The November 18th, 2021 10 a.m. Commissioners Court meeting began with the approval of the public hearing for Haby Farms Public Improvement District, included Medina County entering into a program funded state and local task force agreement with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the approval of the widening of roads within large lot subdivisions. Commissioners Timothy Neuman, Larry Sittre, David Lynch and Jerry Beck all attended the meeting. But having gone to a Judge’s Conference, Judge Chris Schuchart was absent, leaving Commissioner Lynch taking his place to chair the meeting.
Approval of Haby Farms PID Public Hearing Notice
The meeting began with the approval of a Resolution approving the publication of a notice for the public hearing for the possible creation of Haby Farms Public Improvement District One (PID). The PID is proposed to contain approximately 102.012 acres of land and to be located east of FM 471 N and west of Tally Road between Private Road 3808 and Hop Sing Road.
The capital cost of construction and improvement of utilities, establishments of roads, bridges, water, emergency protections, land clearing and many other projects that are planned to take place within the boundaries of the district is currently estimated to be $15,000,000.
The approved date for the public hearing for Haby Farms is Dec. 16th, 2021 at 10 a.m.
Blanca Estates Subdivision Final Approval
With a 248.8958 acre tract, the Blanca Estates Subdivision, Located in Precinct 1 off of County Road 4513 had its final approval.
Lot 27 in HWY 90 Ranch, LTD Subdivision Splits Acre between Sisters
During the preliminary approval of vacate and replat of Lot 27 in HWY 90 Ranch, LTD Subdivision; Located in Precinct 2 off of CR 469, a request was made to replat the lot so the current owner could divide one acre between his daughters.
AgriLife Re-news Partnership Agreement with County
The court then turned their attention to the approval of an agreement the county has with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
AgriLife Extension is an education agency. Their main goals are to share their research and technological discoveries with the public through education, in hopes of mitigating agricultural issues such as drought impacts, enhancing food security, disease prevention and more.
“It’s a 5 year agreement,” Commissioner Lynch said. “We provide a place and some of their office staff salaries. But it’s the same as it’s been in the past…”
The written agreement states that the county will provide office space, furnishings, equipment, travel and other operating expenses for the proper support of the faculty, support staff, and the County Extension program. All equipment and facilities used will be returned to the county if the agreement is terminated at any time.
In return, AgriLife Extension will provide educational work for Medina County with the goal and purpose of improving the quality of life, economic opportunity for its people and the sustaining of the county’s natural resources.
Delinquent Tax Public Sale of Property
The court then approved the Resolution Requesting a Public Sale of Property Acquired by the County of Medina, Texas at a Delinquent Tax Sale.
This is in response to the Tax Code, Title 1; Subtitle E., Chapter 34, Sub-chapter A that reads: “Sec. 34.01. SALE OF PROPERTY. (a)Real property seized under a tax warrant issued under Subchapter E, Chapter 33, or ordered sold pursuant to foreclosure of a tax lien shall be sold by the officer charged with selling the property…”
Due to this Code, these properties lost to overdue property taxes, were approved by the Medina County Commissioners Court to be put up for for sale by the Sheriff of Medina County at public auctions.
The properties to be included in this sale are: 3.0273 Acres, more or less, out of F. Enderle Survey 194, Abstract 362. Located on 18th Street, Hondo, Texas 78861; Lot 5, Block 8, La Coste Heights in the City of La Coste, Medina County, Texas. Located on Buchel Street, La Coste, Texas 78039; Lots 12, 13 and the North one-half of Lot 11, Block 4, City of La Coste which is located on Casiano Ave, La Coste Texas 78039. A tract of land containing 0.25 of an acre, more or less out of the J. Brothag Survey No.15, being that property. Located on South Teel Drive, Devine, Texas 78016; and lastly, a part of Lot 2A, Block 21, Hattox Addition to the City of Devine. Located on 408 South Teel Drive, Devine, Texas 78016.
