Van Zandt County commissioners approve grant applications, training travel and subdivision rule change

Van Zandt County’s commissioners approved a bundle of routine and policy actions during their February meeting, including grant applications, staff travel, a change to subdivision road-base rules and a formal request to the state legislature to exempt counties from the state hotel occupancy tax.

The court voted to authorize submission of a grant application to fund a statutorily required youth diversion position after Speaker 6 moved the resolution and Speaker 3 seconded; Speaker 6 noted a recent success story tied to the program. The court also approved reapplying for the VOCA grant that funds the district attorney’s victim assistance coordinator. Both grant resolutions were approved by voice vote.

On training, the court approved airfare for two employees — Jeremy Jones (Sheriff’s Office) and Ron Beaver (IT) — to attend the annual L3Harris user conference and training symposium. Speaker 3 said the total airfare cost for both attendees is $600 and that the expenses come from the communications department budget.

Finance and reporting items included authorization for the auditor to sign and submit the Texas County Lateral Road and Bridge annual expenditure report (Form 40-133) for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2025. County staff (identified in the meeting as Ben) reported line-item changes in last year’s road-and-bridge spending: staff stated there was about a $641,000 decrease in materials spending and roughly a $1.1 million increase in contract/other road expenses (staff characterized some services, such as seal coating, as now recorded under other road expense). The court authorized submission of the report by voice vote.

The court unanimously (voice) approved a resolution drafted to ask the Texas Legislature to exempt county elected officials and employees from paying the state hotel occupancy tax when traveling on official business within Texas. The draft resolution was based on a proposal circulated by Cass County Judge Travis Ransom, according to remarks during the meeting.

A substantive policy change came when the commissioners voted to amend the county’s subdivision regulations (page 22) to add recycled crushed concrete as an allowable flexible base material for subdivision roads. Supporters at the meeting said crushed concrete can stabilize soils and perform well as a base; staff noted the code currently lists crushed limestone, iron ore and Texas road oil and that the page 22 text must be amended. The court directed staff to update the subdivision guidelines and repost them on the county website.

The court also approved an over-45-day travel reimbursement request for AgriLife Extension employee Leon Watson after staff explained the claim had been delayed in processing due to staff turnover and a death in the office. The motion to approve was moved and seconded by named commissioners and passed by voice vote.

During consideration of the consent agenda, an unidentified commissioner (Speaker 6) said he would oppose any permit that placed ‘‘green energy’’ collection lines (solar or wind) under county roads. He clarified that item f on the consent agenda related to communication lines for high-speed internet and that he would not approve green-energy transmission lines under county roads; the consent agenda was approved by voice vote.

Several items required no formal action beyond direction or future agenda placement. In a workshop, the court discussed nominations to fill a vacancy on the Van Zandt County Appraisal District board; the court may submit nominees but the appraisal district’s board will make the actual appointment. The meeting adjourned at 09:23.

Votes at a glance
- Youth diversion grant resolution — motion moved by Speaker 6; second by Speaker 3; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- VOCA grant reapplication — motion and second; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- L3Harris training travel (Jeremy Jones, Ron Beaver) — motion and second; outcome: approved; airfare reported $600 total (voice vote).
- Road & Bridge annual expenditure report (Form 40-133) — authorized for auditor signature and submission; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Resolution requesting state hotel occupancy tax exemption for county employees — motion and second; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Amendment to subdivision regulations to permit recycled crushed concrete as base material — motion and second; outcome: approved; staff to update guidelines (voice vote).
- Over-45-day reimbursement for Leon Watson — motion by Commissioner Martin; second by Commissioner Phillips (both named in the transcript); outcome: approved (voice vote).

What’s next
Staff were directed to update the subdivision regulations and repost them on the county website; the road-and-bridge annual report will be submitted to the Texas Comptroller; the appraisal district nomination(s) will be collected and placed on a future agenda for formal submission.

(At the meeting, nearly all approvals were adopted by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded on the transcript.)