[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6104376,"mediaKeyId","2791135-2afc2d738d01e4fc7b8305a6048f8f8f","parentId",2791135,"title","Commissioners authorize outside counsel to sign final judgment in 3 Creeks Phase 9 case; county faces potential maintenance obligation","audioSeconds",359,"startMs",671000,"endMs",1030000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2791135-2afc2d738d01e4fc7b8305a6048f8f8f&start=671&end=1030","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2791135-2afc2d738d01e4fc7b8305a6048f8f8f/thumbnail_671000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6104376/Bell-County/Texas/Commissioners-authorize-outside-counsel-to-sign-final-judgment-in-3-Creeks-Phase-9-case-county-faces-potential-maintenance-obligation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6104376-621a0f55ec7e4797e9aee3f633ce2a86/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138268&Signature=POvCXxbuEqILByYC5kwB5TX0P6Q7nMVgeZ8YE8jnPLd6t6ityfddXxkuwTiBHVWmRwM7NW~2efUzRNPuINbUX7zKbh9m0o0vPozrBkWTLOr9lCYr0D3~cZka69xKx8cGy0F~brpMl-IxrmfN2DASqBtVCdAchNgN6MrrB5M7QqNcPL8rjgd4X~f27D7cOJ-q6uH2fm7-SIos-~JXAtI7Jluc54cd8FIESED~uiJQKOowtWoKR1vTaEcWGq7Z6UR4bEIROGHrqoh1E-iNcqoJFKbfG-n4UZgGOjBu272IKfeQAdP5fSnFwFeGd-kXOjr5FA8bPxl4z9KkYjweBRfLSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bell County","date","2025-01-06T00:00:00Z","article","Bell County Commissioners Court authorized outside counsel to execute a final judgment in litigation with WBW Single Development Group LLC that resolves whether the county must accept certain subdivision streets for maintenance in the 3 Creeks Phase 9 development.

The court reviewed a draft final judgment and authorized the county’s outside counsel, Mr. Bass, to sign on the county’s behalf. The judgment follows summary-judgment briefing and concerns whether the interlocal agreement (ILA) between the City of Belton and Bell County — under which the city had authority to approve plats and certain related actions — reserved the county’s right to accept or decline maintenance of subdivision streets.

Why it matters: the judge’s written decision concluded that, in the absence of an express reservation preserving the county’s right to approve maintenance, the county must accept the streets for maintenance. Commissioners warned that accepting maintenance could create near-term operational and budgetary obligations for the county, especially given comments that Phase 9 includes roughly 280 lots feeding into one area.

Commissioner Schneider moved to authorize outside counsel to execute the final judgment; Commissioner Mason seconded the motion. Commissioners discussed the history of interlocal agreements with Belton, including that a later agreement expressly excluded maintenance for some areas but earlier agreements did not contain an express reservation. Commissioners said they will place a future agenda item to consider formally accepting maintenance for the 3 Creeks Phase 9 roads and to review all ILAs with cities to ensure express reservation language is included where the county intends to retain maintenance discretion.

County staff and commissioners said the decision likely requires follow-up action: either a formal acceptance of the roads through an agenda item or amendments to ILAs with municipal partners to clarify the county’s reservation of maintenance authority. Commissioners did not vote on road acceptance during this meeting; the court’s action was limited to authorizing counsel to sign the final judgment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bell County Commissioner's Court Jan 06, 2025\t","oneSentenceSummary","Bell County authorized outside counsel to execute a final judgment in litigation with WBW Single Development Group LLC that could require the county to accept subdivision streets for maintenance in 3 Creeks Phase 9.","taxTitle","Bell County, Texas","taxId",2687,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6104380,"Bell County will close Jan. 9 only if Texas issues state proclamation, commissioners vote",533,119000,652000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2791135-2afc2d738d01e4fc7b8305a6048f8f8f&start=119&end=652","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2791135-2afc2d738d01e4fc7b8305a6048f8f8f/thumbnail_119000.jpg","/articles/6104380/Bell-County/Texas/Bell-County-will-close-Jan-9-only-if-Texas-issues-state-proclamation-commissioners-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6104380-979f3d590d390ade56145b8d106056da/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138268&Signature=d~YAG6bRrpixhSrm1GcM-cKc3yYMi0ahcE7~nzMP8i3ybeGha2~WLFpHAPHFye54I~641XxsMjOKoFVDbJZvi0dt5VjqohCILBLCau-VQXuueHg1LRsF2dGgeGC9DTZIA3mgmEA~lmQW45J0uCa4iXsY9~i2X2SOpcJDrWfefldQXOEBcleoSctkwPu4wkDB1RBoZrRELRcWmt30O7QhqdqDaTdHogYk3ORv80A1p0yeiTSAGeJEIQx9evKXcg52QgIOD5QVzvSWn23ljR4ZUNyHwzWoZL651~3Un6JG7ch3PebWtGTOhyZUgC5Z02GYjJRtB2RWt-OONQKpj8oTrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bell County Commissioners Court voted to close county offices on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in observance of a National Day of Mourning for former President Jimmy Carter only if the governor issues a state proclamation closing state offices. The court adopted the contingency motion after debate and a 4-1 vote.

