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Bee County commissioners approve ARPA emergency purchase, accept Pettus donations and set March 23 hearing on no‑engine‑brake signs
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Summary
At its Feb. 9 regular meeting, the Bee County Commissioner's Court authorized up to $25,000 in ARPA interest funds for an emergency Tynan Sewer Plant booster pump, accepted donated appliances and renovations for the Pettus Community Center (subject to Local Government Code §81.032), and set a March 23 public hearing on no‑engine‑brake signs for specified state highway intersections.
Bee County’s Commissioner's Court met Monday and moved several administrative and emergency measures, including emergency spending, donated facility repairs and a traffic‑control public hearing.
The court approved using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) interest funds to buy a replacement booster pump for the Tynan Sewer Plant and amended the authorization to allow up to $25,000 to cover the pump and shipping. The pump’s base price was reported as $19,500; county staff said shipping costs were not yet final. Commissioner DeWitt noted the mechanism for using interest funds and the relationship to a Mud District, saying, "This is the way we can do this and utilize these funds, which are not technically county funds from the county budget to fund an outside source." The motion passed by voice vote without recorded opposition.
The court accepted donated appliances for the Pettus Community Center — a refrigerator, stove and microwave — that the Pettus Environmental Restoration Group already purchased and placed. Commissioner DeWitt described the items as "first class" and said county property staff would tag the items once accepted. The court also approved accepting donated repairs and renovations (roof, lighting, floors, interior painting and other work) offered by the Pettus Environmental Restoration Group and an anonymous donor, conditioned on contractor insurance and liability documentation and citing Local Government Code §81.032. Pettus representatives gave a timeline: roof work could start immediately and be completed in less than a week, with the broader work expected "about 3 months." Costs for new front doors were discussed; one estimate cited roughly $6,000–$7,000 while another speaker gave a wider range of $3,800 to $30,000. Commissioners asked that any county commitment for doors be returned to the court with specifications before funds are spent.
The court set a public hearing under Texas Transportation Code ch. 253 to consider installing "no engine brake" signs at specified intersections on State Highways 202/181 in Beeville and 623/673 in Mineral. Commissioner DeWitt moved to set the hearing for 10 a.m. March 23, 2026; the motion passed. Staff discussed the 30‑day newspaper notice and coordination with TxDOT, which must GPS sign locations and place signs on state sign posts.
Other routine or housekeeping items passed by voice vote: an expo‑auditorium fee waiver for First Baptist Church School’s public auction on March 5 (First Baptist director Chuck Milton told the court he is the school's director), approval to use the Commissioner's Courtroom for the county ballot board on March 3 (2 p.m.–7 p.m.), approval to submit a grant application (the record text reads "Ed Rochelle Grama") on behalf of the 156th Judicial District Attorney’s Office for FY2026 (grant amount cited as $15,000), authorization to auction unsalvageable small equipment via Centimeters Auctions, and renewal of the Affordable Care Act reporting and tracking service (ARTS) with the Texas Association of Counties Health and Employee Benefits Pool.
The court recalled and approved the consent agenda subpart 7(d)(1) after related budget items were considered. The meeting adjourned after brief final remarks.
What’s next: the court set the no‑engine‑brake public hearing for 10 a.m. on March 23, 2026; staff will publish the required notice and coordinate sign locations with TxDOT.
