[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",6544332,"mediaKeyId","3779364-58cae9472d39ad3d7c6063c8f5c65d71","parentId",3779364,"title","Votes at a glance: Waller County Commissioners Court, June 11, 2025","audioSeconds",642,"startMs",2470000,"endMs",3112000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3779364-58cae9472d39ad3d7c6063c8f5c65d71&start=2470&end=3112","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3779364-58cae9472d39ad3d7c6063c8f5c65d71/thumbnail_2470000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6544332/Waller-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Waller-County-Commissioners-Court-June-11-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544332-6c0f0a7d1e6f236612889f7fba2f9576/orig.mp4?Expires=1770643490&Signature=TCiJUh~mIJ0bmxrInpwUqB2p0Gt1Wbep3m-yIL6g9fq0TLUo~cLygmJPnJ8kkn3QQ-XM4wzssmJH9UdTT7mVZPuqWpmSGHP3rndYeBA2oqoi4Mx4ZmdwIhDJF-ARIcN00K0utspdDmFjBjuIEHGGlPGmQCewzV2OM0szX89zt0BI9Brci6GO34SOpnlZJ3xxaYMpl9uDqV0vLfwVAzU2t4y12S92e2qEpZNZIH3tWqPfh1D0IDqtabXj49jcZsaT6YdoeqtfBw4dL2thwGGVf--F4qlZilc41kWjQmjSqdMwYSIEwarj9HjDZtdYZdajWYkQItLzRbaA-1oB9qt5ww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Waller","date","2025-06-11T00:00:00Z","article","At its June 11 meeting the Waller County Commissioners Court recorded a series of routine approvals and a handful of policy and capital actions. The following summarizes motions, vendors, amounts and outcomes as stated on the record.

Key votes and outcomes (agenda item number — motion — outcome):

- 21 — Terminate tax abatement agreement (Contract ID 220803-06 between Apex Ag Chemical Inc., Peninsula Development Inc., and Plateau Productions) per owner's request — approved.

- 22 — Approve payment of $14,290.50 to RG Miller Inc. for professional services (invoice 99447-1; line item 605605545405) — approved.

- 23 — Approve payment of $17,676.22 to Brinkley Barfield, Inc. for professional services (invoice 714462-02; road model work) — approved.

- 24 — Approve payment of $4,783.40 to Brinkley Barfield, Inc. for professional services (invoice referenced) — approved.

- 25 — Approve payment of $53,248.86 to Brinkley Barfield, Inc. for professional services (invoice 72214) — approved.

- 26 — Approve payment of $167,155.92 to LJA Engineering for professional services (invoice 202515491) — approved; court noted staff will provide quarterly or phased public updates on road-bond project progress and that a public-facing project website is expected.

- 27 — Item withdrawn by staff (plat not ready) — withdrawn.

- 28 — Approve contract extension with Prosperity Bank for bank depository services (term extension 08/21/2025 through 12/31/2025) to allow time for solicitation and alignment with fiscal year — approved.

- 29 — Approve continuation/payment of county insurance policies, including split-out security-event (cybersecurity) coverage effective 07/01/2025 — approved.

- 30 — Approve payment of $2,133,237.76 to Sidalco Inc. for building purchase/construction and improvements (application 31; funding lines provided) — approved; county project manager reported construction progress and schedule considerations.

- 31 — Approve payment of $300,143.67 for justice-center modular units (application 15; line item 12560581620) — approved; staff reported modular installation progressing and an operational target in July/August for parts of the site.

- 32 — Approve acceptance of letter for proposed purchase-sale agreement between Waller County and the City of Houston (roughly 1,400 acres) — approved (see separate article).

- 33 — Approve agreement for due-diligence studies for the same proposed purchase-sale agreement — approved (staff will perform environmental and engineering studies before a final purchase agreement).

- 34 — Approve commitment for repairs to an industrial truck scale in Precinct 4 damaged by a vehicle crash (initial contractor quote cited at approximately $11,000) — approved; staff noted insurance and final pricing to be determined.

- 35 — Authorize fireworks sales in unincorporated areas of Waller County for the July 4 period; stands are permitted through the county's process — approved (county noted roughly five stands typical in prior years and that sales permitting occurs through county office).

Other procedural notes: Items 36 and 37–41 were held for executive session or withdrawn; the court recessed for executive session and returned with no action reported out of closed session. The commissioners adjourned at the meeting's close.

