Hardin County commissioners approve grants, contracts and 45-day extension of burn-ban declaration

County Judge Wayne McDaniel and the Hardin County Commissioners Court on March 10 unanimously approved a slate of grant applications, construction contracts and procurement actions, and extended the county's Declaration of Disaster and an order restricting outdoor burning for 45 days because of extreme drought conditions.

The court adopted an amended resolution authorizing submission of an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) application to the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division, and separately approved Resolution 8-26 to submit a FY27 Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities (LETPA) Sustaining Tactical Response Team Project grant application in an amount not to exceed $25,000. Grants Coordinator Clay Woodward presented the grant items; the resolutions passed on unanimous votes.

Commissioners likewise approved Resolution 9-26 to submit a State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) grant application to the Office of the Governor, Homeland Security Grant Division. Emergency Management Coordinator Aaron Tupper requested the SHSP application; the court approved it unanimously.

Judge McDaniel requested and the court approved a 45-day continuation of the county's Declaration of Disaster and the outdoor-burning restriction first issued March 3, 2026, citing current and forecasted extreme drought conditions. Commissioner Chris Kirkendall moved the extension and Commissioner L.W. Cooper Jr. seconded; all members voted in favor.

On procurement and capital projects, the court approved multiple contract actions presented by Purchasing Agent Misty Sims. The court approved a Standard Form Agreement with MK Constructors, LLC for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Lumberton Detention Pond project and later approved Change Order No. 1 to reduce the contract amount to the figure recorded in the court agenda. The court also approved Change Order No. 3 with N&T Construction for the Hurricane Safe Room and Change Order No. 7 with Construction Managers of Southeast Texas for jail renovations; all motions passed unanimously.

The court approved a request from Sheriff Mark Davis to reallocate $25,000 within the FY26 Law Enforcement SB22 budget from Safety Equipment (034-560-346) to Auto Purchases (034-560-574) and authorized payment of $53,580 to Silsbee Ford for equipment upfitting of three new sheriff's vehicles using the TIPS cooperative purchasing program.

Purchasing Agent Misty Sims presented bids for road materials and emulsions; the court approved awards with modifications. The court also awarded the Community Development Block Grant mitigation contract (GLO Contract No. 24-065-065-E596) for the Silsbee Roadside Ditch and Channel Improvements Project to Eastex Utility Construction.

Representatives from Schaumburg & Polk, Inc. delivered a presentation updating the court on projects tied to Lumberton ISD generators and drainage studies for Black Creek, Boggy Creek and Mill Creek under the DR-HMGP-4485 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program; that item was presentation-only and required no action.

Votes at a glance: all motions, including the JAG and LETPA resolutions, SHSP resolution, burn-ban extension, budget amendment, vehicle upfitting purchase, HMGP contract and its change order, hurricane safe room and jail renovation change orders, bid awards and the district clerk filing, passed unanimously with the court recording the County Judge plus Commissioners Chris Kirkendall, L.W. Cooper Jr., Amanda Young and Ernie Koch in favor.

The court opened the floor for other non-agenda announcements and then adjourned. County Clerk Connie Becton filed the minutes for the February 24, 2026 meeting as presented. The court did not schedule additional votes at the March 10 meeting; next procedural steps will follow through the county purchasing and grant-administration processes and through any required state approvals for grant awards.