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Public commenters raise environmental hazard and alleged contractor fraud affecting local veterans
Summary
During public comment, a resident asked the county to contact TCEQ about three decades‑old fuel tanks on an abandoned commercial lot; another speaker, Austin May, alleged a contractor stole more than $60,000 from him and urged caution when supporting veteran families.
Two public commenters addressed distinct concerns during the court's public comment period.
Mary Flyers (introduced by the court as 'Missus Mary Flyers from Cook') said an abandoned commercial property in the county contains three fuel tanks buried in the ground for 'probably 45 years' and described the site as an environmental hazard. She asked whether the county or the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) would be involved or whether responsibility would be left to residents. The court did not record a direct departmental action at the meeting; the comment serves as a request for county follow‑up with TCEQ or environmental authorities.
Austin May identified himself and described a separate issue in which he said contractor Ashley Campbell took just over $60,000, including May's military retirement savings, for construction that never occurred. May said Campbell had been arrested on other fraud charges, made bail, was later arrested on charges related to May's case, and had again made bail; he said money had been distributed to the Campbell/Cooper family and asked the court to consider these facts when community members ask for donations for veteran causes. No formal county action or response resolving either issue was recorded in the transcript.
Both comments were recorded during the public comment agenda item; neither generated a formal vote or recorded county directive at the time of this meeting.