Ending: Several payments and contract items related to capital projects and bank/insurance services were approved. Staff were directed to perform due diligence on the Houston land purchase and to report back to the court with findings before any final purchase agreement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Waller - Commissioners Court - Jun 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The court approved routine payments, a bank-depository extension, insurance renewals, project payments and two items advancing the county's potential purchase of 1,400 acres from the City of Houston; several agenda items were withdrawn or deferred to a future meeting.","taxTitle","Waller County, Texas","taxId",54097,"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},6544337,"Waller County approves letter and due diligence to pursue 1,400-acre purchase from City of Houston",250,3470000,3720000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3779364-58cae9472d39ad3d7c6063c8f5c65d71&start=3470&end=3720","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3779364-58cae9472d39ad3d7c6063c8f5c65d71/thumbnail_3470000.jpg","/articles/6544337/Waller-County/Texas/Waller-County-approves-letter-and-due-diligence-to-pursue-1400-acre-purchase-from-City-of-Houston","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544337-4f7449a53b9c401d0e944b7461b7b4ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1770643490&Signature=gK~1zpeXKbksZ0FKFcR3CxylsX20Oik0Xfvt3WQlT09kwGJw5QOrdC0~ll9na627s2buzs5I9vTV-g~~CpF--SEPr~DapSQ7nIZRJ7VRJgAq0iIStpp5-Ef~wfg4JbGtXnnm0E7JrCum2lA9FurqjLYowh4UJPyrFb~2weMo4avW2QTQQXG5ooUlQsv7glxtUFn4SIkCuTe6rOr59~83zOVFrzYzkB1xooVa-5PrWaU3I1i0wYSCaPweYOv9NxBI4uzdFyY7awWzOO5l3ZzwT2Ffj0w~sA5A7f1FAgwjwt3UImms-VHj5wtMc93tPjHKbRT1fWqfeUkT~esLPdUqGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Waller County commissioners on June 11 voted to accept a letter outlining a proposed purchase-sale agreement with the City of Houston for about 1,400 acres and separately approved a contract to perform due-diligence studies on the property.

The land, purchased by Houston in the early 1990s as a potential secondary airport site and later used in part for wetlands mitigation, has been idle for decades, county staff said. County officials said state legislators secured $25 million in grant funding to help acquire the property. The county indicated the purchase price is just under $19 million, leaving roughly $5 million to $6 million available for initial studies and design work.

Why it matters: County officials described the site as flat and outside the immediate floodplain; they said it could be used for regional stormwater detention to help mitigate future flooding and as a large public park with recreational amenities. County leaders said the transaction would reduce the likelihood that the land is developed into dense residential subdivisions and allow the county to plan regional infrastructure.

Details of the action: The court approved two agenda items: acceptance of the proposed purchase letter and authorization to contract for environmental and related due-diligence work. County staff said some acreage has ongoing Army Corps or mitigation-use restrictions that would limit certain uses on parts of the property; the due-diligence studies will identify constraints and environmental liabilities.

Funding and next steps: Commissioners said the $25 million state grant would cover the land purchase and leave a multi-million-dollar balance to fund preliminary studies for detention, design and potential park amenities. The court authorized staff to engage preapproved vendors or solicit bids for studies and to return with findings before finalizing a purchase agreement.

Court remarks: The county judge said the acquisition could yield a park and regional detention solution \"that anybody can use\" and stressed the need to evaluate restrictions tied to wetlands mitigation. Staff placed the property near the county recycling center on maps shown to the court.

Ending: The court voted in favor of both the letter of intent and the due-diligence authorization. Staff will proceed with environmental and engineering studies and report back to commissioners before the county completes a purchase agreement.","The commissioners court accepted a letter of intent and authorized due diligence studies for a proposed purchase of roughly 1,400 acres the City of Houston bought decades ago, moving to use a $25 million state grant toward the land purchase and preliminary design for regional detention and park amenities.",{"_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},6544342,"Waller County residents press court for transparency, town hall on proposed \"Texas Land\" theme park",1359,447000,1806000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3779364-58cae9472d39ad3d7c6063c8f5c65d71&start=447&end=1806","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3779364-58cae9472d39ad3d7c6063c8f5c65d71/thumbnail_447000.jpg","/articles/6544342/Waller-County/Texas/Waller-County-residents-press-court-for-transparency-town-hall-on-proposed-Texas-Land-theme-park","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544342-fd0a2d33cb4bd2bd0028d6e8bcff5d6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770643490&Signature=P9ngl1hHjv3y0JAfRIeuTQ4lguqqm2ZEh3aeiyqU4R3EC7RUl2TmdMlEi4AxU-sgfsIm6lXgdSrkaxiQ5SfiZi4TJ4~1zI4PWWOQ0OfERWfObaANXMKdDXz9H7fV7XK5lcnXIKnUTs3Ym8u6g3AVUDtbpZyALMltf1W68XE4GIwUJ6WAOMZ3Km-03TUOhxiZ65GnxdvYMXQ~vxl~hF1Xk7DnDO07kNOILjNX7rrTVWwzDKrmoRQl5RYDn0CY~6pw5j3vLWqX1bgzR68z32ZXSIgu9KKfZX7UkiN7cUcRdXcjT1TayZVN6iGVAA1J7lpSvUSsgK6WpCc-j0Xwuh9sEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John Erwin, representing a group he said they formed called Citizens in Defense of Waller County, told the commissioners court on June 11 that residents were blindsided by a state bill tied to a proposed Texas Land USA theme park and demanded more transparency from local officials and their state representative.

