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Hardin County Commissioners approve grants, equipment purchases and website upgrade; set election notices
Summary
In a Jan. 27 meeting the court approved routine financial items, supported a rural ambulance grant application for ESD No.2, authorized purchases of fingerprint systems and a website migration to meet ADA rules, and approved election notices for the March 3, 2026 primaries.
Hardin County Commissioners on Jan. 27 approved a range of administrative and budget measures, including financial reports, election notices, equipment purchases and an application-support decision for a rural ambulance grant.
Routine approvals: The court approved the Jan. 13, 2026 meeting minutes, cancelled registered claims from Jan. 13 and approved the county cash statement. County Auditor Candace McKinney reported total expenditures and transfers of $1,174,050.95 and gross payroll for Jan. 22 of $648,312.73.
Elections: Election Administrator Alyssa Freeman asked the judge to sign notices for the Republican and Democratic general primary elections scheduled for March 3, 2026. Freeman also reported an early-voting location in Lumberton will move to the Lumberton Event Center and that two Democratic precincts will vote at the Sour Lake Community Center; the court approved the notices.
Ambulance grant support: The court authorized the county judge to submit an application to the Texas Comptroller for the FY26 rural ambulance grant supporting Emergency Services District No. 2, with ESD No. 5 listed as an alternate applicant. Judge McDaniel said the grant would provide about $350,000 to Hardin County to purchase and equip an ambulance; he emphasized that the grant funds only cover vehicle and equipment purchase, not staffing.
Purchases and budget amendments: Sheriff Davis requested and the court approved a FY26 budget amendment to record $58,000 in additional jail phone commission revenue and create/adjust equipment and software line items. The court approved purchase of a live-scan fingerprint system from IDEMIA Identity & Security USA LLC under Texas DIR contract DIRCPO5324 for $20,946 and a portable IDENT 2 device for $2,050. Aaron Tupper, director of technology, presented a service agreement with the Texas Association of Counties to migrate the county website to an ADA-compliant platform: a one-time migration fee of $8,950 and a new annual fee of $9,550; the court approved the agreement but noted counsel raised a venue clause referencing Travis County.
Contract addendum: The court approved contract addendum No. 6 with Local Government Solutions LP to transition to the LGS court application, add one full-access user and add approximately $197 per month in licensing costs; the FY26 jury fund was amended by transferring $1,576 into software license/support.
Votes at a glance: Jan. 27 motions the court approved include minutes (Jan. 13), cancellation of registered claims/approval of cash statement, payment of presented bills, support for the rural ambulance grant application for ESD No.2 (ESD5 alternate), contract addendum with Local Government Solutions LP, election notices for March 3, 2026, sheriff budget amendment for jail-phone commission proceeds, purchase of live-scan fingerprint system ($20,946) and portable IDENT 2 device ($2,050), website migration contract (migration fee $8,950; FY27 hosting $9,550). The court adjourned after public comment.
Next steps: Staff will execute the election notices, proceed with purchases under DIR contract authority, and pursue permit/contract steps where applicable. The court set follow-up actions for the larger HMGP procurement (detention pond) and requested staff return with contract recommendations.
