The Hays County Commissioners Court is set to adopt proclamations regarding Groundhog Week and Spay and Neuter Awareness Month, possibly authorize the submission of a grant application for additional trails in San Marcos, authorize $10,000 in funding for a training academy break room, authorize $10,000 in funding for travel for officers to go to National Police Week and authorize certification of school marshals at the Sheriff's Academy at the regularly scheduled meeting at 9 a.m. today.
The court is set to adopt a proclamation recognizing Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, 2024 as National Job Corps Groundhog Week and recognizing Feb. 2024 as Spay and Neuter Awareness Month.
The court is set to authorize the submission of a grant application to the Fiscal Year 2024 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Recreational Trails Grant Program in the amount of $300,000. If awarded, these funds would be used for the construction of a new multi-use, 1.8 mile long recreational trail on the Presa Grande property located off Hilliard Road in San Marcos. This project is in partnership with the Great Springs Project. There is a 20% match required, which will be made up of the value of land owned by Hays County. The easement granted is valued at $40,820 and the trail head area is valued at $19,188. Those, along with a cash donation from the Great Springs Project for $15,600, results in a total match of $75,608. An application for this project was submitted in 2023, but was not funded.
The court is set to authorize an amendment in the Sheriff Drug Forfeiture Fund for $10,000 for a capital improvement project. The Training Academy does not have a break room for students and cadets to eat lunch or to take a break. This project includes the purchase of supplies and materials to add and build an outdoor awning with tables to serve this purpose. A second awning will be constructed to cover existing equipment left out in the elements. Labor fees do not apply to this project because the current maintenance staff will build it. The most expensive material is sheet metal.
The court is set to possibly approve $10,000 for out of state travel for National Police Week on May 11 to 16 in Washington D.C. This trip allows local officers to honor the lives of fallen officers and their families. The funds would send Lt. Ryan Hayden, Sgt. Mark Opiela, Sgt. David Marshall, Cpl. Eric Zediker, Cpl. Brian Wahlert and Deputy Wesley Lowe to the event. Funding for airfare, hotel, per diem and miscellaneous travel expenses are budgeted in the Sheriff Drug Forfeiture Funds Travel general ledger and will not exceed $10,000.
The court is set to authorize the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement for the ability of the Sheriff's Office Training Academy to instruct a School Marshal and Recertification Class. TCOLE will compensate the Sheriff's Office up to $22,000 for the School Marshal Course and up to $6,000 for the recertification class.
Approve the nomination of County Judge Becerra to serve on the Texas Conference of Urban Counties' Policy Committee for the 2024 to 2026 biennium. Becerra has held an interim seat for the last year. The TCUC Policy committee will hold their elections in Feb. at their annual conference in Dallas. The TCUC was established in 1975 to represent the interests of the urban counties in Texas and is reliant on member participation to continue to be effective in impacting state policy decisions.
The meeting can be viewed in person at the Hays County Historic Courthouse on the square or online at hayscountytx. com/ commission-ers court/court-video.
