 p.m. today, that the first advance mail ballots will go out Oct. 16 (approximately 600 expected), and that early voting at the administration center runs weekdays 8 a.m.–4 p.m. through noon Nov. 4, with Saturday voting Nov. 2 from 9 a.m.–noon.

The board recessed to a 15-minute executive session under the attorney—client privilege to discuss a tax-sale matter with county counsel Bill Jeter and Administrator Myers; the open meeting resumed at 9:47 a.m. with no action taken.

The commission adjourned following the resumption of open session.