McCulloch County commissioners approve siren grant, narrowly authorize ambulance-grant application

The McCulloch County Commissioner’s Court met Jan. 26 and approved several grant and procurement actions, including a Texas Water Development Board grant agreement to fund outdoor warning sirens and the acceptance of a donation to repair County Road 130.

County Judge Frank Trull presided over the meeting. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve invoices and routine items, and to hire Delivering Results and Solutions (DRS) for FEMA public-assistance consulting services for the county’s initial administration phase. Commissioner Rod Young moved to approve the DRS Letter of Engagement; Commissioner Carol Anderson seconded and the motion carried 5-0.

In a divided vote, the court authorized the county judge to submit an application for the Texas Rural Ambulance Service Grant Program — a program administered by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts that provides financial assistance for ambulance purchases and modifications. Commissioner Rod Young moved to submit the application and Commissioner Randy Deans seconded; County Judge Frank Trull and Commissioner Carol Anderson voted against the motion, which passed 3-2. The court record notes that only a county judge may apply for the grant.

The court also approved a Grant Agreement and Authorized Representative Resolution with the Texas Water Development Board for an amount not to exceed $1.2 million to install an outdoor warning siren system. An initial motion on the item failed because it did not name an authorized representative; after a motion to reconsider, the court approved the agreement and subsequently named Commissioner Randy Deans as the county’s Authorized Representative.

The court accepted a donation from Brady Creek Homeowners Association of $104,861.00 to cover road repairs on County Road 130 performed by Cahill Construction, Inc.; the donation covered 5,808 feet of repair work. Commissioners unanimously approved a rental agreement with Warren Cat of San Angelo for a CAT CS56B vibratory roller to be used on FEMA Project 4879TX.

Other updates included a report from Veteran Service Officer Nancy Munetake on training and statistics, completion of DMV-related technology upgrades at the Tax Assessor–Collector’s office reported by Commissioner Carol Anderson, and road maintenance updates from Commissioners Gary Maricle and Rod Young. Judge Trull described a temporary warming shelter established during a recent ice storm, thanked Redeemer Church, The Salvation Army and the City of Brady for sponsoring the shelter, and said the shelter was later moved to the Resource Center because of frozen pipes; he suggested the court consider long-term planning for future events.

Votes at a glance: • Approval of January 26 bills — motion by Commissioner Rod Young; second by Commissioner Gary Maricle; outcome: approved 5-0. • Antiquities Permit Application to the Texas Historical Commission (for Brady Revive benches on the courthouse lawn) — mover: Commissioner Randy Deans; second: Commissioner Gary Maricle; outcome: approved 5-0. • Delivering Results & Solutions (DRS) Letter of Engagement (FEMA public assistance consulting, phase one) — mover: Commissioner Rod Young; second: Commissioner Carol Anderson; outcome: approved 5-0. • Texas Rural Ambulance Service Grant Program application (City of Brady request; only county judge may apply) — mover: Commissioner Rod Young; second: Commissioner Randy Deans; outcome: approved 3-2 (County Judge Frank Trull and Commissioner Carol Anderson voted no). • Texas Water Development Board Grant Agreement and Authorized Representative Resolution (outdoor warning siren, up to $1.2M) — initial motion failed for lacking a named representative; after reconsideration the court approved the agreement and later named Commissioner Randy Deans as Authorized Representative; outcome after reconsideration: approved 5-0. • Acceptance of donation from Brady Creek H.O.A. for CR 130 repairs ($104,861.00) — mover: Commissioner Carol Anderson; second: Commissioner Gary Maricle; outcome: approved 5-0. • Rental agreement with Warren Cat for CAT CS56B vibratory roller (FEMA 4879TX projects) — mover: Commissioner Gary Maricle; second: Commissioner Rod Young; outcome: approved 5-0.

The court adjourned at 11:11 a.m. The meeting included no recorded public testimony that changed or vetoed any of the formal actions listed above; where an item lacked a named presenter in the record (for example, the DRS representative), the record lists the entity but not an individual speaker.