[{"_1":2,"_121":-5,"_122":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6585381,"mediaKeyId","5671816-1acbdfb3d78d8963f66fcf54076aa046","parentId",5671816,"title","Commissioners OK courthouse displays, $5,000 contribution to Cleburne Chamber for Whistle Stop Christmas","audioSeconds",411,"startMs",2907000,"endMs",3318000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671816-1acbdfb3d78d8963f66fcf54076aa046&start=2907&end=3318","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671816-1acbdfb3d78d8963f66fcf54076aa046/thumbnail_2907000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6585381/Johnson-County/Texas/Commissioners-OK-courthouse-displays-5000-contribution-to-Cleburne-Chamber-for-Whistle-Stop-Christmas","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585381-3fd2b3dd7b26fb00d9762b034ff01699/orig.mp4?Expires=1770578863&Signature=QvWdQoKnOdKnEtdn11yn39cZawIQqF6RdvSQeZebLcOyIhwGleDgo19qbZBXWl-QNoq2W1fBG5jHqZ46xucuJDcErtRSxaqEdaBN2ZmKgSMKQYl0hD1tsqy1pLwAlknDpvAhnOFzJ~p8tiige2tEuvH9n0tYdqtr4H5BAggh4g~TXy3tMyJ478wnP0tiCTBJiD1G5HoV3VJ-AzhG0kdbzD1g9kFQQUdJ2NbiL-Xy8VvTeE4NOmXkM9LYXpIjAucpbdztjHivRqcfpm98GJ6zlw7-ztR5CcJSSMA9vYoGIezNCdWVe~7kdltHOVqKK4LYotdK4Pcn4h5GN3CgdDd~Qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Johnson","date","2025-08-25T00:00:00Z","article","Johnson County commissioners approved the Cleburne Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s request on Aug. 25 to install and maintain the Whistle Stop Christmas displays on the courthouse grounds, to have county facilities light the courthouse trees and to provide a $5,000 contribution toward installation and maintenance.

Chamber representative Miss Juarez told the court the Whistle Stop event, now in its 28th year, attracted more than 77,000 visits in 2024, including about 50,000 visitors from outside Johnson County. She said the courthouse display alone recorded about 17,000 visits during peak hours last year and that out‑of‑county attendees stay in local hotels and increase local sales tax receipts.

The court confirmed facilities staff will continue to light the oak trees on the courthouse square, and commissioners authorized use of county property and parking lots for associated events. The court noted contractors must avoid damaging underground irrigation or infrastructure; the Chamber said it uses sandbags rather than stakes and would coordinate with county facilities and the contractor who has worked on prior displays.

Commissioners set an installation target before the Chamber’s downtown holiday open house on Nov. 7 and said displays would remain through early January. The court approved the $5,000 contribution to the Chamber Foundation unanimously and asked staff to follow up with foundation paperwork to finalize the funding transfer.

The vote authorizes the county to partner with the Chamber on courthouse lighting and supports the Chamber’s outreach to visitors across the region.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Johnson - Commissioner's Court","oneSentenceSummary","The county will allow the Cleburne Chamber Foundation to place holiday displays around the courthouse, have county facilities light the courthouse trees and contribute $5,000 to support installation and maintenance.","taxTitle","Johnson County, Texas","taxId",64594,"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},6585386,"Johnson County approves bundled Axon contract including AI-assisted Draft 1 report software",139,2244000,2383000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671816-1acbdfb3d78d8963f66fcf54076aa046&start=2244&end=2383","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671816-1acbdfb3d78d8963f66fcf54076aa046/thumbnail_2244000.jpg","/articles/6585386/Johnson-County/Texas/Johnson-County-approves-bundled-Axon-contract-including-AI-assisted-Draft-1-report-software","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585386-e427c5072649c463f9bed5d417687f70/orig.mp4?Expires=1770578863&Signature=Gh7UjEEDT~w-~hasGcV~YXOqWhceIEX1EQ4PHpsUMhG8peUS3xRrSwpv0CzKK4f-517F5rUQRGIlAEtI5mCgmvSxkBIAO3lEpb2ExHORsnCd7NUFWJXSvGiTbtjaJChwQnrV8cCokGqfF2Bd9DJs-bufe49LugjVbxxJHaNk6HX0zuS5HJp6KRH7KmpLxsLTMHQm2cs~PJZx9-XfYjnu7c8Vb3x0TxzO3bctUE4n7-A-OFdwsWUPnAIARFGXW7qXM9qvUamCUdClPttHiheNhHBCS5PHmuP1KcUu4r3BCYFxQwHSbGmpGao6RT4o~X32iVCGhQ~sBuarO1-w3ffpIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Johnson County approved an agreement on Aug. 25 with Axon Enterprises Inc. to buy a bundled package that replaces the county’s existing body-worn camera contract, adds five body-worn cameras, supplies Tasers and cartridges, and includes Axon’s Draft 1 report-writing software.

