Hardin County Commissioners approve a slate of budget amendments, contracts and appointments; direct wildfire protection planning

Hardin County Commissioners Court on Feb. 11, 2025, approved a series of routine and programmatic actions including budget amendments, contract amendments for a federally funded safe room project, equipment purchases funded by rural law enforcement grants and the appointment of a grant-funded project director.

The meeting, convened at 10 a.m. in the Hardin County Courthouse commissioners courtroom and called to order by County Judge Wayne McDaniel, was attended by Commissioners L.W. “Nubbin” Cooper Jr. (Pct. 1), Chris Kirkendall (Pct. 2), Amanda Young (Pct. 3) and Ernie Koch (Pct. 4), and Hardin County Clerk Connie Becton. The court approved minutes from Jan. 28 and Feb. 3, canceled registered claims from Jan. 28 at the request of County Treasurer Deborah McWilliams, and authorized payment of county bills as presented by County Auditor Angela Gore.

A resolution (Resolution 7-25) proclaiming February 2025 as Veterans Month and supporting the Southeast Texas Stand Down for Veterans event on Feb. 28, 2025, was adopted unanimously after being presented by Veterans Services Officer Kristen White.

On emergency-preparedness planning, Commissioner Chris Kirkendall led discussion on wildfire risk and the potential Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG). The court voted to move forward immediately with development of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and defer applying for the CWDG until next year.

Personnel and program actions included approval of Lisa Nix as Hardin County Crime Victims Assistance Center Project Director effective Feb. 11, 2025, at an annual salary of $53,560, a position…