Hays County Commissioners Court Approve Submission Of Five Grant Applications

Staff Reports

On Tuesday, January 22, the Hays County Commissioners Court approved several applications for grants from the Governor’s Homeland Security Grant Division.

As part of the consent agenda, commissioners considered five items authorizing “the County Judge to execute a Resolution and grant application submittal to the Office of the Governor, Homeland Security Grants Division” for various grants for Hays County.

Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra will submit applications for the following grants:

• Hays County SWAT Team Capability Improvements Project: $104,860.00 grant to provide funding for new robotics equipment and technology to be utilized by the SWAT Team when responding to incidents.

• Hays County Forecasting Potential Hazardous Events Project: $65,976.00 grant to provide funding for radiosonde forecasting that will provide real-time data to emergency management personnel to assist in predicting outcomes with possible hazardous scenarios.

• Hays County HazMat Team Monitor Maintenance Project: $20,000.00 grant to provide maintenance of the HazMat Monitors, “which will increase the life of the specialized equipment and allow the team to respond with sustainable equipment.”

• Hays County Soil Moisture Index Project: $415,837.00 grant to provide funding for Hays County to work with partners to produce a soil moisture index and monitoring network that will be integrated into the early warning system.

The applications are due January 24 and will be submitted through the eGrants portal for review by CAPCOG. If approved by CAPCOG, the applications will then be submitted through the eGrants portal to the Homeland Security Division on Feb. 28, according to staff.

Staff said that none of the grants will require matching funds.

Judge Becerra and Commissioner Debbie Gonzalez-Ingalsbe thanked the Hays County grant department for all of their work and efforts to find grant funding for projects like these.

Among the other items considered by Commissioners Tuesday morning was the authorization of use of County Wide contingencies for operational and training needs within the County Judge’s Office and to receive a presentation by the Hays County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) on annual activities and initiatives.

According to the agenda, the County Judge has requested additional funds moved to his operating budget for additional office supplies, printed materials and training conferences needed for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2019.

“Due to the new administration, additional funds are needed in order to become fully operational.”

The estimated funds requested will be used as follows:

• Office Supplies: Replacement Shredder, Phone Headset, Ergonomic Standing Desk, Replenish Stock Items ($974)
• Printing: Letterhead Envelopes, Notepads, Notecards and Business Cards ($500)
• Continuing Education: County Judge conferences: VGY Co Govt School for Commissioner’s Court, TAC Spring Judicial Education Session, TAC County Mgmt & Risk Conference, Probate Academy, South Tx Co Judge’s & Commissioner’s Assoc. Conference, Legislative Conference ($3,500)

The item passed with a vote of 5-0.

CERT became a county directed program in December 2014 and resides under the Hays County Office of Emergency Services. The presentation gave commissioners a snapshot of activities and trainings completed by CERT in 2018.

Last year, CERT had 130 students from San Marcos High School participate in the High School Teen CERT Training, 8 students from Hays HS, 32 students from Lehman HS and 11 from Wimberley HS.

The meeting adjourned with commissioners returning from executive session to take action on executive session item 28.

A motion to “authorize the commissioner of pct. 4 to accept a counter offer from the owners of parcel 7 on the Lime Kiln project as presented in executive session” passed 5-0.