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POLK COUNTY, TEXAS
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PolkTX · Government

What Commissioners Court did

Every item, what the Court decided, and a link to that moment in the county's own recording. Newest meeting first.

← Meeting dates, agendas and minutes
October 27, 2026October 13, 2026
How these are made

Read off the county's YouTube recording and checked against the posted agenda and packet. Names and dollar figures come from the county's documents. "Approved" means no one was heard voting no on a voice vote, not a roll call. The county's written minutes are the official record and govern once posted. PolkTX takes no position.

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 · Recording ↗ · Agenda & packet ↗

Court approves $8,285,883 reserves plan except half of the road and bridge money

The Court approved the plan to use $8,285,883 in General Fund reserves except half of the four Road & Bridge distributions, which commissioners may take up again in January. It also raised the County Clerk's election spending line, accepted a $135,406.80 Homeland Security grant, approved new RV park rules and moved waste hauler rules to January.

From the county's recording, with votes checked against the video. Written minutes not yet posted. Recording times are approximate.

Reserves plan: approved except half of road and bridge

The plan uses $8,285,883 in General Fund reserves for out-of-county inmate housing ($1,300,000), Sheriff's Office and jail projects, the DA office remodel ($15,775), the Restoration Projects Fund ($900,000) and the four Road & Bridge precincts ($1,100,000 to $1,400,000 each). Staff said the county began FY2027 with about $20.6 million in the General Fund, about 59% of yearly spending, and would stay above the Court's 35% target. Staff said several items carry out actions the Court already took and that each contract still comes back to the Court before payment. One commissioner questioned drawing that much from reserves before the new county judge takes office. The Court approved everything in the plan except half of each Road & Bridge distribution. Commissioner Jerry Cassity made the motion and said he hopes to get the other half in January; Commissioner Milt Purvis seconded. Commissioner Mark DuBose, who is leaving office, abstained. A public commenter had objected to the withdrawal.

▶ 20:38 in the recording

Homeland Security grant: $135,406.80 accepted

No local match. Pays for mobile fingerprint (AFIS) devices and a small drone system for the Sheriff's Office. The grant summary read into the record says it also supports 287(g) screening and training, and security at the Lake Livingston Dam. The Sheriff said deputies will be able to check fingerprints at a traffic stop for people who refuse to identify themselves.

▶ 58:29 in the recording

Bridges in Precincts 2 and 4: bonding company asked to step in

County grant staff reported that the contractor rebuilding five bridges fell behind paying material suppliers, and the county received lien notices this summer. The county sent the contractor a list of requirements Oct. 6, and sent a certified letter last week asking the contractor's bonding company to get involved. Staff said this is not extra money the county will have to put in, and that the Court should prepare for the possibility of replacing the contractor. Separately, staff said the GLO contract for Commissioner Cassity's $5 million Indian Springs project arrived the morning of the meeting.

▶ 9:00 in the recording

Every item

Agenda number, what the Court did, and where it is in the recording.

