[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6518216,"mediaKeyId","5398872-da5e050a4008ddceca04474fce291bbd","parentId",5398872,"title","Kaufman County commissioners approve RFPs, lease, line‑item transfers and $1.45 million in payments; request TCEQ hearing on proposed MUD","audioSeconds",1550,"startMs",75000,"endMs",1625000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5398872-da5e050a4008ddceca04474fce291bbd&start=75&end=1625","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5398872-da5e050a4008ddceca04474fce291bbd/thumbnail_75000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6518216/Kaufman-County/Texas/Kaufman-County-commissioners-approve-RFPs-lease-lineitem-transfers-and-145-million-in-payments-request-TCEQ-hearing-on-proposed-MUD","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518216-3f363d4b1c28552084893ec5cf249f45/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129258&Signature=NAiY~r198Xc70ifOYsUiXZR2vsPJhewr3LubOmsdkXJm1j7CuJPlhoZwTnbh6X6W2KjAxc8bX7ewcZlHsi2bUiySvs1tuLxwVneEFPjuZK6SjMxwi-mvDTQYanSujKrMs2nkfVqHQXNU33oNap82VN~Li9YDZbZubAwugMm7iIxKs8Xj9k500b6Q7uvgv8IrwqKlto8D-94cLanQLcytiSmnbzHyGRB5Uf7Rme9SZuLydThzrWODKikYR20~y3CK~rsD1huA3U-QjT6nZxL4snR-uPVb~FSEe6uuCRs5ZZyeN9wYEkMylJdh7U6H1OuU-yipwUK-kePKZTzc2oR3EQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kaufman","date","2025-07-15T00:00:00Z","article","The Kaufman County Commissioners Court approved a set of routine contracts, solicitations and payments during its July meeting, taking motions on convenience‑center and transportation‑bond solicitations, a lease for county brush storage, a contract to collect assessments for Freshwater Service District No. 3, recognition of line‑item revenue and payment of accounts payable invoices totaling $1,441,938.72 (plus juror checks of $7,240 for a total of $1,449,178.72).

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (three items, including minutes and a deputation item listed in the packet): motion by Commissioner Phillips, second by Commissioner Crow; outcome approved.

- Accept assessments/collections contract for Freshwater Service District No. 3: motion by Commissioner Phillips, second by Commissioner Crow; outcome approved. (Details of the contract as provided in the packet were not specified during discussion.)

- Approve advertising an RFP for convenience centers for solid‑waste and recycling services (current contract expires Sept. 30): motion by Commissioner Lane, second by Commissioner Moore; outcome approved.

- Approve advertising an RFQ for transportation bond program planning and development (current contract expired in March; operating month‑to‑month extension in place): motion by Commissioner Lane, second by Commissioner Moore; outcome approved.

- Approve entering a lease with Ken Davis for storage of brush from county roads (lease discussed as $1 per year; county will place about 800 feet of gravel at an estimated cost of about $5,000; court requested at least a five‑year term to justify the gravel investment): motion by Commissioner Moore, second by Commissioner Lamb; outcome approved.

- Approve submission of a request to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to hold a public hearing on the petition to create Grand Meadows Municipal Utility District (MUD) of Kaufman County: motion by Commissioner Moore, second by Commissioner Crow; outcome approved.

- Approve several line‑item transfers recognizing additional revenue: motion by Commissioner Phillips, second by Commissioner Poe; outcome approved.

- Approve accounts payable and claims for payment: the auditor reported accounts payable invoices of $1,441,938.72 and juror checks of $7,240, for a total payout of $1,449,178.72; motion to approve payments by Commissioner Phillips, second by Commissioner Blaine; outcome approved.

Court members spoke briefly on several items. On the proposed brush‑storage lease, a county official said a gravel pad of about 800 feet would be required to relocate the storage area, and expressed that $5,000 in gravel work justified asking for a multiyear lease at $1 per year. On the convening of solicitations, staff said the county intends to move forward with formal procurement advertising so replacement contracts can be in place when current agreements expire.

