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Hamilton County ratifies emergency-management MOU, approves SB 5 interlocal for ambulance and advances communications tower work
Summary
The court ratified an MOU allowing Communications lead Lacy Alexander to be deployed with salary reimbursement, approved an interlocal with Hamilton General Hospital to receive SB 5 grant funds for a new ambulance, and heard progress on Phase II of the county communications tower and related vendor searches.
Hamilton County Commissioners on Jan. 27 ratified a Memorandum of Understanding with the Texas Division of Emergency Management to allow county communications staff to join state emergency response teams with county salary reimbursement, approved an interlocal agreement to accept SB 5 grant funds for a new ambulance, and received an update on Phase II of the county communications tower.
Commissioner Dickie Clary moved and Commissioner David Ogle seconded ratification of the MOU permitting Communications lead Lacy Alexander to be called out as part of Texas Emergency Management Assistance Teams; the court approved the measure 4-0 with County Judge James Yates abstaining. Lacy Alexander told the court she would consider Hamilton County as her first priority before accepting any out-of-county deployment under the agreement.
The court also approved an interlocal agreement with Hamilton General Hospital that will allow the county to receive SB 5 grant funding and then disburse the funds for a requested new ambulance. Commissioner Clary moved the interlocal agreement and Commissioner Ogle seconded; the motion passed 4-0 with Judge Yates recorded as abstaining.
Communications Director Lacy Alexander reported that all Phase II tower inventory has been received by vendor Bearcom. Bearcom will begin a dry installation Feb. 2–6, 2026; actual installation was described as starting several weeks after the dry install, with the Hamilton site first and the Hico site next. The court requested presentations from vendors capable of providing generator maintenance and remote alarm-notification services.
Sheriff Boulton reported that a water line broke in the Sheriff's Department ceiling during the winter storm and said the department expects to receive an additional $60,000 in ICE grant funding each quarter. He also noted a forthcoming state grant of $80,000 for technology and officer equipment; eligibility requires officers to have at least two years' active service.
Communications staff Melinda Lake, Julie Ingram and Aubrey Tolar were recognized for covering the communications center through the winter weather; Andrea Ringnald was noted to have passed her state dispatchers' class with a 90% score. The court adjourned at 1:53 p.m.
