Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Tom Green County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
42 issues with medium priority
Countywide Internet and Fiber Cabling RFP
Consent item noting CTTC bored and buried fiber along Fort McKavett Road in Precinct 2.
VOCA grant for victim witness services
The DA's victim witness assistance program stays funded through a $32,616 federal grant, with the county match dropping thanks to an extra $10,000 from the state.
Glasscock County inmate housing
Tom Green County will house Glasscock County inmates at its detention center under a new interlocal agreement, bringing revenue to the jail operation.
Juvenile detention contracts with other counties
New interlocal and service contracts with Ellis, Ward, Young, and Stephens Counties continue the county's juvenile detention expansion program.
Texas Wildlife Services Annual Program Report
The state's new reporting system has been unusable since March, so the county hasn't received monthly trapper reports. The trapper provided interim numbers — 18 goats and 34 feral hogs taken — and described extensive screwworm surveillance work.
Rabies surveillance in regional fox populations
Wildlife officials warned that a rabies outbreak is booming in Hayes and Comal counties, and the county is doing enhanced surveillance — testing gray fox brain stems — to keep it from returning to this area, which was the epicenter in the 1990s.
Keyes Building Elevator Upgrade
The county is moving forward with passenger elevator upgrades at the Keyes Building, opening bids in December.
County Copier Lease Upgrades
The county is replacing 15 copy machines across various departments through a cooperative purchasing contract. This upgrade ensures reliable office equipment for daily county operations.
Delinquent Court Fine Collections
Collection firm Purdue Brandon presented strong multi-year figures showing over $5.3 million collected and extensive docket clearance for Justice of the Peace courts, boosted by new text message outreach.
Road Repair Equipment Purchase
The county approved purchasing new equipment for Road and Bridge precincts 2 and 4, including a John Deere rotary cutter and a Freightliner dump truck, using cooperative purchasing contracts.
Veteran Services Office Relocation
The county secured new office space for the Veteran Services department by approving a lease agreement at the historic Cactus Hotel.
Pinewood Acres Section 1 Final Plat
Commissioners approved the final plat for the Pinewood Acres subdivision in Precinct 3, allowing new residential development to move forward.
Stonewall Valley Lane Road Addition
The county agreed to add Stonewall Valley Lane to its road inventory, provided property owners pay $45,000 to cover infrastructure costs.
County Salary Study and Environmental Department Status
The court discussed funding a $150,000 independent salary survey to address county-wide reclassification requests and weighed elevating the environmental control department to a standalone department with its own department head.
Polling Place and Vote Center Updates
The county updated its list of vote centers for upcoming elections, relocating the Keating polling place to North Bryant Street to prepare for new early voting laws.
Election administration for 2026-2027
The court appointed election judges, alternate judges, central count judges and Early Voting Ballot Board judges, and approved countywide vote centers — shaping where and how people vote in county elections.
County Software Maintenance and Cybersecurity Testing Fees
The court met behind closed doors on cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protections, then voted to join the UT RSOC for Select services — likely a security or resilience service agreement.
Crime Stoppers Expansion and Campus Program
Commissioner Nanny reminded everyone that school is back in session — slow down and watch for buses and kids.
Sheriff's Office Training Facility and Equipment Grants
The county is pursuing a Justice Department grant for law enforcement technology and equipment, and separately tabled a Firehouse Subs foundation award for equipment.
Household hazardous waste disposal grant
The county is applying for a Solid Waste Grant through the Concho Valley Council of Governments to help dispose of household hazardous waste.
ADA policy update
The county updated its Americans with Disabilities Act policy and named Risk Manager Ryan Anderson as the ADA point of contact — the person residents can go to with accessibility complaints.
Buschel Subdivision Section One
The final plat for a new subdivision in Precinct 1 was approved, allowing the development to move forward with lot recording and construction.
