What happened: The Midland County Commissioners Court met on June 3, 2025

Why it matters: The court received an update on the Midland County Utility District (MCUD) water project, approved salary increases for jailers, and reviewed proposed cybersecurity safeguards.

Key points:

  • Midland County Utility District: Rodney Rhodes, executive director of MCUD, briefed commissioners on revised water supply plans following the defeat of the May bond election. MCUD remains focused on delivering treated water to the new Gary Painter Detention Center and Greenwood ISD campuses using $26.5 million in available funds, including $19 million already under contract.

The agency still faces a $4.5 to $5 million shortfall for the $31 million project but expects to meet early 2026 water needs with 500,000 gallons of daily treated water capacity. Greenwood ISD will fully fund its own transmission line. MCUD also plans to expand public outreach ahead of a possible November 2026 bond proposal.

  • Jailer pay: Commissioners approved salary increases for jailers to help fill 20 vacant positions at the Midland County jail. The sheriff’s department reported that earlier raises for deputies improved recruitment and expects similar results for jail staff.

  • Security policy: As part of cybersecurity improvements, commissioners reviewed a proposal to disable USB ports on county computers to protect against malware from external devices. The policy would allow case-by-case exceptions for departments that require USB access. A formal policy is expected to follow in the coming weeks.