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Hemphill County commissioners approve 2025 audit, policy agreements, insurance and a new Tax Office hire; two abstentions recorded on invoices
Summary
At its Jan. 12 meeting the Hemphill County Commissioners' Court approved the 2025 audit, adopted a resolution supporting HOT exemptions for counties, approved airport insurance and several interagency agreements, and authorized an additional full‑time Tax Office employee effective Feb. 1, 2026. Two invoice approvals recorded individual abstentions.
Hemphill County Commissioners' Court met in regular session in Canadian, Texas, on Jan. 12, 2026, and approved a package of routine financial and administrative items, including the county audit for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2025, and a personnel request for the Tax Office.
County Judge Lisa Johnson presided over the meeting. John Merriss of Doshier, Pickens and Francis LLC presented the audit for the year ending Sept. 30, 2025; Commissioner Tim Alexander moved to accept the audit as presented, and Commissioner Nicholas Thomas seconded. The court approved the audit without opposition.
The court also adopted a resolution in support of hotel occupancy tax (HOT) exemptions for counties after Judge Johnson introduced the item; Commissioner Dale Schafer moved approval and Nicholas Thomas seconded. Commissioners approved airport premises liability insurance for 2026–2027 with Old Republican Insurance Company for $5,445.00, and approved a Mutual Aid Agreement involving the Department of Public Safety and the Hemphill County Sheriff's Office for planning and response to active‑attacker incidents at county primary and secondary schools. Both motions carried without recorded opposition.
Judge Johnson told the court that an agreement with Hemphill County Hospital is required to apply for the Rural Ambulance Service Grant under HB3000; Commissioner Nicholas Thomas moved to approve that agreement, Tim Alexander seconded, and the motion carried unopposed. On the staffing item, Tax Assessor/Collector Chris Jackson explained the need for another full‑time employee in the Tax Office. The court approved the request and the commissioners amended the motion to set the effective date for the hire as Feb. 1, 2026.
Votes at a glance - Approve minutes (Dec. 29, 2025): moved by Tim Alexander, seconded by Dale Schafer; approved (no recorded opposition). - Approve audit (year ending Sept. 30, 2025): moved by Tim Alexander, seconded by Nicholas Thomas; approved (no recorded opposition). - Resolution supporting HOT exemptions for counties: moved by Dale Schafer, seconded by Nicholas Thomas; approved (no recorded opposition). - Airport premises liability insurance (Old Republican Insurance Co.): motion by Nicholas Thomas, seconded by Tim Alexander; approved; amount $5,445.00. - Mutual Aid Agreement for active‑attacker response at schools (DPS, Hemphill County Sheriff's Office and partner group): moved by Dale Schafer, seconded by Nicholas Thomas; approved. - Agreement with Hemphill County Hospital (HB3000) to enable Rural Ambulance Service Grant application: moved by Nicholas Thomas, seconded by Tim Alexander; approved. - Tax Office additional full‑time employee: moved by Nicholas Thomas, seconded by Tim Alexander; approved and amended to take effect Feb. 1, 2026. - Budget and financial report (Dec. 31, 2025) and computer-generated and hand-stamped bills: approved. - Invoice: $200.00 to Schafer Services for contract labor at the Sheriff's Office: motion carried; Commissioner Dale Schafer abstained. - Invoices: Alexander's Grocery and Deli — $449.75 (Stock Show setup crew lunch) and $206.66 (coffee for Sheriff's Office): motion carried; the record shows Commissioner Tim Alexander abstained on at least one of these invoices.
The meeting included a series of administrative announcements: Judge Johnson said she was appointed by TAC Executive Director Susan Redford to the TAC Risk Management Pool Board of Directors; she reported the county had sent a sealcoat proposal to High Plains Engineering to begin contracting and bidding; and Southwest Architects will hold a pre‑construction meeting with a subcontractor next week. The county noted a County Stock Show scheduled for 'Saturday 17, 2026' in the transcript; the month was not specified in the record provided.
The court adjourned at 10:20 a.m.
Notes on vote records: most motions were recorded as 'carried unopposed' in the transcript; individual roll‑call tallies for yes/no votes were not provided except where the minutes explicitly note an abstention for a named commissioner. Where an abstention was recorded that fact is reported above.
