[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-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",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6259506,"mediaKeyId","3141043-217fc4659c3417fcb9155940ca50eb2d","parentId",3141043,"title","Mills County court adopts investment policy; judge reports on emergency coordination, outside counsel and courthouse flood repairs","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",447000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3141043-217fc4659c3417fcb9155940ca50eb2d&start=447&end=447","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3141043-217fc4659c3417fcb9155940ca50eb2d/thumbnail_447000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6259506/Mills-County/Texas/Mills-County-court-adopts-investment-policy-judge-reports-on-emergency-coordination-outside-counsel-and-courthouse-flood-repairs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259506-44de0f9f0ded74faf5d26f8ecca2310f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151136&Signature=jlOoVqLflnbx-Ml39eXYu8OMMcYpQ4iAoBMrnU0OCA6Ji8P373lLvrYdaPDacCmc6EAmjIpKRO64BWSRJEyF0BDVSoRQu60YpiVN0nIkpI8zVPa~ymG3n0C2sJqzxbJFbQNnNt4ADvtvE99SYbZNvLdTvqXNFOk9AOESfyIRMI-QskkInSOsDsojfHPd5QUCJv7VR-7Dp7Ap4cEmelpkIGsVfw3r7jgi9Riay8IR8aXol55ySDQgSG-mbtfjnotxHP1mAMK1fCxveBCuF7rdRqvyySeSpps71iSsXUc3W0R3eiriVmApTg6Y3QnG~SAASQUcDPlvhZh6YIRZvYpCGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mills County Court, Texas","date","2025-04-28T13:58:55Z","article","Mills County Commissioners Court approved an investment policy at its April 28, 2025 meeting and received multiple operational updates from the county judge about emergency coordination, outside legal counsel and building repairs.

Commissioners were told the investment policy adoption was overdue; one member said the policy should have been approved earlier in the year. After brief discussion the court voted to adopt the investment policy as presented.

County Judge's report covered several operational items: the burn ban had been lifted but residents were reminded to coordinate burns with law enforcement because of windy conditions; new regional EMS leadership was introduced — Shaan Brake is the Hamilton County regional EMS director covering a five-county area that includes Mills County; and budget planning for the coming fiscal cycle will begin soon, with proposed calendar and workshops to be scheduled.

The judge said the county retained outside legal services from attorney Jeffrey Allen, who previously represented the county on wind-turbine matters and is available for consultations on potential solar farm, wind turbine, or tax-abatement issues. The court discussed bringing the matter forward on a future agenda to confirm scope and budget for outside counsel; the meeting record does not specify a contract amount or hourly rate.

Emergency management and interlocal coordination were discussed. Commissioners noted the need for interlocal agreements with neighboring counties to provide mutual aid during large-scale events and were informed of a FEMA mitigation meeting scheduled for the courthouse on Wednesday at 9 a.m.

The judge reported localized flood and water intrusion in the courthouse basement and the county attorney's office following recent heavy rain. Cleanup and drying have been completed, but the court was told a moisture barrier on the south side of the courthouse foundation appears to be failing and will require excavation and repair. The court directed staff to investigate repair options and costs.

Road-and-bridge updates were reported by commissioners: crews bladed several roads and addressed washouts caused by heavy rain; several county roads (identified in county communications as County Road 536 and 531) sustained damage and will need repair when crews can access them.

The court voted to adopt the investment policy and moved on to other agenda items.

Action items recorded in the meeting include preparing the county budget calendar, investigating courthouse foundation repair options, and following up on FEMA mitigation and interlocal emergency agreements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04.28.2025 Commissioners Court","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 28, 2025 meeting the Mills County Commissioners Court approved an overdue investment policy, heard the county judge report on emergency coordination and FEMA-mitigation work, noted the hiring of outside counsel for potential renewable-energy and tax-abatement matters, and reviewed recent courthouse flood damage and repairs.","taxTitle","Mills County, Texas","taxId",73734,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6259511,"Mills County court adopts updated employee handbook; travel payment, sick-leave and tobacco rules revised",1099,505000,1604000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3141043-217fc4659c3417fcb9155940ca50eb2d&start=505&end=1604","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3141043-217fc4659c3417fcb9155940ca50eb2d/thumbnail_505000.jpg","/articles/6259511/Mills-County/Texas/Mills-County-court-adopts-updated-employee-handbook-travel-payment-sick-leave-and-tobacco-rules-revised","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259511-9d5864486745b20c525635a75e0701fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151136&Signature=MJtqBmLD5dOs5yxyELpJ5GQi8UlRCGxQN83xe8MzVxxwusVHCM6xFT3mjMEnBGdJ0gUyZ4FNFFtV-qylmx4tps~oh23r0BbSXTn2wZng6BsKeDy6aEjijggEQ1tr-HC2fSKO3zIn-uyrTu6BbSsKz5QFq1MS9y-AJ~m17XUpqsTyKhWATEUNGIVMK3XAkSb~nIzsG0B3FB2WkAWCAkD~Ddmr2lQRtrPi~elk9mohfUboNK1oC5bKGYvYjdPz1mPwdLgQXQcQtDkzo-4WXMvLngDqUqvZEvgLgOW~QeHjV96~5lbfEMkxvysEONDjMmd3er9LI0ubDRlRbyby5EncZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mills County Commissioners Court approved updates to the county employee handbook at its April 28, 2025, meeting, adopting changes that alter how travel expenses are handled, refine sick-leave documentation requirements and change the workplace nicotine policy.

The court voted to allow payment of travel expenses on a county credit card when funds are allocated in the department budget rather than requiring employees to pay out of pocket and seek reimbursement. The change was explained during discussion as intended to ease the financial burden on employees who travel for county business and to address practical difficulties with reimbursement for large hotel and travel expenses.

Court members also discussed language clarifying when a doctor's note is required for sick leave. Current handbook text allows an immediate household member to cover short absences; the revised language makes clear that a physician's note is required for absences of three days or longer, and committee members said they would bring specific suggested wording back to the handbook committee if needed.

The handbook's wording on workplace nicotine use was changed from \"smoke-free\" to \"tobacco-free\" to match the handbook's explanatory description. Changes to the travel and reimbursement sections also addressed meal reimbursement; the older text listed daily maximums ($60 for day trips, $80 for overnight) and members noted administrators had adjusted that language to reflect payment options. The final, adopted version changes phrasing from a reimbursement-only model to a payment model when budgeted, but the meeting record does not specify the exact new meal limits or per-diem amounts.

Human-resources distribution and signature procedures were discussed: the court directed that a clean copy without redlines be prepared for signatures in the judge's office and that HR follow up with employees and elected officials to confirm receipt of the updated handbook.

Commissioner Williams moved to approve the handbook changes as presented; a second was made and the motion passed unanimously.

Court members and staff emphasized internal controls for county credit-card use, noting prior instances where personal purchases were charged by mistake and that the handbook retains provisions for recouping unauthorized charges from employee pay if necessary. Several commissioners reiterated that department budgets must include funds for travel expenses if departments plan to use the county credit card for training or other travel.

The court approved the handbook changes and instructed staff to prepare the signed document and distribution steps.","On April 28, 2025, the Mills County Commissioners Court approved multiple updates to the county employee handbook, including allowing payment of travel expenses on county credit cards when budgeted, clarifying sick-leave documentation for extended absences, and changing the workplace policy from \"smoke-free\" to \"tobacco-free.\"","actionData","errors"]

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Mills County court adopts investment policy; judge reports on emergency coordination, outside counsel and courthouse flood repairs

Mills County court adopts updated employee handbook; travel payment, sick-leave and tobacco rules revised