Mills County court approves electronic bond option, commissary RFP and lower liability limits; burn ban reinstated

MILLS COUNTY — The Mills County Commissioners Court on July 13 approved multiple operational changes and policy updates including a new electronic-bonding option, a request for proposals for jail commissary services, and an adjustment to the county's liability insurance limits while also reinstating a county burn ban.

The court approved a master service agreement for a Genesis eBond system that would allow people to post bonds electronically by card as an optional payment method. Staff and an outside presenter said the system does not replace existing bonding companies but provides an additional pathway for defendants to post their own funds and creates an electronic record retained for a limited time. "It's just another option," said the presenter for the eBond discussion (meeting participant), describing the service as additive to existing processes.

Sheriff (speaking at the meeting) described two simultaneous procurement actions: the five-year commissary services RFP and the eBond contract. On the commissary item he said the RFP would allow vendors to propose tablet programs that would provide an in-jail law library and education modules. "That way, then they can meet those requirements ... in their cell, secure the way, and meet all the requirements that we need," the Sheriff said, explaining the intended educational benefits and the plan for commissary revenue to support program costs.

County staff and the clerk's office emphasized operational safeguards. Amanda (county staff who addressed the court) told commissioners the online bond option would reduce handling of large cash deposits and would not change the requirement to submit original paperwork: "If it keeps us from walking around with cash, I'm very happy with that," she said, adding that the clerk's office would still receive required original documents.

On insurance, staff relayed guidance from the Texas Association of Counties recommending lower limits in line with state tort reforms. The court voted to reduce certain liability limits from the county's previously larger coverage to a 100/300/100 structure (100,000 per person bodily injury, 300,000 per occurrence, 100,000 property damage), with staff estimating modest annual premium savings. Commissioners discussed the historical reasons the county had maintained higher limits and the limited dollar savings, and then approved the lower limits.

Road and bridge staff reported an overrun on County Road 189 involving extra excavation and supplemental pay requested by contractor Myers Concrete. Engineers' and staff estimates were discussed; commissioners agreed to inspect the site and attempt to negotiate a settlement or, if necessary, a budget amendment. No formal action was taken on the Myers Concrete supplemental-pay request at the meeting.

The court reinstated the county burn ban after consulting local fire chiefs because of recent scattered fires and forecast weather. The motion carried; one commissioner recorded a vote against the burn-ban reinstatement during the roll call.

Other business approved or scheduled: the court adopted the sheriff and constable fee schedule for 2026, declared a damaged automatic external defibrillator (AED) at a community center as scrap so a replacement can be installed, and approved employee enrollment in an updated cybersecurity course that includes AI topics. Commissioners set follow-up budget workshops for July 21 or 22 to continue budget and salary discussions with staff.

Votes at a glance - Genesis eBond master service agreement: approved (motion and second recorded; court voted in favor). (Discussion began at the eBond item and concluded with the approval motion.) - RFP for commissary services (five-year RFP, includes optional in-cell tablets): approved to issue RFP. - Liability insurance limits changed to 100/300/100 per TAC guidance: approved. - Burn ban reinstated: approved (one recorded dissent). - Sheriff/constable fee schedule (2026): approved. - Subdivision variance (Brown/Brownfield application): approved. - AED at community center declared scrap: approved. - Cybersecurity/AI course enrollment form: approved.

Why it matters: The eBond agreement and commissary RFP change local jail operations by enabling electronic posting of bonds and introducing an optional tablet program intended to expand access to legal materials and education for inmates while using commissary revenues for programmatic improvements. The liability-limit change is a budgetary decision tied to statewide insurance guidance; the burn ban reinstatement is an emergency-management measure to reduce wildfire risk.

What comes next: Staff will publish the commissary RFP with proposals due as announced at the meeting, implement the Genesis eBond master services agreement per contract steps, inspect and continue negotiations on the County Road 189 contract overrun, and hold budget workshops July 21 or 22 to refine salary and budget items.

(Quotes in this article are taken from the court transcript of the July 13, 2026 Mills County Commissioners Court.)