The question was raised after a presidential proclamation and following discussion about how the county handled a federal and state proclamation after the death of former President George H.W. Bush in 2018. Commissioners discussed the cost and operational impacts of an additional county holiday and whether to match any action by the state.

Why it matters: a county closure affects 1,200 county employees and daily services for residents. Commissioners cited precedent and the short timeframe between a proclamation and the observance when weighing whether to act independently.

Commissioners debated the budgetary and staffing effects. Commissioners referenced an estimate of roughly 9,600 employee hours (1,200 employees × 8 hours) for a single-day closure and said that, at an average hourly rate of $20.25, that translates to more than $200,000 in regular pay obligations; additional overtime costs were estimated at about $75,000. Commissioners noted part-time and on-call services would still require staffing and that some offices have closed early in recent days to catch up on work.

Commissioner Minor moved the original motion to approve closing county offices; the court later considered an amended motion to make any closure contingent on a state proclamation. Commissioner Whitson seconded the consent-motion and seconded the amendment at different points in the discussion as recorded in the meeting. The amended motion — to close county offices on Jan. 9 provided the state issues a proclamation closing state offices — passed 4-1. The county judge said he had contacted the governor’s office and would notify the public if and when a state proclamation is issued.

The court did not adopt a unilateral county closure in advance of a state decision. Several commissioners said they would follow the governor’s lead rather than close on county authority alone.","The Bell County Commissioners Court approved a motion to close county offices on Jan. 9 for a National Day of Mourning for former President Jimmy Carter only if the governor issues a state proclamation. Commissioners debated cost and precedent before voting 4-1 to make closure contingent on a state order.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":46,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6104369,"Commissioners recess to closed session on Priest Drive property in Killeen; no public action taken",110,1140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2791135-2afc2d738d01e4fc7b8305a6048f8f8f&start=1030&end=1140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2791135-2afc2d738d01e4fc7b8305a6048f8f8f/thumbnail_1030000.jpg","/articles/6104369/Bell-County/Texas/Commissioners-recess-to-closed-session-on-Priest-Drive-property-in-Killeen-no-public-action-taken","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6104369-7fe40d69f4a3940ee38c5a169c3718fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138268&Signature=HIrRrbKg83R-A6ShBMQog6Z0mvKTMrO6HulyybiqRDJO4UNOfQWO4X2eCsLG6gysN3M5~~H8JeQcxd9cS6Ef5fjh6M5OfW3Eof3X~A7BUJDPf8NgT3JHN~DmLPyzkwk8hW~xIanWWSpBXqBu~UCO7YYDnIfcOkHV~ky1DlD6mxBfZOfCOhQ30rp4FGrsYDTfqxZ92DtZrS5oF71J-wAXkGiYUCumWWO7pRgPwLgJa7zVCXKYkmTd1tqJr~HQdmcAbFavwNmq~5GtWDhG99ix7tLhLFgWXYXpmJ6T5XWKi2oSFULZ994yHaKlQ3t~KknSdl5wS5n~GQmXzzRGe4lsZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bell County Commissioners Court recessed into closed session under Texas Government Code §551.072 to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property relating to Priest Drive property in Killeen, Texas. The court invited parties to leave the room and stated it did not anticipate a long closed session.

After returning to open session, the court recorded that no action was taken on the closed-session item. The meeting then recessed for a staff workshop.

Why it matters: closed sessions under §551.072 allow a governmental body to deliberate real-property negotiations in private when public discussion would harm the government's position in negotiations. The court followed that statutory process and reported no formal action when it returned to open session.","The court entered a closed session under Texas Government Code 551.072 to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property related to Priest Drive property in Killeen, then returned with no action taken on the matter.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners authorize outside counsel to sign final judgment in 3 Creeks Phase 9 case; county faces potential maintenance obligation

Bell County will close Jan. 9 only if Texas issues state proclamation, commissioners vote

Commissioners recess to closed session on Priest Drive property in Killeen; no public action taken