What to watch: The Midland County Commissioners Court meets Tuesday, June 2, at 9 a.m., with three policy-shift items on the table. The court will consider putting all county law enforcement on the same pay scale, hiring more jailers ahead of the new jail opening in early 2027, and adding Juneteenth as a paid county holiday.

The tabled amendment to the new juvenile justice center design, replacing the current Barbara Culver Juvenile Center, which would increase the cost from $24 to $41 million, is back on the agenda.

Key points:

  • Law enforcement pay: Commissioners will consider putting all county law enforcement on the same pay scale. Currently, sheriff’s deputies, constables, and other county peace officers sit on different pay scales. The item continues a pay-policy thread across the various law enforcement departments that the court has been working through all year. The county did not list the dollar impact on the agenda.
  • Hiring more jailers: The county will consider hiring additional jailers. County Judge Terry Johnson said in a May 18 KWEL radio interview that Sheriff David Criner asked for the funding for additional jailers ahead of the new county jail opening early next year, and that he supports the request in his final county budget.
  • Juneteenth paid holiday: Commissioners will consider adding Juneteenth, June 19, to the list of paid holidays county employees observe. The court first discussed the item in February, but did not vote on it. At that meeting, County Judge Terry Johnson said he didn’t oppose the request but noted it costs the county more than a quarter of a million dollars each day it is shut down.
  • Juvenile justice center: Commissioners may again take up the amendment to the design contract that would scale the new juvenile justice center from 24 beds at $24 million to 40 beds and $41 million. The court tabled the item at the last meeting after county staff asked for time to review the amendment’s language.
  • Justice of the Peace: The county may consider a request from Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Judge John Barton for salary adjustments and stipend payments for his staff. The dollar amount and the specific positions are not on the agenda.
  • Border Prosecution Unit: The court will consider applying for a grant from the Border Prosecution Unit through the Governor’s Public Safety Office. The program funds prosecution resources for counties affected by border-related crime. The court tabled the item at the previous meeting.
  • CSCD annual report: The Midland County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, or adult probation, will deliver an annual presentation to the court. The agency supervises felony and misdemeanor probationers and runs the specialty-court programs.
  • Axon evidence storage: Commissioners will consider an agreement with Axon for the storage and downloading of digital evidence on the company’s cloud platform.
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