The sheriff introduced Audra Gareca, the county auditor, to present the contract details and described the paperwork as complex. Gareca said the new bundle cancels the prior contract for 85 body-worn cameras and includes credit for that equipment. The sheriff said the county hoped the contract could take effect Oct. 1.

During the presentation, a county presenter described Draft 1 as software that “creates a transcript of your body worn camera or your in car camera based on the video” and said it uses an AI engine to pick up names and details and to draft offense reports. The presenter noted Draft 1 can insert a randomized sentence into a draft report to encourage officers to read and verify the auto-generated content. Commissioners and staff discussed the possible benefits: faster report preparation, better record detail for prosecutions and stronger documentary records if cases go to appeal.

The court approved the contract unanimously and directed purchasing and the sheriff’s office to finish contract execution and prepare for equipment deployment. Officials said they are evaluating initial reports created with AI assistance but have not yet had a jury trial that would put the AI-aided reports under court testing.","The court approved an Axon Enterprises agreement that replaces existing body-worn camera contracts, adds five cameras, Tasers and Draft 1 transcription/reporting software; county staff said Draft 1 creates draft transcripts from body-camera footage to speed report writing.",{"_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},6585391,"County approves one-lot groundwater-availability variance after staff review and map presentation",1020,1540000,2560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671816-1acbdfb3d78d8963f66fcf54076aa046&start=1540&end=2560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671816-1acbdfb3d78d8963f66fcf54076aa046/thumbnail_1540000.jpg","/articles/6585391/Johnson-County/Texas/County-approves-one-lot-groundwater-availability-variance-after-staff-review-and-map-presentation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585391-d8e2dbf2fc63a0507703131a2ab5aac3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770578863&Signature=EjKJ-Qh8M7ghBYHPdDnAUDLmE7GpO3lvPBqqe4v961MW0QZ~xo~OsCe-QOi7~eAE2JxcS~F0Y9mS-0ieIDouJwQ3YpxPxqy1izpBMD1EdvzEqAVSX3Ud9XSz-vp~1RppjEtF0OpgwVMZaC4siewqlHzg6K0GfK8Oa-GBrltxQsCb49hkOMGiUEs3A2BW-9DKV6WemRCjHAWM2ZTkC4OWWBo5OYcs0cHbCIFVJpc1QtjvMJx1DxPwQC6BDTmm9EGai~fNY9Xw5gkz6vWZKc~Y8~doQXZ0pRf2y8GTVp-fj0xOoLTFp1QMTJ4mlTMHXj9MVY9b7IKAj8Cu6kV0dk-EUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Johnson County Commissioners Court approved a variance on Aug. 25 that allows a proposed one-lot plat in the L. Munger Survey (Abstract 582) in Precinct 4 to proceed without providing the usual evidence of groundwater availability.