  1. 1–3 Replat Red Horse Ridge Lot 3-A, Precinct 3No one spoke at the hearing. Approved ▶ 0:41
  2. — Public commentObjected to the $8 million reserves withdrawal and asked the Court to leave it to the new judge. One speaker ▶ 1:41
  3. 4 Delinquent tax office annual report41,727 notices mailed. 235 lawsuits filed on 361 accounts. 124 tracts posted for tax sale. Collections just over $1.8 million, up from $1.7 million and $1.4 million the two years before. 97.29% of the 2025 levy collected. Received ▶ 3:00
  4. — County Judge: informational reportA temporary restraining order against the county is in effect; offices were told to follow it to the letter and not destroy documents. Informational ▶ 7:07
  5. — Bridge project updateSee above. Informational ▶ 9:00
  6. 5–18 Consent agendaIncludes bills, the auditor's and treasurer's reports, accepting Eastgate Park and Westridge Park in Four Corners Estates as county roads, a Red Cross sheltering MOU and goggles donated to Big Sandy, Goodrich and Leggett ISDs. Approved ▶ 19:24
  7. 19 Personnel action forms Approved ▶ 20:05
  8. 20 $8,285,883 reserves budget amendmentSee above. Approved except half of road & bridge ▶ 20:38
  9. 21 IT computer rotation, not to exceed $46,400 Approved ▶ 50:48
  10. 22 Appoint Commissioner Jerry Cassity to the IAH public board Approved ▶ 51:33
  11. 23 Move Nov. 24 meeting to Friday, Nov. 20; one December meeting on Dec. 15 Approved ▶ 51:57
  12. 24 Waste hauler fees, rules and board of review Moved to January ▶ 52:33
  13. 25 Move employee 457(b) plan to Church Street FinancialLocal representative for Nationwide. Approved ▶ 53:22
  14. 26 County Clerk election expense line to $45,000The outgoing clerk is capped on monthly spending; staff said the money is already in the budget. Approved unanimously ▶ 53:50
  15. 27 RV park regulationsRules now apply to parks with three or more RVs instead of two or more. Approved ▶ 54:32
  16. 28 Assistant to Commissioner job description with foreman dutiesHR asked for time to review pay classification. Tabled to January ▶ 55:08
  17. 29 Corrected 2027 holiday schedule Approved ▶ 57:29
  18. 30 Homeland Security grant, $135,406.80See above. Accepted ▶ 58:29

Next meeting: Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, 10 a.m. · All dates →

Sources · 2

Recap updated 2026-10-27. Recording times are approximate, within a few seconds.

Tuesday, October 13, 2026 · Recording ↗ · Agenda & packet ↗

Court funds Flock cameras from surplus, picks a new jail door system and sets a Nov. 20 hearing on subdivision rules

The Court voted to fund the Sheriff's Office's Flock license plate cameras with $45,000 from surplus FY2026 revenue, chose Sydaptic to replace the jail's door control system, and set a Nov. 20 hearing on new subdivision rules that would require 100 feet of road frontage per lot. Dispatch radio and microwave link upgrades and the jail smoke purge fan hookup were tabled while the county waits on quotes.

From the county's recording. Written minutes not yet posted.

Can a deputy look anyone up on Flock? Commissioner Jerry Cassity asked who can search the cameras, using Judge Murphy as his example. Chief Deputy Andy Lowrie answered for the Sheriff's Office. Clip from the county's own recording, about 22:43 to 23:36. Watch it in the full recording ↗

Flock cameras: $45,000 approved from surplus

The Sheriff's Office asked the county for $45,000 after the state determined state funds cannot be used for Flock. A $9,000 asset-forfeiture match was already committed, bringing the program to $54,000. The Sheriff's Office said Flock is giving agencies a three-month grace period while Congress holds hearings, and it would set the money aside but not pay it yet. Asked whether a deputy could look anyone up, Chief Deputy Andy Lowrie said: “Is somebody going to misuse it? Yes. It's evident — you see it all over the news right now. We try to prevent that.” He said employees who misuse it should be held accountable. Moved by Commissioner Mark DuBose, seconded by Commissioner Milt Purvis. Approved, funded from excess FY2026 revenue.

▶ 19:00 in the recording · The full Flock record →

Jail door controls: Sydaptic chosen

The system runs the jail's cell doors, intercoms, gates and secured offices. Staff reported repeated failures, about $35,000 a year to the current vendor, Montgomery Technology Systems, plus nearly $20,000 in repairs outside that contract last year. Both vendors spoke. Jail staff backed a full replacement, and the Court chose Sydaptic, Inc. ($291,332.76 in the packet), paid from surplus revenue. Staff said the warranty and support promises will be written into the agreement.

▶ 25:32 in the recording

Subdivision rules: hearing set for Nov. 20

Proposed revisions would require every new lot to have at least 100 feet of frontage on a public or approved private road (50 feet on a cul-de-sac), use the county's lidar data instead of 5-foot contours outside the floodplain, and allow road grades up to 11%. A takings impact assessment says the frontage rule could significantly reduce the value of some narrow tracts. The Court approved the assessment and set a public hearing for Friday, Nov. 20, 2026, at 10 a.m.

