Brewster County approves grant application, contracts and 9-1-1 road additions; court requires in-person closed meetings

County Judge Greg Henington and the Brewster County Commissioners Court on May 28 approved a series of routine administrative actions, authorized a grant application that could bring up to $500,000 to the county, and formalized a bylaw change requiring closed meetings be held in person.

The court voted 4-0 to authorize staff to issue requests for proposals and qualifications related to applying for the Texas Community Development Block Grant program. Samantha Chumley, GrantWorks service manager, told the court the grant allows a maximum request of $500,000; Judge Greg Henington moved to approve the application and Commissioner Sara Colando seconded the motion.

"The grant is eligible for the maximum of $500,000," Samantha Chumley said during the presentation.

The court also approved several contract and budget items on unanimous votes. Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Judge Wassermann asked to add one user to the JP1 LGS software license at a pro-rated cost of $640 for the remainder of the year; Commissioner Sara Colando moved to approve the addendum and Commissioner William "Mo" Morrow seconded the motion.

"The price of a additional user license is $640 for the rest of the year," Judge Wassermann said.

County Judge Henington presented a renewal contract with PermiaCare for Mental Health Deputy services; the court approved the renewal on a 4-0 vote. The court also approved splitting the county's $27,000 Big Bend library allocation into two $13,500 disbursements—one to Terlingua Common School District and one to the Big Bend Citizens Alliance—to continue library operations in south Brewster County.

Robert Alvarez, executive director of Brewster County Tourism, presented an advertising contract with Adventure Outdoors; Commissioner Colando moved to approve the contract and the court approved it 4-0.

On emergency communications, 9-1-1 GIS Coordinator Kayse Muratori presented proposed roadway additions to the county MSAG database. The court approved adding "Desolate Road" (about 2 miles) and "Cell Tower Road" (about 0.5 miles) to the 9-1-1 map; a proposal to add "Thunder Road" (about 0.25 miles) was not acted on because the procedure was incomplete. Muratori told the court there are multiple problematic addresses across the county and that the State is requiring corrections.

"There are bad addresses throughout the county," Kayse Muratori said, adding that state mandates will require the office to correct them.

Financial items included approval of the April 2024 Treasurer's Report presented by County Treasurer Julie Morton, a line-item transfer approved on Judge Henington's motion, and approval of general bills including walk-ins. Assistant Auditor Paty Saenz presented bills and transfers; the transcript notes Commissioner Westermann abstained on the Branding West line item while the broader bills motion passed.

Judge Henington also used his report time to inform the court about a downtown fire the prior Sunday; he said there were no casualties and the cause remained undetermined.

Finally, the court amended its bylaws to specify that closed meetings must be held in person; Judge Henington moved that amendment and Commissioner Colando seconded. The court approved the bylaw change 4-0. The Commissioners scheduled a special meeting for June 4, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. and set the next regular meeting for June 11, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.; Commissioner Ruben Ortega will preside on June 11 in Judge Henington's absence. The court adjourned at 10:47 a.m.