# October 13, 2026 Commissioners Court | Regular Meeting

Hardin County Commissioners Court regular meeting, October 13, 2026. The court approved payment of $560,970.42 in county expenditures, including $364,493.88 for October health, dental, life, and vision insurance, and approved additional grant-related cash advances for drainage projects. The court authorized transfers totaling $663,550 from the general fund for the Black Creek, Boggy Creek, and Mill Creek drainage studies pending federal reimbursement, and approved $275,600 in engineering and grant-administration payments for Black Creek. For the Hurricane Safe Room project, it approved a $738,844.55 general-fund advance and FEMA grant pay applications of $314,220.10 and $473,880.74. The court also approved N.T. Construction change orders funded with remaining ARPA funds—including a $135,909.77 Phase A change order and additional Phase B/C changes—and an ARPA allocation adjustment covering construction, furniture, audiovisual/network equipment, and access-control costs. The change-order vote passed 4–1. The court authorized publication of an RFP for an independent auditing firm for next year and approved a $5,894.74 memorandum of understanding for the Southeast Texas Alerting Network.

Other approved agreements included renewals or amendments with Spindletop Center for mental-health and jail-based competency restoration services; the mental-health liaison amendment includes a reduced state reimbursement, with the county covering an approximately $12,000 shortfall within the sheriff’s budget. The court approved a 2027 Workforce Solutions renewal and a no-cost agreement with Big Thicket Biosphere Reserve for pollinator and rain gardens. It also approved an amendment to the Subdivision Manual allowing qualifying lots to have 50-foot frontage and 5-foot setbacks when supported by a lot-grading plan, while retaining the 5,000-square-foot minimum lot size. Certified Payments was discussed as a possible replacement payment processor after GovPay’s closure, but the contract was not yet ready for approval; staff planned to coordinate with the county attorney to avoid service interruption.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure, Professional Services
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 13, 2026

### Sources
- [October 13, 2026 Commissioners Court | Regular Meeting](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHnR_Io4Q_A) - Hardin County