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Commissioners' Court waives Horseshoe rental fee so Midland Project Graduation can hold event
Summary
The Midland County Commissioners' Court voted to waive Horseshoe rental fees for Midland Project Graduation, approving use of the facility for a late-May graduation event so more funds raised can go to students.
The Midland County Commissioners' Court voted to allow Midland Project Graduation to use the Horseshoe rent-free after hearing from Shane Dockery, who identified himself as the organization’s executive director.
Dockery told the court the nonprofit raises funds to run Project Graduation — they rely on sponsorships and a fashion-show fundraiser that recently brought in between $11,000 and $15,000 — and that waiving facility fees would let “all of the funds go directly to the students instead of the facilities.” He invited commissioners to attend; he said the event runs overnight and cited Friday, May 22 from 11 p.m. until 3 a.m. as an example plan for this class’s celebration.
The court’s motion to permit the Horseshoe rent-free for Project Graduation (the motion language specified May 21–23, 2026) was made, seconded and approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition. Following the vote, Dockery thanked the court.
Why it mattered: Dockery described the program as a long-standing community tradition that served hundreds of graduating students and relied on volunteer support. Waiving the rental fee is intended to shift more donated and sponsorship funds to event programming and student needs rather than facility costs.
The court did not attach conditions to the waiver in the motion; commissioners and the presenter did discuss timing and attendance estimates during the presentation. The court moved on to subsequent agenda items after the vote.
