[{"_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",6790063,"mediaKeyId","5602201-6b2f852d3e329e151888ee8f8ba9ce96","parentId",5602201,"title","Ellis County hears opposition from neighbors, industry as it moves to tighten outdoor‑business rules","audioSeconds",1445,"startMs",1414715,"endMs",2860200,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602201-6b2f852d3e329e151888ee8f8ba9ce96&start=1414&end=2860","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602201-6b2f852d3e329e151888ee8f8ba9ce96/thumbnail_1414715.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6790063/Ellis-County/Texas/Ellis-County-hears-opposition-from-neighbors-industry-as-it-moves-to-tighten-outdoorbusiness-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6790063-46e1fb8515b7f3359787c7c45dd89b17/orig.mp4?Expires=1770636454&Signature=ls1qrnnXWkn97SEb0sZDe6czBMGOYMsZqE30W7WGOG1ZVmQ514ERqCR82ATvJve8~p5fbapVr8z~yhFL1iApfRlb67DFjePTuBBT6m55wCy7X2wa9vR4BHf0cSn0AScig7HZl9iJlLIL60sXKbXFTviGYISLBJqrAzFx~YDEXJDLjO36hpwnJjN1CRwHuSkXf7FAdC9qnKx0ByF4UxpMSUQ2Q1zeQ9IuLR~ClDtmi6uce-1DJIQn96erW2o7rmyzhE6BUFrgaZ~glbUMKmacwY1EdHyu5LwxSpFA1D4GGDrxkM-ixDCqQIQ-9VS4JhX-KpsU5SEx9eDDv9TFM3fG2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ellis","date","2025-08-19T00:00:00Z","article","Ellis County Commissioners Court held a public hearing Aug. 19 on proposed amendments to Minute Order 465.22 — the county’s outdoor‑business regulations — and directed staff to prepare a final version that narrows expansion relief for existing operations and removes a newly proposed variance section before a future vote.

Alberto, the county’s development staffer, told the court the changes are intended to “clean up” permitting language, add definitions introduced in the 2022 update and extend the renewal window so businesses may begin applying 60 days before a permit’s expiration. “We grandfathered under the 2006 regulations if approved,” he said, explaining the draft’s treatment of preexisting operations.

Attorney J.D. Foster, representing business interests, sought clarification about grandfathering and the practical effect of the 60‑day rule, asking whether the change would force active businesses to reapply immediately if the order is adopted. Alberto answered that the 60‑day window is measured from a permit’s expiration date (not from adoption), which commissioners asked staff to clarify in the final motion.

Neighbors and operators focused on HHLR Metals’s site near Waxahachie. Theo Cuellar, an HOA president, said nearby residents are concerned that “the mounds just keep on growing” and asked what limits exist on fence height and storage piles. County staff said inspectors have been monitoring the site and sent the company a notice with an Oct. 1 compliance deadline; staff also noted existing regulations set an 8‑foot minimum but previously did not list a maximum height.

Arthur Bynon of HHLR Metals said the business has expanded, taken steps to invest in equipment and worked with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and that the company is committed to reducing pile heights over time. “We will continue to try to do what we can to make that as good‑looking of an environment as we can,” he told the court.

Commissioners debated four options in the draft for how to treat expansions by existing permit holders. Option 2 — requiring only the expanded area to meet the new Section 2 requirements — drew broad support as a middle ground between full site‑wide retrofitting and complete grandfathering. Several members expressed concern that the proposed variance section (Section 4) would create subjective standards that could invite inconsistent decision‑making.

Rather than adopt the order on the spot, the court directed the county attorney’s staff to prepare a revised ordinance that deletes the proposed variance section, adopts option 2 for expansion, and explicitly states that the 60‑day renewal window is counted from a permit’s expiration date; the amended text will be presented at a future meeting for formal action.

The hearing included technical discussion of enforcement limits — county staff said local authority does not extend to business hours, air quality, or some noise matters — and several commissioners urged careful, specific language to avoid inadvertently stripping the county of discretionary authority.

