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San Patricio commissioners approve WIC vehicles, sheriff grant application, budget changes and hires
Summary
During a routine session on Dec. 1 the court accepted two WIC vehicles (values and VINs recorded), authorized a sheriff's eGrants application for bullet-resistant vehicle components, approved a budget/escrow change and confirmed three sheriff's-office hires; most votes were unanimous.
San Patricio County commissioners on Dec. 1 approved a package of routine financial, equipment and personnel items, including acceptance of donated vehicles for the county WIC program, authorization for a sheriff's grant application, a budget escrow increase and hiring actions in the sheriff's office.
On the consent and action agenda the court accepted two vehicles donated by the state WIC office under USDA funding: a 2025 Ford F-50 (VIN 1FTEW2KP1SKE74332) valued at $44,891.31 and a 2026 Ford Explorer (VIN 1FMUK7DH1TGA15682) valued at $40,367.53. The motion passed unanimously.
The court also approved a request from Sheriff Rivera to apply for FY26 funding through eGrants to retrofit law-enforcement vehicles with bullet-resistant components. Commissioners made no substantive changes to the application request and approved filing for the grant.
Financial business included approval of claims presented to the court, a budget line-item transfer (clarified as a transfer from the general fund to debt service), and acceptance of the treasurer's report noting a health transfer of $44,900, Section 125 total of $825.98 and postage of $7,896.23. The court approved amending the insurance escrow amount from $3,000 to $5,000 effective Jan. 1, 2026, on the recommendation of the insurance committee; staff noted this is the first increase since the escrow was set.
The court authorized a local agreement between the county and the San Patricio County Drainage District to improve drainage and erosion protection on County Road 1694 and amended the motion to authorize payment for the work. Commissioners praised County Engineer John A. Hernandez for on-site oversight and progress photos.
Personnel items (3.1 b–d) approved hiring Jennifer Eubanks as a full-time jailer, Morgan Jackson as a full-time deputy (including a $65 monthly phone allowance), and Fred Martin as a full-time deputy (also with a $65 monthly phone allowance); salaries and effective dates were read into the record. Commissioners noted the sheriff's office remains below staffing targets but approved the hires.
All recorded motions on these agenda items carried by voice vote; where the record shows unanimous approval the court's minutes state "motion carries unanimous." The session adjourned at 9:22 a.m.