Erwin outlined a timeline he said began in April when Representative Stan Kitsman filed legislation affecting the project and said notice of the bill did not reach much of Waller County. He said residents later learned the developer had asked Kitsman to remove the bill from the legislative calendar. Erwin said the group had collected more than 1,100 petition signatures and had launched a website and social accounts to share information. \"We created our group. It's called Citizens in Defense of Waller County,\" he told the court.

Why it matters: Erwin and other speakers said the proposal could bring large traffic volumes, strain local emergency services, raise property-tax assessments if land is rezoned, and create environmental risks to groundwater and nearby creeks. They also described the legal power that an improvement district could have, including taxing authority and the ability to create a police force, and said those powers merited closer public scrutiny.

Erwin said land near State Highway 3346 and 1887 had been bought by an entity listed in county records as Tango Lima Bravo Oscar LLC, with Hugh Edward McGee identified in records as a registered agent; he also named the project's founder as Lizzie McGee and referenced press profiles and a TexasLandUSA.com website. He urged the court to review any nondisclosure agreements the county had signed and to refuse to sign NDAs that would prevent the public from learning about projects that affect citizens.

Speakers and specific concerns included:

- Traffic and access: Erwin said ingress points through Hempstead and Brookshire include tight curves and railroad crossings he called inadequate for large visitor volumes. He told the court, \"She has no access into the county to speak of for hordes of people.\"

- Water and wastewater: Erwin raised groundwater concerns, noting local irrigation wells and a nearby nursery that already draws heavily on aquifers. He said a theme park would require substantial water use and onsite wastewater treatment, and he asked where effluent would be discharged, noting nearby Clear Creek and downstream neighborhoods.

- Public safety and EMS capacity: Residents warned a park would increase accidents and emergency calls in areas where hospitals and emergency services are distant. Erwin said EMS resources were already strained.

- Environmental and nuisance issues: Speakers raised air-quality and chemical handling concerns tied to rides, generators and landscaping, and warned of litter and debris from large crowds.

- Economic viability and local amenities: Erwin cited a statistic that \"31% of all theme parks fail,\" and questioned the need for another history-themed attraction when regional historic sites and museums already exist. He framed the group's stance as defending Waller County's rural heritage while acknowledging growth.

Requests to the court: Erwin asked the commissioners to:

- Review and tighten county procedures around nondisclosure agreements so citizens can receive information about projects affecting public welfare.
- Consider hosting a town-hall meeting with Lizzie McGee and county officials so residents could hear directly from the project's lead and ask questions in public.
- Explore the county's legal and regulatory options, including whether county review of state agency permits (for example, from TCEQ or TxDOT) could be strengthened during county permitting reviews.

Public-comment context: Denise Maddox, identified in public comment as the Waller County Democratic Party chairwoman, also referenced the proposed theme-park conversation and separately urged a public investigation after a man identified only as Hubbard died at the Waller County jail. Maddox said, \"The jails are legally obligated to ensure the safety and the care of those in their custody,\" and called on county authorities to examine the circumstances and make findings public.

Court response and next steps: The county judge thanked the speakers and said the court would accept the presentation as provided. He encouraged continuing civic engagement and noted limits on county authority compared with cities and the state. Erwin said the group's materials and the petition would be posted to the group's website and social channels.

Ending: The citizens group asked the court to use its procedural controls — notably over NDAs and local review steps — to give residents more information and to arrange a neutral public meeting with the project's representatives. Commissioners did not take formal action on the topic during the meeting; it was presented as a citizen item.","Members of a newly formed group, Citizens in Defense of Waller County, told commissioners they were surprised by a fast-moving state bill tied to a proposed Texas Land USA theme park and urged the court to require greater transparency, review any nondisclosure agreements and host a public meeting with the project's founder.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Waller County Commissioners Court, June 11, 2025

Waller County approves letter and due diligence to pursue 1,400-acre purchase from City of Houston

Waller County residents press court for transparency, town hall on proposed "Texas Land" theme park