Matagorda County commissioners approve routine contracts, funding and personnel hire

The Matagorda County Commissioners' Court voted unanimously April 27 to approve a package of routine administrative items, including a personnel hire, several contracts and funding agreements, and routine financial approvals, according to the minutes.

County Judge Bobby Seiferman and the court approved authorizing Commissioner Mike Estlinbaum to hire James Thomas as a Heavy Equipment Operator at a pay rate of $21.75 per hour. The motion to approve the hire was made by Commissioner Estlinbaum and seconded by Commissioner Troy Shimek; the minutes record the vote as 5 ayes, 0 nays.

The court authorized Commissioner Estlinbaum to sign the Matagorda County WCID #2 Bulk Water Sales Agreement related to a water meter repair on Revetment Road in Sargent, Texas, and approved payment of the installation invoice totaling $429.14. That motion was made by Commissioner Estlinbaum and seconded by Commissioner Cook and passed 5-0.

Other approvals included a Funding Agreement between Matagorda County and the Matagorda Historical Society and an interlocal cooperation agreement with the City of Bay City to provide public access to the Westlaw legal research database; both were approved 5-0 and the County Judge was authorized to sign related documents.

The court also approved Contract Amendment No. 9 with the Texas General Land Office related to Contract No. 20-065-123-C430 and authorized the Judge to execute documents via DocuSign. The court approved a Certificate of Construction Completion (COCC) for the Food Pantry Project pertaining to CDBG-CV CRP Contract No. 70800001010 and authorized the County Judge to sign.

The court moved to table Contract Amendment No. 1 with Lynn Engineering, LLC related to the Sargent Community Center/Alternate EOC Project; the motion to table was made by Commissioner Estlinbaum and seconded by Commissioner Frick and passed 5-0.

In routine fiscal business the court approved monthly departmental reports, invoices from Precincts #1, #2 and #4, the Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management, the Matagorda County Treasurer's monthly report for March 2026, payment of demand checks, line item transfers and emergency amendments. The court authorized the County Judge to sign an application for Unclaimed Property Capital Credits for counties under Local Government Code Section 381.004 and Texas Property Code Section 74.602. All of these items were approved by recorded 5-0 votes in the minutes.

Votes at a glance: the minutes record the following formal actions and outcomes — all recorded as passing 5 ayes, 0 nays unless noted. - Approve minutes (April 20, 2026): motion Frick, second Shimek — approved. - Hire James Thomas, Heavy Equipment Operator at $21.75/hr: mover Estlinbaum, second Shimek — approved. - Authorize WCID #2 Bulk Water Sales Agreement and $429.14 payment: mover Estlinbaum, second Cook — approved. - Approve Funding Agreement with Matagorda Historical Society: mover Shimek, second Estlinbaum — approved. - Approve Interlocal with City of Bay City for Westlaw access: mover Cook, second Frick — approved. - Approve Contract Amendment No. 9 with Texas GLO (Contract No. 20-065-123-C430): mover Judge Seiferman, second Shimek — approved. - Approve COCC for CDBG-CV CRP Contract No. 70800001010 (Food Pantry Project): mover Cook, second Frick — approved. - Table Contract Amendment No. 1 (Lynn Engineering, LLC): mover Estlinbaum, second Frick — tabled. - Approve monthly reports, invoices, treasurer's report, payment of demand checks, line item transfers, emergency amendments, and authorize unclaimed property application signature: motions as recorded — approved.

The minutes show the court then moved into executive session (see separate entry in the minutes) and reconvened before adjourning. The minutes do not record further public action tied to the executive session matters.