Several items were procedural and passed with simple voice votes; no individual roll‑call tallies were provided on the record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kaufman - Commissioners Court - Jul 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Kaufman County Commissioners Court approved multiple routine procurement and finance items at its July meeting, including solicitations for solid‑waste and transportation planning services, a lease for brush storage, a collections contract for Freshwater Service District No. 3, line‑item transfers and claims totaling $1,449,178.72.","taxTitle","Kaufman County, Texas","taxId",20433,"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},6518220,"Lone Star CASA to pilot guardian ad litem program for justice-involved youth in Kaufman County",1062,136000,1198000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5398872-da5e050a4008ddceca04474fce291bbd&start=136&end=1198","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5398872-da5e050a4008ddceca04474fce291bbd/thumbnail_136000.jpg","/articles/6518220/Kaufman-County/Texas/Lone-Star-CASA-to-pilot-guardian-ad-litem-program-for-justice-involved-youth-in-Kaufman-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518220-7842afec41417387bbdb2e5e30929e21/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129258&Signature=i7jIicozbtpbA7N36k7kJJc6V~B8UMTU08YR7l0uRN-d89skv8OVTrizk8OQWx1801JXWylZNSWGS246RuDaPX4e841AFFJIdrBAzcSxPmIjQgYnOAMlUkf-Souz1n4sgRo5Y7wiRPxr1sfhB6p0aW-RwpyQbG2tR8nWY8XvMyaopAT3MyqQ-sVYBvAok4rY-Ghk7qhqtQCN6-ES0XnGqUzl31xKIQYQ9uuJw0O-0wTF0CEwLGyPDtSwxwf1gG15Z8tbHw9wNNv1ccpw5EM7ZYWdwmuAbiEm9NVz-9kBlcASniysBSoqYYy7AwkNM26~4Suh3vU1uJAzHLkbDcsRQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lauren Rowe, executive director of Lone Star CASA, told the Kaufman County Commissioners Court in July that the nonprofit will launch a court‑ordered guardian ad litem pilot for justice‑involved youth on Sept. 1 and hopes to serve at least 25 young people in its first year.

Rowe said the program will pair trained CASA volunteers with youth adjudicated in juvenile court, and that volunteers already serving CASA child‑welfare cases will receive additional training led by the probation department. “Our goal is to work with at least 25 youth during our first year to pilot it,” Rowe said.

The nut of the proposal, Rowe told commissioners, is to provide advocacy and connection to services so youth complete probation successfully, avoid new charges and access school or mental‑health supports. Rowe said Lone Star CASA has served Kaufman County for more than 20 years as guardian ad litem for children in child‑welfare cases and is adapting that model to juvenile cases; the organization cited a 121% increase in youth involvement in the justice system in Kaufman County between 2020 and 2023.

Rowe described program specifics: CASA will use experienced volunteers who have completed at least 30 hours of training and who have previously carried cases; volunteers will receive extra juvenile‑justice training and instruction on trust‑based relationship building. The organization will track outcomes and solicit feedback from partners including the county probation office, the district attorney’s office and Judge Russell, Rowe said.

Rowe said the pilot’s first‑year operating cost is about $95,000 and that Lone Star CASA has secured roughly $20,000 in individual commitments and is pursuing additional private grants. A probation department representative told the court the program would be an additional resource to help youth and families comply with probation and access needed services. Several commissioners and other officials expressed support and urged community outreach to recruit volunteers and local funding.

Rowe said the model has been used elsewhere, including Montgomery County, and that CASA aims to evaluate outcomes before expanding services in Kaufman County and, later, to neighboring jurisdictions. The presentation did not include a formal request for county funding; rather, Rowe asked the court to be aware of the planned launch and the agency’s partnership with probation, the district attorney and the juvenile court.

If the pilot proceeds as described, CASA staff will report back on metrics and recommended adjustments after the first year.","Lone Star CASA told the commissioners court it will launch a court-ordered guardian ad litem pilot on Sept. 1 to serve justice-involved youth, aiming for 25 participants in year one and seeking roughly $95,000 in private funding.","actionData","errors"]

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Kaufman County commissioners approve RFPs, lease, line‑item transfers and $1.45 million in payments; request TCEQ hearing on proposed MUD

Lone Star CASA to pilot guardian ad litem program for justice-involved youth in Kaufman County