What happened: The Midland County Commissioners Court met on Tuesday, July 21, and voted to create four courthouse security deputy positions, one for each of the county’s constable precincts. The move follows the court’s July 7 decision to put the constables rather than the sheriff’s office in charge of security at the new Justice of the Peace courthouse annex.

The court also discussed funding for the city’s animal shelter, received updates on the Interstate 20 HERO roadside assistance program and county fleet maintenance, and reviewed potential retirement benefit changes ahead of budget season.

Key points:

  • Courthouse security staffing: The court approved four new deputy constable positions to staff security at the new courthouse annex after a contentious debate earlier this month over whether hiring more deputy constables would cause a further staffing shortage at the Sheriff’s Office.

Commissioners debated whether to fund the new positions through the county’s salary contingency or general contingency fund. They postponed the decision until executive session to allow the county auditor time to evaluate the options. It was not made clear during the public portion of the meeting which fund the commissioners chose.

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The discussion continued a broader disagreement over using contingency funds to add positions and equipment outside the normal budget process. Contingency funds are generally reserved for unexpected or emergency expenses.

  • Animal shelter funding: The court discussed its partnership with the City of Midland on animal shelter services but took no action. County Judge Terry Johnson said that he had previously considered budgeting $1 million for a county-operated shelter at the new jail but determined the idea was impractical because of state regulations, staffing requirements, and operating costs.

Instead, he suggested helping fund a potential expansion of the city’s shelter to better handle the county’s occasional large animal cruelty and hoarding cases, which can overwhelm existing capacity and force the shelter to euthanize adoptable animals to make room for seized animals. Commissioner Steven Villela said the county needs a better understanding of the city’s costs and needs.

  • HERO roadside assistance: County officials received a first-year update on the Interstate 20 HERO roadside assistance program, which provides free assistance to stranded motorists along Interstate 20 and State Highway 191.

Officials said the program responded to 250 tire changes, 90 fuel deliveries, and 42 jump starts during its first year while also assisting with traffic control and roadside safety. TxDOT said the second year of the program began this month, with discussions about possible route expansions expected to begin in September.

  • Fleet maintenance update: The court received updates from Sewell Fleet Management and the county’s Fleet Department as commissioners continue evaluating the county’s transition to Sewell as its fleet maintenance provider.

Sewell reported the county spent about $610,000 of its $1.2 million maintenance budget this year despite increased repair costs from an aging fleet. They projected next year’s maintenance costs between $810,000 and $905,000. The company recommended replacing 124 of the county’s roughly 400 light-duty vehicles.

The county’s fleet manager said the county has a good relationship with Sewell but needs more time and better data before making long-term vehicle replacement recommendations.

  • Retirement benefits: Commissioners discussed increasing the county’s retirement match during the upcoming budget process but took no action. Commissioners discussed that the county contributes 13.5% of payroll to the retirement system, while the current benefit structure requires an actuarially determined contribution of about 10.62%.

Commissioners discussed that potentially increasing the retirement match from 200% to 215% would still fit within the county’s existing 13.5% contribution commitment rather than requiring a higher contribution.