Commissioners approve fee schedule, expo contracts, courtroom designation, donations and routine payments

At the same meeting in Washington County, the commissioners approved several routine and administrative items including a consolidated engineering and development services fee schedule, multiple rental contracts for the Washington County Expo, the designation of an additional courtroom location, acceptance of donations for 911 communications, and the approval of accounts payable.

Staff said the proposed engineering fee schedule consolidates fees across previously separate divisions (road and bridge, addressing and environmental) and included comparative tables showing surrounding‑county fees and proposed application charge scales. Mr. Staltz distributed a side‑by‑side comparison and said the schedule aims to increase transparency and standardize application fees.

The court approved: the engineering and development services fee schedule; three Expo rental regulation contracts (workshop, banquet, western dance) and authorized the judge to sign; the use of the Justice of the Peace Precinct One conference room as an additional courtroom location for non‑jury district court proceedings pursuant to Texas Local Government Code §24.030; the acceptance of two donations for Washington County 911 Communications — $400 from the Washington County Democratic Club and $650 from Frankie Automotive — and the establishment of a special donation fund to receive and administer future 911 donations; and $61,759.96 in accounts payable presented by county staff. Motions were made, seconded and carried by voice vote for each item.

County staff said the fee schedule differentiates minor plats (kept at a $100 fee for four lots or fewer) from larger subdivisions that require higher fees based on lot count and infrastructure. The Expo contracts are routine event agreements in the county agenda packet, and the special donation fund is intended to manage donations for National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week and other 911‑department needs.

Each item passed on voice votes; the court adjourned after final motions.