Howard County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Howard County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
County Floodplain Regulations and Permitting
The county still runs floodplain decisions off a 2013 order with no real permit process, leaving the judge to sign off on technical documents he says he doesn't understand; a $30,000 Halff system would fix that before development pressure (like a proposed I-20 retail project) hits.
Library Renovation Project
The renovation is nearly done; the court approved final film work and a large payment to pay subcontractors, with a short punch list (paint touch-ups, speaker reinstall) still open.
Cybersecurity Protection Renewal
The county is paying $37,735 for a year of cyber monitoring after grant funding ran out — officials noted it has already caught threats.
25th Street Drainage Master Plan
Drainage plans for 25th Street — tied to a city engineering failure — will proceed at 60% design this year, with the remainder funded next year.
Lawsuit Against County Officials
A confusingly drafted lawsuit names county officials, the City of Big Spring, CAD, and others; the court approved spending taxpayer money on outside lawyers to respond.
Indigent Defense Funding
The annual state resolution keeps the county eligible to recoup roughly 7-8% of what it spends on court-appointed attorneys.
Library Grants for Community Programs
The library can now pursue annual grants for summer reading, literacy, STEM and cultural programs, keeping services going without leaning on taxpayers — though Judge Johnson objected to the Pokémon club grant.
Road Department Equipment and Bids
Road crews finished CR 54 and CR 12 work, and two unsold sheriff vehicles head back to auction; a new fleet manager position will professionalize vehicle management.
Emergency Medical Services Interlocal & Grant Agreements
The county evaluated its current ambulance service contract with the City of Big Spring to support a state grant application, ensuring continuous emergency medical coverage.
2027 County Holiday Schedule
Following survey feedback from staff, commissioners adjusted the 2027 holiday schedule to give employees Thursday, December 23, and Friday, December 24 off for Christmas.
National Weather Service Communications Equipment on South Mountain Tower
The National Weather Service wants to mount severe weather broadcasting gear on the county's South Mountain tower. Commissioners are worried about outside federal technicians walking inside the county's secure communications building where millions of dollars in emergency equipment are housed, so they are exploring building a separate shed outside the fence.
Regional Digital Case Management Integration
The City of Stanton joined other local municipalities in adopting the county's shared digital case management software to streamline law enforcement and court record tracking.
County Records Digitization and Destruction
County Clerk Jury Padron got the green light to destroy older, non-historical paper records that have already been safely scanned and backed up to digital archives, freeing up much-needed office space.
2026-2027 Budget and Tax Rate
Residents voiced strong opposition to a proposed 44-cent tax rate, citing high grocery and utility costs and questioning county cash reserves. Commissioners defended the rate as a preliminary ceiling driven by declining mineral valuations and state circuit breaker laws, voting to table the budget until September 14.
Roadway Maintenance and Dust Control
The road and bridge department is actively working on shoulder widening, clearing fallen trees from storms, and repairing roads damaged by heavy traffic and weather.
FCI Big Spring Closure
The planned closure of the federal prison in Big Spring threatens over 200 local jobs and families. Local officials are lobbying federal authorities to reverse the decision while organizing rapid-response job fairs and support groups.
Weather Modification Operations and Reporting
The board reviewed meteorological conditions, aircraft status, and general association operations related to weather modification programs serving Howard County and regional partners.
Election Technology Upgrades
The Elections Administrator secured approval to upgrade pollbook software and hardware to comply with Senate Bill 2753, ensuring smooth voter check-in across expanded polling locations.
Data Center Water Impact
Water district officials briefed the court on active wells and regulatory rules, touching on how upcoming data center projects might affect local water supplies.
School Infrastructure Bond
Forsan ISD is finally breaking ground on a massive $47 million upgrade for the junior/senior high school. Students are getting shiny new classrooms, updated facilities, and better career training programs.
Employee Health Insurance Renewal and Benefits
During the afternoon workshop, county financial officers presented the 2026-2027 health insurance renewal options from the Texas Association of Counties. The court voted to keep the current health plan.
Courthouse Generator Installation
County maintenance supervisor Baldomar Cortez updated the court on site preparations for new courthouse generators. The road and bridge department will move the old generator, and a new concrete pad and fencing will be arranged.
Fuel Control System Replacement
The county is encouraging staff and deputies to utilize a mobile app for tracking fuel usage at county pumps to streamline data and monitor usage.
Salary Grievance Committee
The county is required by law to have a committee ready to hear potential salary complaints from elected officials. They drew names from the grand jury pool to ensure the committee is ready if needed.
Summer Nutrition Program
Big Spring is keeping kids fed this summer by offering free breakfast and lunch at local schools. If you're a parent looking to save on groceries, just swing by the Junior High or Washington Elementary to grab a meal.
Student Recognition Program
The county continues its tradition of honoring outstanding high school students to support their college applications.
Morita Ranch Subdivision Plat
The commissioners reviewed and approved the final subdivision plat for Morita Ranch, clearing the way for development.