Hardin County commissioners approve $575,000 in VOCA grant applications, appointments and procurement actions

Hardin County Commissioners met Jan. 14, 2025, in the commissioners courtroom at the Hardin County Courthouse and unanimously approved a slate of administrative and funding actions, including two Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant resolutions totaling $575,000.

District Attorney Rebecca Walton asked the court to adopt Resolution 1-25 to submit a VOCA application for $275,000 to the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division; the court approved the resolution by a 5-0 vote. HCCVAC Interim Director Lisa Nix requested adoption of Resolution 2-25 to submit a VOCA application for $300,000; that resolution was also adopted 5-0. Both items were entered "included in the amount not to exceed" the requested sums.

The court re-appointed Sam Ashworth as a director of the Southeast Texas Groundwater Conservation District effective Jan. 1, 2025, approved appointments and reappointments for the Hardin County Historical Commission for the 2025–2026 term, and authorized several internal committees. Human Resources Director Melinda Herrington presented the 2025 Healthy County Committee (chair Matthew Minick and members Connie Becton, Mike Custer, Amber Meredith, Michelle Phillips, Tracy Turner and Brittany Wayne) and the 2025 Hardin County Safety Committee (chair Ernie Koch and members Mark Minton, Kevin Cummings, Brian Guillory, Karl Hardy, Misty Sims and Melinda Herrington); both were approved by unanimous vote.

On procurement and facilities issues, Purchasing Agent Misty Sims requested approval of Change Order No. 1 for FNT Construction Services in the amount of $6,097 to add labor and materials for the county courtroom renovation (fir out wall, additional electrical and CAT 6, painted interior and exterior window panels, and a new elevated workstation). The court authorized the change order and specified funding will come from interest earned in the county's ARPA account.

Commissioner Ernie Koch asked the Purchasing Agent to solicit bids to repair two drainage culvert crossings on Cooks Lake Road in Precinct 4; the court authorized bid solicitation. Sheriff Mark Davis requested a correction to a previously approved vehicle purchase: the approved purchase was for a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab (VIN ending ..4599) at $76,448.85, but the vehicle delivered was a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab (VIN 2079) at $73,582.00; the court approved the correction. The Tax Assessor-Collector was authorized to issue a refund to Christopher Coleman in the amount of $1,850.67 for 2023 (Homestead/Disabled Veteran).

Carl Marshall of the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission presented the 2025 Hardin County Atlas, which the court approved. The court also heard an update from Judge Wayne McDaniel on negotiations with Perry Andersen Properties LP regarding potential county property purchases and on a possible sale of county-owned property on W. Vaughn Street to the Central Appraisal District.

Separately, James Moore of the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission led a workshop-style discussion about developing a Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) application and an associated Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). That item was listed as a workshop and recorded as discussion only; no formal action was taken.

The court approved routine items including cancellation of registered claims from Dec. 23, 2024, payment of county bills as presented, and approval of minutes from prior meetings. The meeting adjourned following unanimous approval of the adjournment motion.

The court's recorded motions typically listed the mover and seconder and recorded the five voting members in favor: Judge Wayne McDaniel and Commissioners Chris Kirkendall, L.W. "Nubbin" Cooper Jr., Amanda Young and Ernie Koch. No votes were recorded against or as abstentions in the minutes provided.