Lavaca County commissioners approve grant applications, reimbursements and subdivision exemptions
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Summary
At its Feb. 26 meeting, the Lavaca County Commissioners Court approved multiple resolutions to apply for sheriff's grants, approved reimbursement of $7,175.55 for stolen culverts, acknowledged a long-term staff retirement, and approved several subdivision-exemption certificates. The court left burn-ban status unchanged while monitoring drought indicators.
Lavaca County's Commissioners Court on Feb. 26 approved a package of routine and operational items, including grant applications for the sheriff's office, a restitution reimbursement, and four subdivision-exemption certificates.
The court voted unanimously to approve a motion to deposit $7,175.55 recovered through district-court restitution back into Precinct 2's line item, after officials described the recovery as the result of game cameras and sheriff's-office involvement. An unidentified speaker noted, "we got back $7,175.55." The motion was made and passed by voice vote.
The court also approved resolutions permitting the sheriff's office to apply for two state grant programs. Captain Josh of the sheriff's office told the court, "This grant specifically, provides a certain amount of money depending on your county's population," in reference to the SB 8 sheriff grant; the court approved the resolution to apply. Commissioners separately approved a resolution to apply for the governor's Operation Lone Star (OLS) grant for fiscal year 2027; Captain Josh said last year the office received about $230,000 and emphasized that OLS awards depend on the application.
Land-use actions included approval of certificates of exemption from subdivision requirements for parcels in Precincts 1 and 3. The court approved an exemption for family land divisions off County Road 377A (Joanne Bluda, John Henry Pekar and Carol Kovichka) and a separate exemption for Tracy Rose (Precinct 1), finding the applications met exemption criteria; commissioners noted a 30-foot easement and that the county would not take the roadway as a full county road.
The court also acknowledged the retirement of Denise Bunock after 23 years in the District Clerk's office and designated Feb. 26 as a day to honor the local scholastic journalism program. The consent agenda was approved in a single voice vote, and the court adjourned until March 10, 2026.
Votes at a glance
- Proclamation recognizing student journalism day: motion adopted (voice vote). - Acknowledge retirement of Denise Bunock: motion adopted (voice vote). - Reimburse Precinct 2 line item with $7,175.55 (restitution): motion adopted (voice vote). - Approve racial-profiling report filing: motion adopted (voice vote). - Approve resolution to apply for SB 8 sheriff grant: motion adopted (voice vote). - Approve resolution to apply for Operation Lone Star (FY2027): motion adopted (voice vote). - Approve certificates of exemption (Bluda/Pekar/Kovichka and Tracy Rose): motions adopted (voice votes). - Consent agenda approval: motion adopted (voice vote).
The court did not take formal action on a change to local burn-ban status; the judge and fire chief said they would monitor drought conditions and convene the court if an emergency order were required.
