[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6240791,"mediaKeyId","3318678-6340cc9b2a269fb5bfba421e34e65ddd","parentId",3318678,"title","Commissioners proclaim May Foster Care Awareness Month; Agape Ranch outlines gaps in local foster capacity","audioSeconds",549,"startMs",1525000,"endMs",2074000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3318678-6340cc9b2a269fb5bfba421e34e65ddd&start=1525&end=2074","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3318678-6340cc9b2a269fb5bfba421e34e65ddd/thumbnail_1525000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6240791/Nueces-County/Texas/Commissioners-proclaim-May-Foster-Care-Awareness-Month-Agape-Ranch-outlines-gaps-in-local-foster-capacity","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6240791-cb07346f6255618ed3457ffd9afb79e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154057&Signature=G4LN~bU1RhpP31qtShU9xZo-TRDx1amtf~gKri4BQfu4pA2mNAUxhZChjcdIKOPiCPJFTmSkrao9D4emtKGEK88Hx~BasMcdtHAbJUNIwyF7az5MJcMjRmcRn5tffac2Q1ZbwtMrSy3ISpezZa3~hZr2vDmnUajywwfguhZu4bWH1oKQ9NJRi9QWY1Ng6PefzmQQwNkocmBx55gRYlozx-b6iVm43rOKbfZSzJiR04thZbxkemlDnnK5~GIFWfIJcguFUvJ4BT8bO5erAIuUuD3~3yWkd46falv7KaF1ELNF9uoDuOF6lfhIvsbL1fPBha2Hez-VBaT6Si6PoDIQog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nueces County, TX","date","2025-05-15T02:33:20Z","article","The Nueces County Commissioners Court adopted a proclamation designating May 2025 as Foster Care Awareness Month and invited representatives of Agape Ranch and other local nonprofits to brief the court on foster-care needs in the county.

Shannon Murphy of Agape Ranch told the court that Nueces County currently has “over 400 children in foster care” and “only 94 active foster homes,” a gap that sometimes forces placements outside the county or even out of state. She said the average age of a child entering foster care is about 8 years old and that children who are “adoption ready” can wait 1½ to 2 years to be adopted.

Murphy described Agape Ranch’s four pillars—prevention, foster care, adoption, and support for youth aging out of the system—and said the organization recently received a Republic Services grant that funded a perimeter fence, a sensory playground, and a prayer garden at the Ranch neighborhood in the London District. County officials and nonprofit partners told the court Agape Ranch has completed nine houses with 24 planned as part of a broader effort to provide family‑style residences for foster families and youth.

Commissioners and other speakers praised foster‑care volunteers and called for more foster homes and community support. The court’s proclamation specifically commended Agape Ranch and local nonprofits for their work and the declaration passed unanimously. Agape Ranch asked residents to consider foster parenting, volunteer roles and other ways to help children and youth in care; the organization provided its website for information and outreach.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","5/14/2025 Nueces County Commissioner’s Court","oneSentenceSummary","Nueces County commissioners proclaimed May 2025 as Foster Care Awareness Month and heard from Agape Ranch that the county has more than 400 children in foster care but just 94 active foster homes; the nonprofit described programs and recent grant support for a perimeter fence and sensory playground.","taxTitle","Nueces County, Texas","taxId",2715,"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},6240796,"Commissioners ask staff to study reusing detention‑pond water to help with local drought response",660,7532000,8192000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3318678-6340cc9b2a269fb5bfba421e34e65ddd&start=7532&end=8192","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3318678-6340cc9b2a269fb5bfba421e34e65ddd/thumbnail_7532000.jpg","/articles/6240796/Nueces-County/Texas/Commissioners-ask-staff-to-study-reusing-detentionpond-water-to-help-with-local-drought-response","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6240796-4094ea75627a2b8c8466d9bfaa80048b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154057&Signature=OCxEcrISP8Cq8p9Qq1oha0lxfSfm4W7v5wSxJkYnal~7elm3BUVCeYDildGN3BUOHA95g6RjpMXHsC3EXjJrb78NmOE6XDyua9FnzkIcXU4LAYa010CLJFqhhrNh~JeUjkdVH2rnmdvf6X0tcHXVJbiUEHJubDp05lswgrDYEhqj3S48UeBhofCWuVr0kszEHx3S~STuq866CDRWApylPZxX3QpAZybCWmyIfXXibhjOZLG87UDj69S37~tJn5bSgpirorXQTOfLn7O~tZjfKEOP3O6KvMsQc0qY0KH~d4wZnS5PXByMLSlPA8IooEhYf0-YC8ftZEDG021wtrQBBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Nueces County commissioners asked staff to study whether the county can provide water from detention ponds — including a London-area pond that officials described as holding roughly 6 million gallons — for local drought relief and county uses.

