Burleson County commissioners appoint chief deputy as sheriff; approve funding, permits and purchases

Burleson County Commissioners Court on June 9 appointed Chief Deputy Bill Rios as sheriff and approved a series of routine actions, from hotel/motel funding to infrastructure purchases.

Judge Keith Schroeder called the meeting to order and, after an executive session under Texas Government Code Section 551.074 to consider personnel following the passing of Sheriff Gene Hermes, the court voted to confirm the appointment of the chief deputy as sheriff. "The Chief Deputy was appointed as Sheriff," the minutes record. Commissioner David Hildebrand moved the action, Commissioner Vincent Svec seconded, and the court voted unanimously.

The court also approved a hotel/motel funding application from the Burleson County Chamber of Commerce to help purchase and install a public address/sound system for downtown Caldwell; City Hall will manage the system. Commissioners approved by motion a resolution authorizing submission of a contract amendment for the GLO Community Development Block Grant-MIT #24-065-057-E567 and granted a right-of-way permit to Atmos Energy for work on CR 105 related to the Caldwell Natural Gas Project.

Other actions approved unanimously included:
• Adoption of the May 2025 minutes and a budget amendment for Road and Bridge Precinct 4.
• Approval of the 2025–2026 TAC health insurance renewal with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (an 8% premium increase).
• Purchase of used rock from Big Creek Construction for $350,000 (load belly dumps).
• A 2023 property tax refund of $6,209.97 to Truist for Property ID #116491 (owners listed as Louise Joubert and Karen Russell).
• Authorization to pay county bills and adjournment of the meeting.

All listed motions were approved unanimously by the four members present: County Judge Keith Schroeder and Commissioners Vincent Svec, David Hildebrand and Bobby Urbanosky. Several agenda items referenced attachments and supporting documents held with county records.