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Houston County Commissioners approve minutes, budget amendments, hires, agreements and settlements
Summary
The court approved prior minutes and routine budget and personnel actions, authorized fencing and outfitting of three sheriff pickups (Title III funds), accepted an opioid settlement allocation (~$3,612), approved a Business Associate Agreement with 1921 Consultants, and awarded $1,470.50 in Hotel Occupancy Tax funding to Houston County News.
At their April 14 meeting, the Houston County Commissioners approved a series of routine but consequential items: minutes from previous meetings, budget amendments, payment of accounts payable and fund transfers, salary approvals for two new temporary-license hires and a six-month raise for a Justice of the Peace employee, and several administrative agreements and expenditures.
Personnel and payroll actions: The court approved salaries for Matte Hartt (Jailer, temporary license) at an annual salary of $42,000 and Mikenna Moreton (Dispatcher, temporary license) at $38,000, effective April 7, 2026. A six-month raise for Jessica Cornelius, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, was also approved. The minutes record these motions as carried with a 3-0 tally and Commissioner Gene Stokes listed as abstaining on those personnel votes.
Budget, contracts and equipment: The court approved presented budget amendments, payment of bills, and necessary fund transfers. It approved a Business Associate Agreement with 1921 Consultants (effective Oct. 1, 2025) to satisfy Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act requirements for handling protected health information. The court also authorized relocation and construction of fencing along the county property line at the former food stamp office/Precinct 2 barn at an estimated cost of $5,000 and tabled a separate proposed purchase of gym equipment for the Crockett DPS office pending further review.
Settlements and law-enforcement funding: Commissioners accepted an additional opioid litigation settlement allocation for Houston County of approximately $3,612. The court authorized outfitting of three 2026 sheriff patrol pickups using Secure Rural Schools Act—Title III funds and approved related budget amendments. The court also received as information the FY 2026 LEOSE funds usage report.
Other items and proclamations: The court renewed membership with the Anderson-Houston Soil & Water Conservation District; received the reappointment of Melissa Jeter as County Auditor for April 16, 2026–April 15, 2028; proclaimed April 21, 2026 as San Jacinto Day; and proclaimed the week of April 26, 2026 as Soil & Water Stewardship Week. Commissioners approved an interlocal agreement and a Hotel Occupancy Tax application for Houston County News for $1,470.50 to support a free online program promoting local news and events.
Votes and procedure: Most motions recorded in the minutes carried unanimously (4–0). The minutes record the personnel votes noted above as carried with Commissioner Stokes abstaining; the minutes do not provide individual yes/no vote records for each commissioner beyond the aggregate tallies. The court adjourned at 9:50 a.m.
The minutes do not include additional background documentation for some items (for example, copies of the Business Associate Agreement or detailed estimates for equipment outfitting) and list many approvals as routine consent items.
