The Hockley County Commissioners’ Court held a regular meeting on Monday at the Hockley County Courthouse to address election and grant-related items.
The meeting agenda included three election-related items, and the first to be approved was the notice of election for the Nov. 5 General Election.
The members also approved a Joint Election Agreement with Frenship ISD for their Nov. 5 Special Election. Hockley County Elections Administrator Jody Rose said there are about 30 Frenship ISD voters in the Northeast area of Hockley County.
Since Frenship ISD is having a special bond issue election, the county has to handle the election for those estimated 30 voters, Rose said. However, Lubbock County will handle the bulk of the election.
The last election-related agenda item addressed and approved by the court was a certificate of attendance for Rose. The certificate was from the State Election Law Seminar.
There were three District Attorney agenda items addressed and approved at the meeting.
Regarding The State of Texas v. Robert Garza, an Agreement and Monitoring Plan between Hockley County and Dr. Kyle Clayton was approved.
Forfeiture funds have to be paid to the Governor’s Office, and the Agreement and Monitoring Plan was needed to use money under a grant, the court was told. The costs to be paid to the Governor’s Office that would be covered by the grant are about $22,000.
The court approved a resolution submitted by District Attorney Angela Overman to proceed with a grant through the Texas Governor’s Office. The grant would address Wade Jackson’s appellate services in The State of Texas v. Jeremy Atchison case.
There is preliminary approval for the grant, but the resolution was needed for a formal grant request, the court was told. Defense for the case has filed a notice of appeal, and a response to their brief must be submitted in 30 days.
However, Jackson said an extension would move the deadline for the response to Nov. 27.
The court was also told the D.A.’s office will likely need to do a grant extension, as the grant is valid until March and the case could last a longer period of time.
The court also approved the Agreement and Monitoring Plan between the District Attorney and Wade Jackson for the same Atchison case.
The Hockley County Grant Policy was approved during the meeting, and the members were told that the policy outlines the responsibilities of all parties handling a grant. The policy was based on the requirements that all grants follow.
The court also approved the Hockley County Contract Monitoring Plan for grants through the Governor’s Office. The plan was addressed to be compliant with the Office of Monitoring and Review at the Governor’s Office, the court was told.
The document is an overall policy that addresses topics including grant management classes, contingency plans for alternate contractors and contract files.
An agreement regarding the 2025 plan year contribution rate from the county to the Texas County & District Retirement System was another approved agenda item. The members were told the contribution rate will go from $1.80 to $2.00, but the increase was already outlined in the budget.
The court also approved the 2024 fiscal year Statewide Victim Notification Service grant contract. According to the Texas Attorney General website, the system provides victims of crimes with information and notifications about an offender’s custody status and related court events.
The Hockley County Sheriff’s Office had one item on the agenda for Monday’s meeting.
The court approved a $2,887 expenditure from the sheriff’s forfeiture account for a South Plains Auto Theft Task Force grant match. Sheriff Ray Scifres said the item is for traffic cameras, and the amount will cover them for the next two years.
The court approved two tax deed items during the meeting.
A Tax Deed for a lot in Anton was approved first. The agenda item stated Shannon Riebe will purchase it for $250.
Members of the court also approved a correction to a tax deed in public files.
The court was told that the tax deed was recorded with the wrong document number in Hockley County’s official public records, and the approval would correct it. The substance of the tax deed would not change.
Cara Phelan presented the Public Assistance report for September to the court. Seven approvals were made, two of which being for rent and the remainder for electricity.
Phelan said it was a busy month with a lot of requests for help with Xcel Energy bills, but they were able to assist with some requests.
A road crossing on Tumbleweed Road for Sabinal Energy was approved for a water line replacement.
The court approved a request by Hockley County Tax Assessor to change the Highway bank account address and name. The address and name change was to satisfy the Texas Department of Motor Vehicle, the agenda stated.
The court approved three Ad Valorem tax refunds, as well as all monthly bills and claims submitted to the court and dated through Monday.
The minutes for the court’s Sept. 23 meeting were read and also approved.