Ellis County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Ellis County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Road material supply reliability
Precincts have been burned by suppliers who couldn't deliver crushed rock and asphalt on schedule. The court awarded multiple vendors on each bid so road crews always have a backup, keeping chip seal and patching projects on track.
Regional Animal Shelter Development
The county, Waxahachie, and Ennis are trying to build a regional animal shelter, but the first draft contract would put the county's $15 million Compass donation at risk. The court wants a rewritten contract and a public workshop so residents can see the cost numbers before committing. Rescue volunteers are pushing for open intake and spay/neuter funding.
Drainage Master Plan
A proposed homesite on 4.5 acres near Jen Road sits on highly erosive land with heavy water flows — up to 706 cubic feet per second in a 100-year event. Commissioner Stinson delayed the variance until a drainage and erosion study protects downstream neighbors and Walker Creek.
Rocket Ranch MUD Wastewater Discharge Permit
The county voted to challenge a TCEQ wastewater discharge permit for a proposed 1,200-home subdivision. Developers explained the discharge permit is only a backup plan to connecting with a regional Trinity River Authority plant.
Rescission of County Outdoor Burn Ban
With scorching temperatures and drought index numbers climbing rapidly, the court enacted an immediate burn ban to prevent wildfires across Ellis County.
Sheriff Office Lobby Space Expansion
The court approved funds and contracts to convert a portion of the main sheriff's office lobby into needed staff offices.
Retiree Health Insurance Premium Absorption
The court agreed to absorb the entire $5,000 premium increase for county retiree health insurance to ensure retirees do not bear extra costs following provider network changes.
Commercial Fire Code Standards and Permit Fees
The court debated whether to revoke the recently adopted 2024 International Fire Code over concerns about increased permit fees and mandates like concrete fire lanes for commercial properties. Ultimately, commissioners voted 4-1 to keep the code in place while agreeing to hold future workshops to review potential amendments.
Local Provider Participation Program Hospital Rate Setting
The court set the FY 2027 mandatory payment rate at 6% for local hospitals to secure federal matching funds for indigent care without using county tax revenues.
County Vehicle Procurement
Commissioners debated the costs and benefits of leasing county vehicles versus direct purchasing, prompting a review of department fleet policies.
Creation of County Administrator and Budget Officer Positions
The county created an administration office to manage day-to-day operations and streamline leadership across departments, adding checks and balances on firing authority.
November 2026 Joint Election Administration
Ellis County will run joint elections this November for six local cities and utility districts to save resources and simplify voting.
Master Thoroughfare Plan Amendment for IH-35E and FM 308 Corridor
The county removed a planned road corridor connecting IH-35E and FM 308 because steep drop-offs and flood control structures made building it impractical.
County Facilities Director Appointment
The county filled a two-and-a-half-month vacancy in the maintenance department by hiring Dustin Haynes, who will start on October 5.
Fiscal Year 2026 Proposed Budget & Tax Rate
County commissioners started reviewing funding requests and financial plans for the upcoming fiscal year with various departments and elected officials.
Historical Tax Revenue Variances and Prospective Audit
Ellis County is looking to bump up property taxes by 12% to fund a larger government footprint. It’s a controversial move, and officials are asking residents to weigh in before the budget is locked in.
Jail Inmate Food Services Transition
Following Selrico Services' early contract termination, the county re-awarded jail food services to Correctional Food Services, increasing daily meal costs.
Wind and Solar Energy Regulation
Residents voiced concerns over renewable energy projects and battery storage safety during a discussion on a heavy construction road use agreement. Officials clarified that the solar project does not include battery storage units and that the bond ensures road repairs.
County Property Design Scope at 1305 West Jefferson Street
The court discussed expanding architectural design plans for the newly purchased building on West Jefferson Street to potentially include a new commissioners courtroom and administrative offices.
Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District 2024 Report
The Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District presented its annual report, detailing groundwater trends, well registrations, and conservation grant programs available to residents.
Animal Cruelty Investigation
Glenn Heights police are investigating a brutal animal cruelty case after a dog died from extreme heat. This tragic incident highlights the urgent need for stricter pet safety enforcement across Ellis County.
Tax Abatement Compliance
County officials discovered that 5 out of 14 active tax abatement agreements are out of compliance due to missing annual reports, prompting warning letters.
Weakley Branch Road Development and Variance
Residents near the proposed Trails at Hidden Creek subdivision raised serious concerns about road stability near a leaking water tank. The court ultimately denied the developer's request to use a substandard road base, siding with county engineers on soil stability.
Midlothian Facility Lease Renewal
The county renewed a two-year lease for the Precinct 4 Constable and Justice of the Peace facility in Midlothian at $13,200 per month while exploring long-term housing solutions.
Precinct 3 Road Rehabilitation
Road and Bridge Precinct 2 declared old equipment surplus, shifted budget funds into repairs, and partnered with the City of Garrett for road improvements.
Courthouse Facility Improvements
The county shifted nearly $1 million from historic courthouse restoration funds to cover active sub-courthouse and court facility needs because grant funding didn't come through and the building is fully occupied.
Jail Medical Services
The county is looking for a new jail medical provider after previous issues and high bids, exploring a cost-based model with UTMB while keeping interim care in place.
County Employee Health Benefits Renewal
Commissioners approved a health plan that lowers employee out-of-pocket costs and covers a nearly $1 million cost increase, prioritizing staff support amid rising living expenses.
Facility Planning
Compass Data Centers offered a $15 million gift to fund a new county animal shelter, filling a major gap left by the SPCA's departure. While animal advocates welcomed the funding, several residents questioned whether the gift is tied to tax abatements for future data center projects.
Veterans Treatment Court Behavioral Health Services
The county terminated its failing contract with TrueCare24 for veterans' mental health assessments and established an open-bid clinician pool to ensure continuous care.
Subdivision Infrastructure Rejections (Ferris Ranch and Erie Meadows)
The county updated its development rules to handle state-mandated 30-day review deadlines by allowing staff to approve small plats and clarifying road standards.
Rezoning
Red Oak just approved a big land rezoning plan to build a brand new data center. It's a major sign of how local tech growth is starting to reshape our neighborhoods.