Next steps: staff will produce the redlined amendment reflecting the court’s directions; the item will return to the court for a formal vote following publication and the clerk’s preparation of the updated order.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ellis - Commissioners Court","oneSentenceSummary","Ellis County Commissioners Court held a public hearing Aug. 19 on proposed amendments to the county’s outdoor‑business regulations and directed staff to prepare a revised ordinance that would clarify permit renewal timing, require only expansion areas to meet new standards and delete a proposed variance section.","taxTitle","Ellis County, Texas","taxId",20431,"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},6790054,"Ellis County agrees to convey struck‑off Midlothian parcel to city for public use",512,7932440,8444650,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602201-6b2f852d3e329e151888ee8f8ba9ce96&start=7932&end=8444","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602201-6b2f852d3e329e151888ee8f8ba9ce96/thumbnail_7932440.jpg","/articles/6790054/Ellis-County/Texas/Ellis-County-agrees-to-convey-struckoff-Midlothian-parcel-to-city-for-public-use","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6790054-f9b0b9a166560f767bd7a8eeb1715958/orig.mp4?Expires=1770636454&Signature=YRt6hLhGBALyRbrGTf-stESAGjn7x4KC9DmMBZ7DH5BQpY0c09moYdCYeexiKKiyvApdBm5~e4t7ejPQCHo94BlmnTdnOl-CgsJ8XHvOF3V4BOpqufpaFkVQoSwdpECyi-DF2XUpTY~35D5R2kNS0ErNnaFz-rOnDew6pn29J6NPozkAmrQ1es-mBOHlUyW71jM1fCmcE3X-6nvw6j1qhnptCoUsoZkJuBEs04rckGDRI79GxGjgIxR3gcEjgs8c4DMs6uQFYCG2eNVO7Fkihy9dou-E43LyycWrvmUaVY5huMvkKtIks7tiv64MDXXJ2Cu85jqtGSEUIuEBFlT1xw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ellis County Commissioners Court voted Aug. 19 to convey the county’s interest in a struck‑off tax property at 501 North Ninth Street in Midlothian to the City of Midlothian for public use.

Scott Wert of Linebarger explained the property was struck off to Ellis County in October 2018 after a tax sale failed to produce a buyer. The city asked the county to convey the county’s interest to allow the city to demolish an unsafe structure and repurpose the lot for public parking. Wert told the court the city’s immediate cost to acquire the county interest (delinquent taxes plus penalty and interest) would be roughly $4,915.33 if paid by Sept. 1; the county’s pro‑rata share of a $75,000 sale would be about $10,776. \"There's about a $5,800 difference if it was sold for $75,000 versus conveying the interest to the city,\" he said.

Commissioners noted the property presents a public‑safety and blight concern and that conveying it for a public purpose would allow the city to remove an unsafe building. Commissioner Ponder and others emphasized partnering with the city on neighborhood improvements. The court moved, seconded and approved the conveyance unanimously.

Outcome: The court approved conveying the county’s struck‑off interest to the City of Midlothian for the delinquent tax amount, penalty and interest; the county will receive its pro‑rata share per the statutory allocation process. No litigation or additional costs to the county were reported at the hearing.","Ellis County agreed Aug. 19 to convey its struck‑off interest in a Midlothian parcel at 501 N. 9th St. to the City of Midlothian so the city can demolish an unsafe structure and repurpose the site for public use.",{"_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},6790057,"Ellis County moves to publish proposed tax rate as budget presenters warn of growth pressures",660,4074510,4734970,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602201-6b2f852d3e329e151888ee8f8ba9ce96&start=4074&end=4734","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602201-6b2f852d3e329e151888ee8f8ba9ce96/thumbnail_4074510.jpg","/articles/6790057/Ellis-County/Texas/Ellis-County-moves-to-publish-proposed-tax-rate-as-budget-presenters-warn-of-growth-pressures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6790057-711b47e5e5afad4a3a702cc5d010b32e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770636454&Signature=hfDlmptEU-TMbo0z3-~8FmR9vpeA7J6R6f14dVOv48xEgoaGMRy02np4Q69uHhtSAAK8lcEN~H2yspNnoESbP~etlQnZUrwui1rtL2ZEmrLXi7WEOjG-SFJ1McRd9GeAc2e7BqAhXFol~yqDo8mxCDK43edJ44lklZ7qgnZ33xMDGlXTLmuQmiXyBPGvVR8tUSlZkIk3Ihs6UE5g-JCh~owcp9EzBDXLF4zAn2~MMeUi7d2iAsxEzRw79xv1krAPAiAmmYJITfOKqaP2Zdel5bynz5aa1-VtylHwZksAAIOodU4L0nIsD0xwBi7X5vmTpcErTD8ZT59bxXUVEGGl-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County financial staff presented the proposed FY2026 budget Aug. 19 and asked the commission to publish a proposed tax rate of 0.273992 — the same nominal rate used in the prior year — and to hold a public hearing on Sept. 9 for final adoption.

Ryan, the county’s budget director, walked commissioners through multi‑year fund balances, ARPA expenditures, and the permanent‑improvement allocation. He explained that ARPA funds that had supported prior projects are largely spent and that the proposed FY2026 plan anticipates allocating about $16.6 million to permanent improvements while projecting modest surpluses and contingency buffers. On the tax rate he said: “If you’re okay with keeping the tax rate flat at 0.273992, we will publish in the newspaper in the next couple of days and schedule a hearing on September 9.” The court gave staff direction to publish, noting a statutory newspaper publication deadline of Aug. 29.

