Burleson County commissioners approve contracts, delay subdivision review; judge honored for recycling leadership

County Judge Keith Schroeder called the Burleson County Commissioners Court to order at 9:00 a.m. July 22 and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Pastor Joel Lamb.

The court received department reports including a sheriff’s update that the county jail held 59 people (54 males, 5 females) and that the sheriff’s office has four open positions (two dispatch, one jail, one patrol), Chief Rios reported. Environmental and permitting staff reported 129 septic permits for the year and 13 OSSF complaints in July, and Bill Ballard said he expects to present revisions to the county’s subdivision rules on Aug. 19 with a scheduled public hearing.

On routine business, the court accepted a $230 donation for the Burleson Health Resource Center as part of the consent agenda after a motion by Commissioner David Hildebrand and a second by Commissioner Dwayne Faust. The court then approved new UBEO copier contracts — $150 per month for the Health Resource Center locations in Caldwell and Somerville, and $195 per month for the Auditor’s Office — following a motion by Commissioner Vincent Svec and a second by Commissioner Hildebrand.

The court approved Resolution 7-22-2024 to hold a joint general election with the City of Snook after a motion by Commissioner Hildebrand and a second by Commissioner Faust. The court also approved a discretionary exemption from competitive bidding under Local Government Code 262.024(a)(11) to allow repairs to the county’s fire alarm system without a formal competitive process; Commissioner Hildebrand moved and Commissioner Faust seconded the action.

Two items were postponed. Commissioners Dwayne Faust and Vincent Svec moved to table consideration of the Kachina Vista subdivision application, and the court postponed action on a right-of-way permit from Frontier Communications for 137 E. Calvert St. in Caldwell; both motions carried with all Aye votes.

County Judge Keith Schroeder reported collection totals — $15,865 for county court misdemeanors and $30,416.95 for district court felonies — and said the county is a recipient of a BOOT broadband grant. He also noted that Swico will photograph auction items this week and that a Road and Bridge secretary has been hired for the new FM 166 location.

The county auditor said an outside audit is nearing completion and reported July sales tax receipts of $119,244, a decrease of 12.4% from July 2023. Commissioners reported continuing road maintenance work amid recent rains and plans for a second community shredding event.

The court authorized payment of county bills on a motion by Commissioner Hildebrand with a second by Commissioner Svec and then adjourned the meeting on a motion by Hildebrand and a second by Faust. All motions noted in the record passed with all Aye votes and no No votes.