Commissioner Chesney introduced the idea, saying the county has water sitting in detention facilities that could help residents and nonprofit groups if legally and technically feasible. “We have a 6,000,000‑gallon detention pond in London that currently has a lot of water,” he said, pressing staff to examine whether the county can make that water available rather than letting it be released and lost.

County staff and legal counsel said the concept raises regulatory and liability questions. Public-works staff said the county already operates water‑reuse structures for its own roadwork and has a similar reuse setup at Stonegate, and that such systems would need coordination with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The county attorney noted potential legal limits and asked for more detailed proposals.

Commissioner Hoesley and other members urged caution and recalled prior TCEQ restrictions on water movements and reuse; they said any program would need permitting, clear controls on distribution, and safeguards to prevent unintended health or environmental impacts. The court discussed whether reclamation‑district authorities would apply in other parts of the county and whether local title or ownership questions could affect distribution.

After discussion, the commissioners voted to direct staff to collect regulatory guidance from TCEQ, assess required permits and potential liability, and report back with options and a cost estimate. The court also asked staff to consider whether outside environmental or water‑management consultants should be retained to advise county officials.","After commissioners discussed the idea of making water from county detention ponds available for residents and county projects, the court directed staff to research legal, regulatory and operational steps — including TCEQ requirements and possible consultant support — and report back.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6240801,"Court approves $108,000 ARPA subrecipient agreement for Robstown public‑safety and shelter upgrades",166,3958000,4124000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3318678-6340cc9b2a269fb5bfba421e34e65ddd&start=3958&end=4124","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3318678-6340cc9b2a269fb5bfba421e34e65ddd/thumbnail_3958000.jpg","/articles/6240801/Nueces-County/Texas/Court-approves-108000-ARPA-subrecipient-agreement-for-Robstown-publicsafety-and-shelter-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6240801-3f06c069c59768e54f44e49d5d8c190a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154057&Signature=I5p4RYn1KfPcjttK-MCkvLK5Xfkh6RaGoIbngUZih2GT3H-A3OGAVeKUxv1UFo5a0uck3gd1IQUe5ikJeuTJEOaFjqPEWKQvpKEv7W3W10VNs7GEhUGtr9wILLbBvny7gAuxnOtwDeedHFNcCGVhc~SY04hkbo9UwsDsumg20BwJ4pIQKFGm8y9eybvKTz8AuBqk3jKdCFnYUoZCgNHozCHVsIona-s2rtYwlSxn4eeUPDT4Nub8DRok5tXF9uoAA4v3ooT51HWydpZCnn0RT0xxYlMZoE3zcv1FxcCz3lN9ckU~q8NgFxq4IlZwdljvzr0g0GDcsju4HqJvOuGI-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Nueces County Commissioners Court unanimously authorized a subrecipient agreement using American Rescue Plan Act funds to support infrastructure and public-safety improvements in the City of Robstown.

Commissioner Matos introduced the item and moved to approve a subrecipient agreement with Cotton Community Partners, funded by Precinct 3 ARPA dollars, totaling $108,000. The court voted to authorize execution of the agreement.

Robstown officials told the court the funds will help several projects including facility upgrades for Robstown Police and Fire Departments and a community facility that can function as an emergency shelter. The city’s police chief said officers currently work from a building that dates to 1929 and needs upgrades; the fire department representative highlighted the need to replace an outdoor warning siren after recent severe weather.

City officials, county staff and commissioners described the funding as a partnership across jurisdictions. County staff noted the funding is routed through the city because specific projects are located in city-owned buildings and because of the cooperative nature of precinct-level ARPA allocations.

