Lubbock County Commissioners Court voted on multiple administrative, procurement and policy items during its regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, at the county courthouse in Lubbock.

The court approved line-item transfers and budget amendments presented by the county auditor; authorized payment of claims; accepted the county’s unaudited October financial report; awarded construction and maintenance contracts; authorized service agreements for Internet access at two county clubhouses; moved the county information technology systems department under the direction of the full commissioners court; approved an interlocal agreement for assault nurse exam funding with the Lubbock County Hospital District; adopted countywide community center policy and the court’s rules of procedure and decorum; and made several appointments to regional transportation and tax increment financing (TIF) boards.

Why it matters: The actions formalize routine county spending and operations (including procurement and IT oversight), assign local representatives to regional decision-making bodies, and set countywide policy for community facilities and courtroom conduct.

Most substantive approvals

- Budget transfers and amendments: The auditor presented line-item transfers in the amount of $126,845 and budget amendments (amount cited in the meeting transcript). The court approved the transfers and amendments as presented.

- Payments of claims: The court authorized payment of claims totaling $5,825,366.44 as presented by staff.

- Procurement awards: The court awarded ITB 251-101 (fuel tank restoration) to Riley Industrial Services, Inc., and ITB 251-102 (loading dock improvements at the Lubbock County Detention Center) to Lee Lewis Construction, Inc.

- Facility Internet and remote-lock systems: The court authorized the county judge to sign business service orders and addenda with VEXUS for Internet services at the New Deal and Shallow Water clubhouses to support reservation and remote-lock systems.

- Information technology reorganization: The court voted to move the Information Technology Systems Department under the direction of the full commissioners court (the judge and four commissioners) after the county completed major software implementations.

- Interlocal agreement for assault nurse exams: The court authorized the county judge to sign an interlocal cooperation agreement with the Lubbock County Hospital District to continue funding for assault nurse exam services (the vote did not change the county’s overall budget total, per the court’s remarks).

- County community center policy: The court adopted Lubbock County policy and regulations governing all county community centers, effective Feb. 1, 2025. County staff said the policy centralizes booking and clarifies prohibited conduct for clubhouse managers.

- Rules and decorum: The court adopted local rules on procedure, conduct and decorum consistent with the Texas Open Meetings Act (Texas Government Code chapter 551). That adoption set the procedural basis for designating a presiding officer when the county judge is absent.

- Appointments: The court appointed Commissioner Jason Corley to serve as presiding officer in the county judge’s absence for the remainder of fiscal year 2025; named representatives to the Lubbock Metropolitan Planning Organization (LMPO) Transportation Policy Committee and Transportation Advisory Committee; and appointed members to three local TIF boards (Central Business District, Lubbock Business Park and North Overton).

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes of Jan. 2, 2025 special meeting — Motion: Commissioner Ratcliffe; Second: Commissioner Corley; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
- Approve minutes of Nov. 18, 2024 special meeting — Motion: Commissioner Galby; Second: Commissioner Ratcliffe; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
- Approve line-item transfers $126,845 and budget amendments (amount as presented) — Motion: Auditor/Staff presentation; Mover: Commissioner Rackler; Second: Commissioner Corley; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
- Authorize payments of claims $5,825,366.44 — Motion: Mr. Shaw; Second: Mr. Dolby; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
- Accept monthly unaudited financial report for October 2024 — Motion: Mr. Dolby; Second: Commissioner Shaw; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
- Consent agenda items 6–8 (with amendment to item 8 replacing Tracy Wisely with Ashley Cox for the South Plains Association of Governments Criminal Justice Advisory Committee) — Motion: Commissioner Corley; Second: Commissioner Dolby; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
- Award ITB 251-101 (fuel tank restoration) to Riley Industrial Services, Inc. — Motion: Commissioner Dolby; Second: Commissioner Ratler; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
- Award ITB 251-102 (loading dock improvements at Lubbock County Detention Center) to Lee Lewis Construction, Inc. — Motion: Commissioner Rackler; Second: Commissioner Dolby; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
- Authorize county judge to sign business service order and addendum with VEXUS for New Deal Clubhouse Internet services — Motion: Commissioner Strong; Second: Commissioner Rackler; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
- Authorize county judge to sign business service order and addendum with VEXUS for Shallow Water Clubhouse Internet services — Motion: Commissioner Rackler; Second: Commissioner Dahlby; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
- Move Information Technology Systems Department under direction of all four commissioners and the county judge — Motion: Judge Parrish; Second: Commissioner Shaw; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
- Authorize county judge to sign interlocal cooperation agreement with Lubbock County Hospital District for assault nurse exam funding — Motion: Judge Parrish; Second: Commissioner Shaw; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
- Approve Lubbock County policy and regulations for all county community centers, effective Feb. 1, 2025 — Motion: Commissioner Corley; Second: Commissioner Rackler; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
- Adopt local rules and decorum in accordance with Texas Government Code chapter 551 — Motion: Commissioner Rackler; Second: Commissioner Shaw; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
- Authorize Commissioners Dalby (Precinct 1) and Corley (Precinct 2) to sign right-of-way closing contract proceedings for Woodrow Road construction — Motion: Judge Parrish; Second: Commissioner Shaw; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
- Report received on county road projects, staffing and maintenance; no formal action taken beyond acceptance of the report.
- Appoint Commissioner Jason Corley as presiding officer in the county judge’s absence for the remainder of FY2025 — Motion: Commissioner Corley; Second: Commissioner Shaw; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
- Appoint representatives to LMPO committees and TIF boards — Motions and seconds recorded; Outcome: Approved (unanimous).

Discussion vs. decision

The court’s votes were procedural and administrative: many items were routine approvals of minutes, financial transfers, contracts and staff-recommended agreements. The most extended discussion recorded in the transcript concerned the loading dock at the detention center, where facilities staff described roughly two inches of settlement at a back dock and described planned investigation and repair work before finalizing any larger scope of repairs.

Ending

The meeting included a scheduled executive session and concluded with the court’s administrative appointments and adjournment at roughly 12:17 p.m. The court did not change its overall budget total when authorizing the interlocal funding arrangement with the hospital district, according to statements made during the meeting.