San Patricio County Commissioners Court on March 31 approved several routine items on its agenda, accepted a $50,000 grant for the sheriff’s office, authorized two grant-funded positions in grants management and tabled multiple items on the agenda.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of March 31 meeting minutes: approved (mover/second recorded in minutes; voice vote carried).
- Payment of county claims (pay the bills): approved (motion by Commissioner Gillespie; second recorded; voice vote carried).
- Treasurer’s (bank reconciliation) report: accepted (motion and second recorded; voice vote carried).
- Airport hangar lease (Ingleside Regional McCampbell Porter Airport, Hangar C-11) with Michael T. Lippitt, effective April 1, 2025: approved as part of consent agenda.
- Sheriff’s Office grant acceptance: accept $50,000 award from the Ed Ruscha Foundation for equipment: approved.
- Grants Management: approved two new full-time regular office coordinator positions funded by FMAG and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds: approved; positions are grant-funded and would end or be re-evaluated if grant funds are not renewed.
- Items 2.4(c), 2.4(d) and 2.4(g): motion to table approved for each item.
- Personnel actions: resignations recorded and approved for Gustavo Martinez (maintenance assistant, Fairgrounds) and Wyatt Patterson (juvenile supervision officer); motion carried.
- Motion to adjourn: approved; court adjourned at 9:50 a.m.

On the sheriff’s $50,000 grant, a representative said the funds continue an existing grant relationship and will be used for general equipment purchases, including ballistic vests and tactical gear. The court approved the acceptance by voice vote.

Melanie Cooper, grants management, requested two full-time regular office coordinator positions, stating the roles would be fully grant-funded through existing FMAG and HMGP funds and that hiring staff locally would be preferable to using outside consultants. Cooper told the court the county currently has unspent management funds in HMGP and expects sufficient match funds to support programs; she also said the positions would cease to be paid by the county if grant funds are exhausted and that budget review would follow.

Several items were tabled at the department head’s or commissioners’ request so staff could return with additional information. The court recorded motions to table and approved them by voice vote.

All votes and motions were recorded in the meeting minutes; the court handled the items listed above as part of its regular agenda and consent calendar.