Comal County approves Morton Preserve land agreement, accepts Veramendi roads

Services, grants and facilities

The court approved an interlocal agreement with the Humane Society of the New Braunfels area for animal control, care facility and associated services from January 1 through December 31, 2027, with monthly county payments of $48,886.65. That monthly figure is the verified payment rate; the next contract and payment records can show implementation. The court approved an agreement with Techline Sports Lighting LLC, based on BuyBoard contract 779-25, to construct and install phase 2 field lighting at Jumbo Evans Sports Park. Agreement approval does not give an installation date.

The court authorized the sheriff to apply for a $10,728 fiscal 2026 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, amending the request to buy 16 rather than 12 magnifiers for SWAT rifles; the sheriff's office said it would need to partially fund the purchase with $524. Authorization to apply is not a grant award. The court adopted a resolution authorizing Comal County to participate in the 2027 Texas Indigent Defense Commission grant program. The court reclassified the reserve deputy fire marshal position as a part-time deputy fire marshal position in response to TCOLE rule changes, with pay for the rest of 2026 coming from the fire code fund.

Citizen comments and towing rules

With no objection, the court held off on proposed amendments to the county's wrecker and towing services order, No. 552, until next week after tow operators raised concerns during public comment. The reviewed outcome establishes that item-specific concern and the court's follow-up, without establishing the operators' individual statements or identities. The supplied agenda describes a general Citizen Comments opportunity; the retained outcome excerpt supports this towing-related account but does not provide a full account of that period. Readers can inspect the meeting recording and watch the next posted agenda for the proposed order's return.

Other recorded actions

The court approved more than $3.46 million in claims for November 5, 2026. It approved a proclamation recognizing the Wurstfest Association and the 65th annual Wurstfest, held November 6 through 15, 2026. It accepted a donation of framed historical documents from the New Braunfels Conservation Society. These were separate recorded actions, not part of a single inferred consent vote.

The court approved a line-item transfer in County Court at Law No. 1 from office supplies and continuing education and travel to visiting judges, to fund future visiting judges. It approved a $300 line-item transfer in the district clerk's office from continuing education and travel to copier lease and maintenance to cover expenses through the end of the year. It approved a $4,050 line-item transfer in elections from voting supplies to software subscription to pay Enhanced Voting LLC invoices for ballot tracking and enhanced ballot license renewals.

The court approved a line-item transfer in facilities maintenance from air conditioner maintenance and repairs to vehicle and equipment fuel to provide fuel funds for the rest of 2026. It approved a line-item transfer in purchasing from software subscription to office supplies to buy a refrigerator, display monitors, mounting brackets and other supplies as the auditor's office moves into purchasing's space. It approved a line-item transfer in recycling from fuel, vehicle and equipment and parts and repairs to contract services and building facilities maintenance to repair the East Bay roll door and pay for an additional grind.

The court approved a line-item transfer in the sheriff's office from hourly personnel to equipment maintenance to replace batteries in uninterrupted power supplies backing up a vital server. It approved an $8,000 transfer of salary savings from elected officials and department heads to non-capital equipment and office supplies to update and furnish historic courthouse offices and conference rooms, with emphasis on space for the incoming county administrator. These are transfers within departmental budgets, with the stated uses recorded in the outcomes.

The next records to check are the executed Morton Preserve agreement and closing documents, the Veramendi permits and maintenance records, the 2027 animal-services agreement, and the next Commissioners Court agenda for towing Order 552. The official Nov. 5 agenda identifies the original items; the meeting recording establishes the public actions summarized here.