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Houston County approves multiple personnel hires, budget adjustments and departmental purchases
Summary
In its Jan. 13 meeting the Commissioners Court approved numerous personnel actions (hires, promotions, raises), paid bills, accepted surplus road materials, approved HOT grants for two arts events, and authorized a budget amendment for a 911 audio interface; the court deferred a Sheriff’s Office vest purchase because the vendor required upfront payment.
Houston County Commissioners approved a package of routine personnel and administrative actions at the Jan. 13, 2026 meeting, including multiple hires, promotions and raises, budget amendments, and departmental purchases.
Personnel actions approved by unanimous votes included a six-month raise for Alicia Bittner (Chief Deputy Treasurer), hiring part-time and full-time jail staff (e.g., Lincoln Smith and Nicholas Pustka at $42,000 annually), promotion of Brooke Fritz to Jail Sergeant at $47,000 annually, and several clerical hires and promotions in the Tax Office and JP 1 court. Commissioner Gary Lovell, Commissioner Willie Kitchen, Commissioner Gene Stokes and Commissioner Jimmy Henderson participated in the motions and seconds; all personnel motions carried 5-0.
The court also moved to pay accounts payable, process fund transfers and ratify salary expenses (motion carried 5-0), approved a compensatory/vacation payout example of $640.99 to Twyla Musick in the Tax Office, and approved a budget amendment to add part-time salary funding in the Tax Assessor/Collector’s office due to absences.
On departmental purchases and transfers, the court accepted surplus RAP materials from the Texas Department of Transportation for distribution among precincts, approved Hotel Occupancy Tax interlocal agreements awarding $1,000 each to Piney Woods Fine Arts for two performances at the Ritz Theatre, approved a budget amendment to purchase and install an audio interface for the Sheriff’s Department 911 dispatch system, and approved a proposed pipeline crossing on CR 2270. The Sheriff’s Office request to purchase 25 soft body armor vests was deferred because the vendor insisted on upfront payment contrary to county procurement policy; the sheriff's office was asked to determine whether the vendor will accept a requisition.
The meeting minutes record motions and unanimous votes for these routine items; specific contract amounts (where not noted), implementation timelines and vendor delivery dates were not provided in the minutes.