Sheriff's Office Receives Firehouse Subs Safety Grant
The Sheriff's Office received a Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation award to purchase new equipment, accepted by the court.
FY 2026 tax rate preparation
The court formally designated Auditor Nathan Cradduck to calculate the no-new-revenue and voter-approval tax rates — the first official step in this year's property tax process.
Foster Child Support and CPS Caseworker Assistance
The Child Services Board provides financial assistance for foster children's normal expenses, camp fees, and emergency needs, while also supporting overworked Child Protective Services staff.
Sheriff's crisis intervention partnership with Goodfellow
A new MOU links the Sheriff's Crisis Intervention Unit with Goodfellow Medical Group's Family Advocacy Program, aiming to better connect people in crisis with services.
Courthouse sanitary sewer line replacement
The pipes under the courthouse need replacing, and the county hired an architect to design the fix for $21,000. Construction costs will follow.
S. Chadbourne Property Acquisition for County Shop
The county is buying a shop building on South Chadbourne — about $1.2 million plus closing costs, buried in the claims register the court approved. Commissioner Nanny flagged it for transparency.
Wall ISD UIL Lone Star Cup and Texas Cup Recognition
The court celebrated Wall ISD students, coaches, and staff for winning both the 3A Lone Star Cup and the inaugural 3A Texas Cup, recognizing excellence in academics, athletics, and fine arts.
Youth Summer Work Experience Program
The county partnered with Concho Valley Workforce Solutions to offer a summer employment program for young adults aged 18 to 22. Departments like the library can bring on youth workers fully paid and insured by workforce solutions.
Galilee CDC Affordable Housing Disbursement
The county approved releasing the final $46,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds to Galilee CDC to help finish their affordable housing project on 9th Street.
County Phone System Replacement
The county is replacing its aging, unsupported phone system with a modern setup through a cooperative contract, aiming for better reliability and long-term cost savings.
Government Office Closures
Heads up: Tom Green County offices are shutting down this Friday for the holiday. Make sure you get your errands done or bills paid before the weekend hits.
Constable Traffic Enforcement Equipment
The Precinct 3 Constable's office received free radar and LIDAR equipment from the state to monitor speeding in Grape Creek school zones. While some commissioners questioned whether constables should handle traffic stops, supporters emphasized it enhances community safety without costing taxpayers.
Nuisance Abatement Cost Recovery
The county placed a lien on an abated property on S. 11th Street to recover over $11,000 in cleanup costs. Officials noted that contracting out future property cleanups might offer similar costs with less strain on county road and bridge crews.
Early Childhood Literacy Program Support
The county backed a grant application to help the United Way continue sending free monthly books to children ages zero to five across the Concho Valley.
West Branch Library Garden Expansion
The court approved the Prequel Plant Connection's plan to upgrade the West Branch Library's outdoor garden with walking-friendly decomposed granite, fencing, and a water harvesting pavilion.
Court Administration Staffing Restructuring
District judges requested changing the director of court administration position from full-time to part-time due to difficulties finding qualified applicants with specialized skills. The change aims to bring in a consultant under a part-time arrangement to set up systems before hiring permanently.
Indigent Defense Grant Acceptance
The county accepted a $34,019 state grant from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission to fund a new coordinator position. This role will improve coordination between the jail, local attorneys, and courts while ensuring timely legal counsel for defendants.
Public Health Reporting
Tom Green County just dropped the latest COVID-19 transmission data to help you decide if you need to mask up or play it safe this weekend. It’s a quick way to gauge the current health risk in our community before you head out.
Infrastructure Development
Congress just approved the Interstate 14 expansion, which means major highway upgrades and new economic boosts are on the way for our region. Local planners are currently figuring out how to connect these new routes to our current streets.
Sheriff election/personnel
The race for Tom Green County Sheriff is down to Keith Muncey and Nick Hanna, and it’s time to decide who you want running the show. Their different approaches to law enforcement will shape how our local police force operates for years to come.