▶ 42:34 in the recording

Every item

Agenda number, what the Court did, and where it is in the recording.

  1. 1–3 Replat Longhorn Valley Estates Lot R-4, Precinct 1Splits a 2.25-acre lot into 1 and 1.25 acres. No one spoke at the hearing. Approved ▶ 2:30
  2. 4–6 Replat Forest Hills Section 3, Reserve B, Precinct 2Reserve B1 (0.94 acre) falls under the one-acre septic minimum; the owner said it will not be built on. Approved ▶ 4:00
  3. — Public commentA resident raised concerns about Lake Livingston Water Supply Corporation. One speaker ▶ 6:01
  4. 7 Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation Proclaimed ▶ 10:21
  5. 8 Human Resources annual report116 hired and 67 lost, Oct. 1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2026. 456 people on the county payroll, counting election workers, reserve deputies and the labor pool. 27 workers' comp claims, six with lost time. Received ▶ 13:00
  6. — County Clerk: early voting reminderEarly voting Oct. 19–30 at the Polk County Judicial Center, Secrest-Webster Community Center in Corrigan and the Onalaska Sub-Courthouse. Informational ▶ 18:32
  7. 9 Flock camera funding, $45,000From excess FY2026 revenue. See above. Approved ▶ 19:00
  8. 10 Jail door control and access systemFrom surplus revenue. See above. Approved: Sydaptic ▶ 25:32
  9. 11–21 Consent agendaIncludes bills, surplus property, a ham radio disaster-assistance MOU with Upper Lake Livingston Wireless Association, a juror-fee reimbursement claim, and a tobacco enforcement grant for the Sheriff's Office. Approved ▶ 41:34
  10. 30 Subdivision rule revisions and takings assessmentTaken early because a commissioner had to leave. See above. Hearing set Nov. 20 ▶ 42:34
  11. 22A Personnel action forms Approved ▶ 47:01
  12. 22B District Clerk: reclassify office manager to court clerk Approved ▶ 47:30
  13. 22C–D Two vacation-time payout requests Approved ▶ 48:00
  14. 23 FY2026 and FY2027 budget revisions Approved ▶ 49:33
  15. 24 Courthouse furnishings, not to exceed $35,200 Approved ▶ 50:00
  16. 25 2027 county holiday schedule14 holidays. A New Year's date error was corrected Oct. 27. Approved ▶ 52:30
  17. 26 Judicial liability insurance in place of a bond for probate judges$1,500 a year per judge, $3,000 if both policies are bound. Approved ▶ 53:07
  18. 27A Dispatch upgrade to 700/800 MHz, not to exceed $450,000Waiting on updated quotes. Tabled ▶ 56:00
  19. 27B Sheriff's Office microwave radio links, not to exceed $233,775Waiting on quotes. Tabled ▶ 59:00
  20. 27C Finish the jail smoke purge fan projectNew fans are installed but not connected to the jail's life-safety controls; no quote yet for the connection. Tabled ▶ 1:01:30
  21. 27D District Attorney suite remodel, not to exceed $20,000One proposal so far, True Line Construction LLC, $15,775. Approved ▶ 1:04:30
  22. 28 Road use agreement with Black & Veatch, Precinct 4Super-heavy trucks on Menard Chapel Road and Summerall Road for the Segno Solar Project, Oct. 5, 2026 to Aug. 15, 2028. The company must repair damage it causes. Approved ▶ 1:06:00
  23. 29 ADA and Title VI coordinatorKari Miller resigned effective Oct. 16. The Court appointed a county employee named Jennifer, who will start training right away. Her last name was not stated. Appointed ▶ 1:08:00
  24. 31 Executive session: security auditsParticipation in the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool's Passive Network Assessment, at no cost to the county. Approved ▶ 1:39:00

Next meeting: Oct. 27, 2026, 10 a.m. · All dates →

Sources · 2

Recap updated 2026-10-27. Recording times are approximate, within a few seconds.