Public Works Director Jennifer Vanderlin presented a map showing roughly 20 domestic wells registered within a one-mile radius of the subject property and pointed out that a nearby subdivision (Trinity Acres) had a groundwater accessibility certification completed for 16 lots in 2022. Vanderlin told the court that many older wells may not be registered with the Prairieland Groundwater Conservation District and that there are multiple platted lots in the area that remain in developer ownership.

Commissioners expressed concern about precedent and the potential for incremental subdivision of the surrounding 85-acre parcel, which could result in many additional wells. Commissioner Willey said the request gave him “a little bit of heartburn” but moved to approve the variance based on prior examples where one-lot variances had been granted when further development was unlikely. Several commissioners asked staff to flag future variance requests in the area and to include visual well maps in future reports.

Vanderlin explained local practice: state law requires a groundwater accessibility certification when a proposed development includes 10 or more lots; for fewer lots the county requires credible evidence of groundwater availability, but the Legislature has not defined what constitutes that evidence. Vanderlin said the county typically requires the full certification where feasible because alternatives have not been consistently defined.

The motion to approve the variance carried unanimously. The court directed staff to present a map of registered wells and to remind future applicants that if they seek to subdivide more extensively they will need a groundwater accessibility certification.","After staff presented maps showing about 20 domestic wells within a one-mile radius and earlier groundwater certification for nearby platted lots, commissioners approved a variance to waive evidence of groundwater availability for a single 2.97-acre lot in Precinct 4.",{"_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},6585396,"Johnson County approves FEMA IPAWS connection to send targeted cell-phone alerts",313,1012000,1325000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671816-1acbdfb3d78d8963f66fcf54076aa046&start=1012&end=1325","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671816-1acbdfb3d78d8963f66fcf54076aa046/thumbnail_1012000.jpg","/articles/6585396/Johnson-County/Texas/Johnson-County-approves-FEMA-IPAWS-connection-to-send-targeted-cell-phone-alerts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585396-ea3e545ada745d3d98c7266d416ec7ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1770578863&Signature=kViGG5~~AMlNKlrwzAyH22XL39KMy4997xXYM6sjb7qAs1t2YV-t6TNoU00rLnmre10-U4yE~y75HUQyGVxUKXY7pCce6Ey~xRzSNnBdCrQFzdlr-lG2tywLSsMCnJX-8clp9KLjdUSNWZY0dwhrnve3Gz4Nr-Visi6Ox5CQAVZbMhlmtb3cqyb1~mV6O9PfNe8PcX2Bg9WaYgvBxgRQNAcwaXh1Sb1PcmZeNpMdqMRe-lzSOsRGWgZLS7boX5f-vWGujY7om2LbC0~pH~dCE7TZ4JD3Yq5TLZNuZH3DXE2lehgoMxkLqURIwYw-FkZ9OFRK1x-oG2VyNpBB961f9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Johnson County Commissioners Court approved a memorandum of agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Aug. 25 that allows the county to use the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, known as IPAWS, to send emergency alerts to cell phones in defined areas.

Marshall Moore, Johnson County Emergency Management, told the court the MOA gives the county “the ability to send a message to a cell phone, any cell phone, without that individual having to register.” He said staff have completed much of the required FEMA training and that the county has integrated IPAWS into its Everbridge system so weather alerts can be automated.

Moore and commissioners noted limitations. Judge Monks and other members pointed to Ham Creek Park and portions of the Brazos River as areas where cell reception is poor and a text-based alert alone might not reach people. Moore said IPAWS is “just one additional tool in our toolbox” and emphasized the county’s ongoing work to use multiple notification channels, including NOAA radios and smartphone apps. He also said the county had worked since 2015 to request additional stream gauges from the Brazos River Authority to improve flood warning but that the authority had not installed additional gauges.

The court discussed public outreach: Moore said his office planned a citizen flood survey developed with the University of Massachusetts Amherst to measure how many residents have alerting enabled on their phones. He warned that many people disable some phone alerts and that the county cannot rely on a single notification method. The MOA was approved unanimously.

