County revamping its agenda process

The public will have more notice of issues to be discussed in Hays County Commissioners Court meetings.

On Tuesday, the court approved new agenda posting guidelines formulated by General Counsel Mark Kennedy. The county will now post a draft agenda online two times before each commissioners court meeting: the first two Mondays prior to the commissioners court meeting, and the second the Thursday morning prior to the meeting. Once the final agenda has been published — which is slated for no later than 5 p.m. the Friday before the commissioners court meeting — the draft agendas will be archived. Emergency posting of agenda items and executive session agenda items must be reviewed and analyzed by General Counsel and authorized by the County Judge or three commissioners.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Kennedy noted that right now there are several sets of agenda posting guidelines and he would like to streamline those in the future.

In other business, the commissioners approved a facilities use agreement between the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and the San Marcos Academy so that the Basic Peace Officer graduation ceremony on April 4 can take place at the academy on a stage.

“We like to make a big deal out of it,” Capt. Mark Cumberland said. “They deserve it after the long physical academy they’re about to complete.”