The motion passed without dissent. Staff will execute the subrecipient agreement and coordinate project specifics with city and county departments and GrantWorks, the county grant administrator.","The commissioners unanimously approved an ARPA subrecipient agreement to fund city of Robstown projects, including police and fire facility improvements and a siren replacement, with funds coming from precinct 3 ARPA allocations.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6240805,"Nueces County estimates $10–11 million to retrofit courthouse with fire sprinklers; court to seek consultant",613,2632000,3245000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3318678-6340cc9b2a269fb5bfba421e34e65ddd&start=2632&end=3245","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3318678-6340cc9b2a269fb5bfba421e34e65ddd/thumbnail_2632000.jpg","/articles/6240805/Nueces-County/Texas/Nueces-County-estimates-1011-million-to-retrofit-courthouse-with-fire-sprinklers-court-to-seek-consultant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6240805-1221d3bc02c106fed5c9df7be9583095/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154057&Signature=FDeKcanAWVLFPhvHoGgqQ8pBQLGPFyIQ5MP0vpIwAuCfc5ail~h1LVq3zYjftjbxHRkXV6gV7ZHkz4wW9NVA-OEanICFobfSng9wQG4FSY4265bnt2j-eF5nwVfpy21q4o0NbQgVPXmMHns0eQktfh5ehDiLzcBK3smOgkJSmVr0nSVPa2takDROOTy5SkeuEvOIVLg4YbMcj7bHtcz~i4y-NsHnJjSayn9qBqy-1-WCDnipNoqPccJ3BPc91-7gMooKkKEj5HXivLP4gBXdW3yTCO0eya1QNGfP95JP60ZajI8zAs2A3oyHqicXpyxMPiXCtD8FUyZ35UcSglkETQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Nueces County officials were told the county courthouse will require a full fire sprinkler retrofit that could cost about $10 million to $11 million, and the commissioners agreed staff should hire a consultant to prepare the plan the county must submit under the International Fire Code.

The update came during a public-works briefing to the Nueces County Commissioners Court, where a staff member reported the construction estimate and the legal timeline to comply: the county must submit a plan within 365 days of the city’s letter and will have up to 12 years to complete the required work.

The county’s assistant fire marshal, Tony Bettison, said the new requirement follows the county’s adoption of the 2021 International Fire Code and that several high-rise buildings in the city were being addressed under the same rule. “This is a life-safety issue,” Bettison said, adding that a fully sprinkled building is the “gold standard” of protection.

Commissioners and staff discussed what portions of the courthouse are already protected. Bettison and county staff clarified that the jail portion of the complex is already sprinkled because of its institutional occupancy, but much of the office space, including the commissioners’ courtroom, is not. Public-works staff said some header pipes exist at each floor and that fire alarms and evacuation procedures are in place now.

Officials flagged two consequential constraints that drove the retrofit requirement: building height and site layout. Bettison explained that a building floor that lies more than 20 feet above the lowest apparatus-reach point triggers the high-rise retrofit requirement; because the courthouse exceeds that reach when apparatus placement and site setbacks are considered, the code requires a full system rather than piecemeal alternatives.

Given the estimate’s size, commissioners asked about alternatives such as decommissioning upper floors or changing uses; staff said those options were not feasible because code triggers apply to the building shell and potential future uses. Public-works staff recommended hiring a consultant to prepare the plan the city must receive within 365 days and to assemble a phased construction schedule to control cost escalation.

Commissioners did not take a final procurement vote at the meeting. Instead the court directed staff to return with consultant procurement language and cost details; staff said they will add an item to the next meeting agenda to authorize hiring a consultant and to present a draft plan for submission to the fire marshal.","County staff reported an estimated $10–11 million construction cost to install a full sprinkler system in the Nueces County Courthouse under the 2021 International Fire Code; commissioners directed staff to prepare a compliance plan and bring consultant authorization back to the court.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners proclaim May Foster Care Awareness Month; Agape Ranch outlines gaps in local foster capacity

Commissioners ask staff to study reusing detention‑pond water to help with local drought response

Court approves $108,000 ARPA subrecipient agreement for Robstown public‑safety and shelter upgrades

Nueces County estimates $10–11 million to retrofit courthouse with fire sprinklers; court to seek consultant