Commissioner’s Court Meeting Notes

Judge John Paul Schuster called the meeting to order in the Kinney County District Courtroom at 9:01 AM.  He established a quorum with Commissioner’s Tim Ward, Mark Frerich and Dennis Dodson present.  Commissioner Joe Montalvo joined the meeting at 10:25 AM.  Tim Ward led the invocation & Judge Schuster led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Agenda as follows.

Kinney County Extension Agent Bret Allen sent the Activity Report:
The 4-H was busy during October.  They decorated downtown in preparation for 4H week, they constructed cement crosses for unmarked graves at the Kinney County Cemetery, pig castration and Horse Club Meeting, Livestock Judging Practice, assisted in Trunk or Treat at  BISD,  helped with Hunter’s Roundup, attended their monthly meeting and  worked at the 4H Club Bake Sale.

11/23, KCILS Scholarship Gala.

Meals served in house – 466
Total clients served – 60.
Homebound Clients Served – 45
Total homebound meals prepared – 979
Kinney County Auditor – Cheryl Jones
Nothing significant to report, just trying to familiarize herself with the Auditor position in Kinney County and her office.
Kinney County EMS – Nick Morgan, EMS Director
41 runs, non-transports 15.  Transports 23. 1 Air Medical.
KCSO Grant Updates – Carla Westbrook
Stonegarden- #3045110 -Campaign Plan for grant period March 1, 2025 – 2028.  Submitted October 14, 2024.
Stonegarden #3045109  - Fragmentary Order (FRAGO) submitted and approved by USBP & Homeland Security for purchase of two mini-Z Backscatter hand-held X-ray devices w/accessories.
Local Border Patrol Grant #5215501 – Awarded and accepted November 4, 2024.
Pending Grants:  Operation Lone Star (4th) year.  September 1, 2024 – 2031. Award accepted November 1 2024, with final processing being completed by OOG.
Criminal Justice Division Grant for School Resource Officers (October 1,  2024-2030) Body Shields.

Physician Services - $224.67
Year-to-date expenditures - 4,082.81
Road & Bridge by Commissioner Montalvo
Extensive work was done with Bobcat at The Peterson Building & Yard.  Also the Community Center.
Performed work on Nueces Road, George Rose Lane, Mud Creek Road and Guajillo Road.

Detention Center reported by Warden Smooter

4A. Rick Alvarado reported there were 1,437 who voted in the General Election.

4B. The commissioners approved the Kinney County Sheriff’s Office to sell 3 guns to Dury’s Guns in San Antonio.

4C.  Approved of the donation of 2 desktop computers to the Kinney County Sheriff’s Office from Patriot Mobile.

4D.  Approved the 3-year contract renewal with Ko nexus for the multi-channel alerting system used by the Kinney County sheriff’s Office.

4E.  Approved the annual resolution letter from Operation Lone Star.

4F.  Approved the donation of two desktop computers from Methodist Healthcare Ministries Digital Equity Grant.  The computers will be at the Aging Center to be used by the Aging Center clients.  Adam Melton, Digital Connector, said his services to keep them updated and classes will be free.

4G.  Approved the donation of $300.00 to the Kinney County Aging Center to be used to provide meals to homeless/indigent clients who do not meet the age criteria.

4H.  This item on agenda was tabled until the November 25th meeting to research and provide the correct amounts.

4I.  This agenda item was tabled until the November 25th meeting  in order to approve a budget adjustment.

4J.  This item concerning approving Nick Morgan as the Kinney County EMS Director was moved to Executive Session.

4K.  The Commissioners approved splitting the vote for the Kinney County Appraisal District Board to 3 candidates for the 2025-2026 term.  The four presented were Memo Guzman, Marla Madrid, Butch Senne and David Turner. The 3 candidates approved for the  split were Marla Madrid, Butch Senne and David Turner with 399 each.

4L & 4M.   Approved the travel expenses for the KC Court Coordinator and the Kinney County Judge’s Seminar Court in the total amount of $2,713.87.  This is for the LGS Conference.

4O.  On the agenda, they were asking for approval or disapproval for purchase of ATV for County use.  There was no action.  The Fire Department has a Polaris that might work for the County.  Judge will visit with Fire Chief Garcia to find out if that is feasible.

4P. Approved the sale of the 1968 CRON Firetruck to be sold on the online auction.

4Q.  Approved the payment to Beldon Roofing in the amount of $108,455.00 for the new roof on the Peterson Building. The gutters are done and ready to be attached.  The amount is to be paid as soon as the gutters are completed. Payment comes from the OLS Grant Funds.

4R.  Approved the $20,000.00 proposal from Pedro Valdes for Fire Safety Engineered drawings for the OLS Peterson Building upon completion.  Mr. Valdes is affiliated with Martinez Mechanical.

4T & U.  Moved to Executive Meeting.

4V.  Approved the County Auditor to release checks to the designated contractors on Fridays to be ratified at the next Commissioner’s Court.  The designated contractors are Joe Guevara, Sergio Calvillo, Susana Flores and Pete Benitez.

4W.  Approved the calendar from the County Treasurer to release payroll on designated paydays for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. 

4X.  Approved the County Auditor to release checks for Sheriff transport as needed with payment to be ratified the next Commissioner’s Court.  This is for prisoner transport.

4Y & Z. – Grant Writers Candy Hobbs and Alma Gutierrez reported on the BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities) meeting held June 6, 2023.  At that meeting they tried to prioritize what needed to be done to start on the Las Moras Creek Project.  At that time, Phase one was Highway 90 to the Spring.  Phase 2 was Lower water crossings needed to be cleaned up.  Below 674 to 90 clean up and dams need to be cleaned up.  At some period during these meeting that were held over a 2 ½ year period, GM Peterson of Fort Clark Springs, reported that the crossing at Scales Road Bridge  restricts the flow of the creek.   The engineer reported that Lindsey Creek is a main problem for flooding in Brackettville & Unit 1 on Fort Clark.  Mr. Dierksen suggested all that needed to be done before going to FEMA.  Tim Ward suggested they need to clear up ownership on all drainages.