What happened: The Midland County Commissioners Court met on May 20, 2025

Why it matters: The court reviewed a proposed $43 million park plan, moved forward with golf course design planning, and approved salary adjustments for sheriff’s office staff.

Key points:

  • Horseshoe Trails Park: Commissioners received a presentation on the Midland County park plan for Horseshoe Trails, a 60-acre recreational area next to the Horseshoe Arena. The six-phase plan, designed over the past two years, includes trails, a dog park, food truck space, market areas, shaded structures, and a water feature. Each phase is expected to cost between $5 million and $8 million, with full buildout anticipated over six to seven years. Commissioners emphasized the need for long-term water feature maintenance, tree planting, and future access from Harris Road.

  • County golf course: Commissioners reviewed a request for quote for architectural design services for county golf courses and voted to authorize the county judge to contact all five firms that submitted proposals. Officials highlighted the need to select a firm whose qualifications align with the county’s project goals.

  • Deputy and staff pay: Commissioners approved salary adjustments for deputies and records specialists to help address staffing shortages at the Midland County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff David Criner reported that cadet graduates were at risk of being hired away by competing agencies, while records staff were overworked and underpaid. The raises will be funded by reallocating unspent salary dollars within the department.

  • Adult Probation: Allen Bell, director of Midland Community Supervision and Corrections Department, presented the department’s annual report. Bell highlighted that CSCD serves as a bridge between county and state systems, managing a $4.5 million budget supported by state funds and probation fees. The department collected $3.7 million in restitution and court-ordered costs, with nearly 4,000 individuals under supervision during the fiscal year. Bell emphasized positive trends in successful probation completions.