Mason County commissioners approve ambulance grant application, hire paramedic and clear several capital purchases

The Mason County Commissioners Court approved a series of routine and emergency‑preparedness actions at its Jan. 27, 2026 meeting in Mason, Texas, including authorization to seek a $500,000 Rural Ambulance Service Grant, hiring a part‑time paramedic and awarding capital repair contracts.

Commissioner Reggie Loeffler moved and Commissioner Dave Underwood seconded approval to apply for the Rural Ambulance Service Grant Program under HB3000 for up to $500,000; the motion carried. At the same meeting the court hired and reclassified Damon Curry as a part‑time paramedic at $24.95 per hour, with retirement benefits and overtime pay applicable, effective Jan. 27, 2026. Commissioner Loeffler moved the hire and Commissioner Buddy Schuessler seconded.

The court also approved an outdoor warning‑sirens grant agreement with the Texas Water Development Board under SB3 and separately approved a related grant agreement and an authorized‑representative resolution. Those actions were recorded in Commissioner’s Court Minutes Vol. 24. The court approved a Snider Technology quote (Q13725) for a laptop and dual monitors for the Emergency Management Department totaling $2,429.96, with travel and labor not to exceed $1,187.50; the minutes record the vote as 4–1 in favor.

Facilities work was approved: Nixon Roofing received a $25,993 contract for roof repairs at the Mason County & District Clerk’s Office, and A‑Lert (A-Lert) was approved for $78,440 in roof repairs at the Mason County Sheriff’s Office; the library roof received no action. Brandon Ginn of A‑Lert was present to answer questions about roofing quotes.

Other budget and administrative items approved included acceptance of the Treasurer’s affidavit for the month ending Dec. 2025; a $1,000 appropriation to the Mason County Child Welfare Board as budgeted for 2026; and a $1,500 amendment to the Justice Court Technology Fund (bringing that fund to $2,700) to cover additional training needs. The Revize website design and development proposal was tabled and reset for Feb. 9, 2026.

The court also approved Mason County serving as fiscal agent for the 452nd Juvenile Probation Department contingent on hiring a new chief juvenile probation officer, and approved a hangar lease with Tom Doell for March 1–Dec. 31, 2026 at $250 per month.

During Judge Sheree Hardin’s and the commissioners’ reports, Commissioner Fred Estes discussed requests to lift the county burn ban. County staff reported coordination with the Texas Division of Recovery Services (DRS) and FEMA on RFP options and project reimbursements; one FEMA project is completed and ready to start the reimbursement process. Low temperatures in the courthouse have triggered the fire alarm system, which the court noted.

Judge Hardin requested an executive session under Government Code §551.072 for deliberations about real property; the executive session ran from 12:20 p.m. to 12:48 p.m. The minutes do not record any formal action resulting directly from the executive session. The court adjourned at 12:49 p.m.

Votes at a glance

- Accounts payable and settlement of bills: motion carried (mover: Comm. Fred Estes; seconder: Comm. Reggie Loeffler). - Treasurer affidavit (Dec. 2025): approved (mover: Comm. Reggie Loeffler; seconder: Comm. Buddy Schuessler). - DAR/Mason County Historical Society: permission to plant a pecan tree for 2026 ceremonies: approved (mover: Comm. Fred Estes; seconder: Comm. Reggie Loeffler). - Mason County Child Welfare Board: $1,000 as budgeted for 2026: approved. - Justice Court Tech Fund amendment ($1,500; total $2,700): approved. - Revize website proposal: tabled to Feb. 9, 2026. - Hire/reclassify part‑time paramedic (Damon Curry at $24.95/hr): approved. - Apply for Rural Ambulance Service Grant (HB3000) up to $500,000: approved. - TWDB outdoor warning‑sirens grant and related resolution (SB3): approved. - Snider Technology quote for EM laptop/monitors ($2,429.96; travel/labor ≤ $1,187.50): approved, vote recorded 4–1. - Roof repairs: Nixon Roofing ($25,993) and A‑Lert ($78,440) approved; library roof no action. - Mason County as fiscal agent for 452nd Juvenile Probation Department (upon hiring new CJO): approved. - New airport hangar lease with Tom Doell (Mar.–Dec. 2026, $250/mo): approved.

What this means

The court’s approvals prioritize emergency medical services capacity and emergency management equipment (paramedic hire, ambulance grant application, sirens) and address near‑term facility maintenance (roof repairs, courthouse systems). Several items (website proposal, library roof) were deferred or received no action. The executive session addressed real property deliberations; the minutes do not indicate a public outcome from that session.

The clerk’s office certified that the notice for this regular meeting was posted Jan. 20, 2026. The meeting minutes were published on Feb. 19, 2026 and adopted on Feb. 9, 2026.