The court asked staff to coordinate a resolution supporting statewide flood-warning device funding and to work with the county judge’s office to draft the wording for a future meeting. Moore said access to IPAWS costs the county no additional funds and that the system can geocode alerts to narrow areas so that alerts reach every phone within a defined polygon.

The court recorded the motion to approve the MOA with FEMA and directed Emergency Management to complete onboarding and report on the system’s first operational uses.","Emergency Management won court approval to access FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System; staff said it will be integrated with Everbridge and that complementary methods remain necessary in low‑coverage areas.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":103,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":106,"_51":117,"_53":118,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":119,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":120,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6585401,"Johnson County commissioners approve routine agenda items, public-safety contracts and local events funding",477,1489000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671816-1acbdfb3d78d8963f66fcf54076aa046&start=1012&end=1489","/articles/6585401/Johnson-County/Texas/Johnson-County-commissioners-approve-routine-agenda-items-public-safety-contracts-and-local-events-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585401-535b4fa22dda069827600f295139f8bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770578863&Signature=cjU8hm31S3jngej4P~W8d5T~jyKWQy2DhJu2vpn0ubj3EiPSecSbtnNPxyRxN2SAhEpEq4mhmdaIPvFpGax8qXgT8Q0KhQoVBv78imZb06iZqSJ8NMoiAVxpLJBeg36mJcrwPZZmp2NJLf6Hq2LzKR0Dkhto46zdvCTC8O7-O9KG6NlYJrLw6aeraFrlseB-STZmGIxhRe0~2pkBwOy5PTXjJeAKowvwm5yNkekMvIfJ8whYDYGLNPMJKimm4kWgQJ2OFHb~rTOH-q7d04KKzgtS-4JgcXFNm6UyKj1uk4epOXRIvUUhtH1pixQU2jq2hh2s4LWD1e8gArqFrL8gWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Johnson County Commissioners Court on Aug. 25 approved its consent agenda and a package of action items that included public-safety contracts, equipment purchases, a records-preservation plan and a $5,000 contribution to the Cleburne Chamber Foundation for courthouse holiday displays.

The court, meeting in Cleburne, carried the consent agenda (CA1–CA61) unanimously after brief discussion. Items on the consent agenda included recurring interlocal and election agreements and budget housekeeping related to the start of the fiscal year.

On the action agenda, the court approved a series of individual items: payment of court-appointed attorney bills (A1); the county clerk’s FY2026 records archive plan and associated expenditures (A3); use of former economic development office space by Constable Precinct 2 (A4); an increase in compensation for seasonal election staff (A5); acceptance of a construction bond for Retreat Phase 30 and approval of the plat (A8–A9); renewal of the Johnson County Medical Examiner District agreement for FY2026 (A10); a bundled contract with Axon Enterprises for body cameras, Tasers and Axon’s Draft 1 report-writing software (A11); tree-removal work at the Gwen Justice Center (A12); and purchases of specialized road equipment for precincts (A13–A14). Each motion on the record passed unanimously.

In workshop-to-action business, the court approved use of the courthouse grounds for the Cleburne Chamber’s Whistle Stop Christmas displays, directed county facilities to light courthouse trees, and voted to contribute $5,000 to the Chamber Foundation to help cover installation and maintenance costs.

From executive session, the court authorized two district-clerk registry payments (ES3), denied entering any contracts or incentives for a prospective economic-development project referred to as Project Goodland (ES4), and approved a personnel action moving an employee between facilities-management positions with a short unpaid suspension (ES6). The court specified that the registry payments should be funded immediately, and it said it would communicate the denial to Project Goodland representatives.

Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda (CA1–CA61): approved unanimously.
- A1 — Court-appointed attorney fee bill run: motion carried unanimously (mover: Commissioner White; seconder: Commissioner Willey).
- A3 — Approve Johnson County Clerk FY2026 records archive plan and expenditures (Order 2020-574): approved unanimously (mover: Commissioner Bagley; seconder: Commissioner Howell).
- A4 — Approve use of former Economic Development Office, Burleson Sub Courthouse, by Constable Precinct 2: approved unanimously (mover: Commissioner Howell; seconder: Commissioner White).
- A5 — Election personnel compensation increase: approved unanimously (mover: Commissioner Bailey; seconder: Commissioner Woolley).
- A6 — Memorandum of Agreement with FEMA for IPAWS access (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System): approved unanimously (mover: Commissioner White; seconder: Commissioner Woolley).
- A7 — Variance to waive groundwater availability evidence for a proposed one-lot plat (L. Munger Survey, Precinct 4): motion to approve variance carried unanimously (mover: Commissioner Willey; seconder: Commissioner Bailey).
- A8/A9 — Approval of the plat for The Retreat, Phase 30, and acceptance of a construction bond ($922,670.40) for streets, signage and drainage: approved unanimously (mover: Commissioner Bailey; seconder: Commissioner Howell).
- A10 — Johnson County Medical Examiner District agreement FY2026: approved unanimously (mover: Commissioner White; seconder: Commissioner Bailey).
- A11 — Agreement with Axon Enterprises for body-worn cameras, Tasers and Draft 1 software: approved unanimously (mover: Commissioner Howell; seconder: Commissioner White).
- A12 — Remove tree north of the Gwen Justice Center: approved unanimously (mover: Commissioner Bailey; seconder: Commissioner Willey).
- A13 — Purchase 2026 Freightliner distributor truck (Roscoe Maximizer 4-b distributor, 2,050-gallon tank) via BuyBoard contract; authorization for county judge to sign: approved unanimously (mover: Commissioner Woolley; seconder: Commissioner White).
- A14 — Purchase John Deere 5100E cab tractor for Precinct 1: approved unanimously (mover: Commissioner Bailey; seconder: Commissioner Howell).
- WS2 — Courthouse displays and Whistle Stop Christmas partnership; county to light trees; $5,000 contribution to Cleburne Chamber Foundation: approved unanimously (mover: Commissioner Bailey; seconder: Commissioner White).
- ES3 — District clerk registry payments: the court approved paying $406.62 into cause C201300475 and approved payment into docket labeled DC2021-00372 (amount stated on the record as “$2.28 19” and not further clarified on the record); the court directed the payments be made immediately. Motion carried unanimously (mover: Commissioner Howell; seconder: Commissioner White).
- ES4 — Project Goodland: the court voted to deny any contracts or incentives related to Project Goodland. Motion carried unanimously (mover: Commissioner Bailey; seconder: Commissioner Woolley).
- ES6 — Personnel action for Joshua Green, Director of Facilities Management (position A62002/A62003): the court approved moving the employee between the two position codes and ordered a suspension without pay, effective immediately, for a short period. Motion carried unanimously (mover: Commissioner Howell; seconder: Commissioner White).

What this means
The votes move forward a mix of maintenance, public-safety and community-engagement initiatives that the court described as routine or required. The court also authorized immediate expenditure for records preservation and multiple equipment purchases tied to precinct operations and public safety. The denial of Project Goodland ends the court’s consideration of a proposed economic-incentive negotiation at this time.","The Johnson County Commissioners Court approved its consent agenda, several routine county contracts and purchases, funded a local holiday display, authorized use of FEMA IPAWS for emergency cell alerts and took executive-session actions including denial of a proposed economic incentive and payments into the district clerk registry.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners OK courthouse displays, $5,000 contribution to Cleburne Chamber for Whistle Stop Christmas

Johnson County approves bundled Axon contract including AI-assisted Draft 1 report software

County approves one-lot groundwater-availability variance after staff review and map presentation

Johnson County approves FEMA IPAWS connection to send targeted cell-phone alerts

Johnson County commissioners approve routine agenda items, public-safety contracts and local events funding