DEA Enters Task Force Agreement with Medina County
The Drug enforcement Administration, DEA, is entering into an agreement with the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, MCSO, concerning the use of controlled substances and the inclusion of one of their officers in the San Antonio Task Force. According to the written agreement, this partnership is necessary due to “evidence that trafficking in narcotics and dangerous drugs exists in the San Antonio, Texas, area and that such illegal activity has a substantial and detrimental effect on the health and general welfare of the people of Texas…”
“I believe we’ve got a Medina County employee that’s funded by the DEA that’s an undercover operative that we have to approve this resolution for…,” Commissioner Lynch said.
The San Antonio Task Force’s purpose is to gather and report information related to drug trafficking, disrupt trafficking by immobilizing targeted violators and organizations and conduct undercover operations and other methods of investigation.
To help the San Antonio Task Force in completing these goals, the Medina County Sheriff’s Office is agreeing to place one experienced officer under the command and authority of the DEA assigned to the Task Force for a minimum of two years. The agreement will be effective from Oct. 1st 2021 to Sept. 30th, 2022.
“We pay the salary,” Commissioner Jerry Beck said. “The DEA pays for any overtime accrued and gas for vehicles.”
According to the written agreement, the DEA will provide necessary funds and equipment to the officer such as office space, funds for travel and the purchase of information, evidence, training and equipment.
When discussing further how much this would eventually cost for the county, the court explained that there is no defined cost for Medina County in this agreement, with costs varying depending on the chosen officer’s level of involvement within the force, such as the job the officer ends up taking and how much they end up working. Medina County Auditor, Eduardo Lopez, explained to the court how much the County had already spent on the agreement for the year of 2021.
“We started the year with around $58,000, received $6,000, spent $17,000 and now we have 47k…,” Lopez said.
Court Approves Revise Road Regulations for Large Lot Subdivision
The court then started on a discussion about the revision of subdivision rules and regulations on road width of large lot subdivision.
“I think the thought was, on some of the large subdivisions…people have been found parking on the county road,” Commissioner Lynch said. “…In high traffic areas, or densely populated areas….we need more pavement space on larger subdivisions….”
Commissioner Sittre showed his support for the potential shift to 28-foot wide roads with a critique of currents road sizes.
“…We started off with 20, then it was 24, then it’s 28 and the issues we were having before, was the choker falling apart,” Commissioner Sittre said. “Once you get a narrow road and start running over shoulders especially going around the in-turns and out-turns, going around corners; that’s where we were having a lot of issues… all I’m telling you is these other subdivisions that are going with this 28, 30-feet are beautiful subdivisions.”
Commissioner Beck agreed with Sittre, citing his own ideas on why widening the roads might potentially be beneficial.
“I really like that idea of a 28-foot cause it leaves a lot more room to pass,” Commissioner Beck said. “In those bigger subdivisions we’ll have, I guess, tractors or other equipment, driving down the road…”
But despite his previous support, as Beck finished, Commissioner Sittre then explained to the court the potential negatives he saw with the idea.
“You know going from 24 to 28, what is that, about a 15% or 18% difference?” Commissioner Sittre said. “Then that’s exactly what it’s going to add to your cost putting these things in. I don’t have an issue with it. I like wide streets, if we’re not sitting here trying to dis-incentivize the developers to do something that’s going to cost them more money.”
The court ultimately agreed and approved to change road rules and regulations to 26-foot base, 24-foot-wide street for a 3-acre minimum lot subdivision.
Approval of Courthouse Annex Change Orders
The court then approved the ratification of change orders for the Courthouse Annex or Jail Addition
The changes included the materials and labor for the installing of new flooring in the IT room, electrical service upgrades for the Schindler Elevator, the installation of chair railing in waiting room for drivers licensing area, new control for bays lights and the relocation of a three way switch.
The total cost of the Medina County 2nd Level Renovations contract, with the changes included, will now be $777,864.
Dancing Bear Subdivision Gets Final Approval
At 10:30 a.m. the court addressed it’s scheduled addendums where the Dancing Bear Subdivision Lot 300, Unit 9; split into lot 300a with 8.007 acres and lot 300b with 2 acres had it’s final public hearing and approval.
The meeting then closed without an executive session.
By Christian Toler
News Correspondent