Residents at the budget hearing urged caution and efficiency. Garrett Bailey, a Waxahachie resident and combat veteran, urged the county to prioritize procurement efficiencies and intergovernmental coordination in light of rapid population growth and several master‑planned communities coming online near existing two‑lane roadways. “The rapid pace demands that the commission focus on not only immediate spending, but also efficiencies and incentiviz[ing] employees to curb wasteful spending,” he told the court.

Other speakers, including Randy Bellamy and Sylvia Colson, warned of household strain from rising property values and urged preserving debt‑reduction plans and careful scrutiny of salary and expenditure requests. Commissioners and staff responded that long‑range thoroughfare plans and competitive‑bidding processes exist, but also noted limits imposed by state procurement rules and unfunded mandates.

Outcome: Commissioners directed county staff to publish the proposed tax rate (0.273992) and to post required notices and hearings; no final adoption of the budget or tax rate occurred at the Aug. 19 meeting — a public hearing and possible vote were scheduled for Sept. 9.","County staff presented the proposed FY2026 budget and asked the court to publish a flat tax rate of 0.273992; commissioners approved publishing and scheduled a Sept. 9 hearing after residents urged greater efficiency and coordination to manage rapid growth and infrastructure needs.",{"_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},6790049,"Commissioners discuss buying former Baylor Scott & White building for elections and records; move to executive session",642,8562135,9205120,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602201-6b2f852d3e329e151888ee8f8ba9ce96&start=8562&end=9205","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602201-6b2f852d3e329e151888ee8f8ba9ce96/thumbnail_8562135.jpg","/articles/6790049/Ellis-County/Texas/Commissioners-discuss-buying-former-Baylor-Scott-White-building-for-elections-and-records-move-to-executive-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6790049-f0dbf87b51076f86ccd3480aaf08c90f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770636454&Signature=aDiI~RJsoBNHQ6m52I8P-5ChTwWoZjVMr9zMkC2BKeSXVBYJ1sIZyIXZTGSz-hkjdSeichFV-CKgItX5VW6ZR-UCThoYPvSUPI0V0ifzX5B5iRqlXT~a8gAvKye4ls3J~gFMUc-N0HNYlZOhRRzzcYze35eaECP73wakbPrVuLHoIfiUK3A3KwQ9xCy1Q4m1njt8qmGQ72atpgcnTu03T5uoiu0TVCWDksmB2f-2fsA3STpiE-FzAClnv7nzbZTSjgw-mOo0B9AZG3XmZIKiubrWo-CyYTq7XaC1VQJ2p0jwc0caASh7MrsP3MEPiTqmM0BYnRRWQaD1XT2093mqiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners discussed Aug. 19 a potential purchase of the former Baylor Scott & White building at 1305 West Jefferson in Waxahachie as a solution to immediate space shortages for elections, records and other county functions.

Commissioner Grayson summarized prior outreach to the owner and presented a purchase agreement the owner had returned without revisions. He said the building offers nearly 50,000 square feet of usable space and that the county could occupy significant functions quickly: elections operations would move from cramped leased space near the jail to the Jefferson location, records could be consolidated, and the sheriff’s criminal investigations division could be accommodated in the county’s current elections space.

Budget staff told commissioners that acquiring and updating the Jefferson building would cost an estimated $11 million to bring the county into use — roughly half of a previously estimated $22 million to build new at the County Farm — and allow staged fit-outs as needs arise. \"We can get into this building for, 11,000,000, and take care of the needs,\" Ryan said. Commissioner Grayson characterized the purchase as a strong opportunity: \"It's a no brainer for me,\" he said.

Because the matter involves competitive negotiation and a recusal by the county judge, the court moved into executive session under Texas Government Code to deliberate the purchase and related easement acquisitions. When the court returned to open session the clerk reported there was no action taken from executive session.

Next steps: Negotiations and due diligence will continue in executive session; staff noted renovation and purchase costs are included in the FY2026 proposed budget planning documents.","Officials outlined a plan to acquire the nearly 50,000 sq ft former Baylor Scott & White building at 1305 W. Jefferson as a faster, lower‑cost option to meet space needs for elections and records; commissioners moved into executive session to deliberate details and no public action was taken.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Ellis County hears opposition from neighbors, industry as it moves to tighten outdoor‑business rules

Ellis County agrees to convey struck‑off Midlothian parcel to city for public use

Ellis County moves to publish proposed tax rate as budget presenters warn of growth pressures

Commissioners discuss buying former Baylor Scott & White building for elections and records; move to executive session