At an April 28 meeting, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service representative listed the golden-cheeked warbler, piping plover, red knot and whooping crane as species of concern in the Summerville area and outlined permitting and mitigation processes; commissioners pressed for studies on a proposed 765-kilovolt line and raised concerns that Encore's 2012 incidental-take permit may not cover all species in the route.

Erath County Commissioners approved a sales agreement for dispatch consoles with Russ Bassett totaling $197,540.93 (county share one-half) and authorized an interlocal agreement with the City of Stephenville and the joint dispatch center for shared DroneSense/UAS use.

The Somerville Sub Regional Planning Commission on May 20 approved minutes and spent most of the meeting preparing for a May 27 session with consultant Encore to review a proposed Chapter 3 91 policy. Commissioners focused on question strategy, potential impacts of a transmission line on planned housing, and an ongoing lawsuit limiting participant availability.

Public commenters urged the court to cancel or investigate the county's Flock automated license‑plate reader (ALPR) agreement, while the district attorney and sheriff defended limited law‑enforcement use and urged guardrails; petitioners delivered roughly 1,200 signatures opposing taxpayer funding.

NextLINK representatives presented a county-wide backbone build. After residents raised concerns about trenching under large oaks, the court added language requiring protection and replacement of trees along right-of-way permits and approved individual permits for several county roads.

During its Aug. 24 meeting the Erath County Commissioners Court opened a public hearing on the proposed FY2026–27 budget and reviewed the taxpayer-impact statement required by state law; the court said it intends to adopt the budget on Sept. 14, 2026.

County officials proposed a FY2027 budget with a proposed tax rate of 0.37 (slightly below the no‑new‑revenue rate), a 3% across‑the‑board pay increase costing roughly $1.0 million, anticipated health‑insurance cost increases (~15%, about $500,000), and funding for capital repairs including a jail roof and courthouse exterior work.

Erath County acknowledged a public hearing and approved a resolution required for tax-exempt bonds that will refinance projects benefitting the Stephenville facility; county will not be liable for the debt, county was asked to confirm only the federal tax-law condition.

Erath County’s EMS director proposed moving supervisors into a supervisor vehicle to provide countywide coverage, adding three paramedic positions, and funding stretcher load systems and cardiac monitors as ambulance repair and supply costs rise. Commissioners discussed grant timing, replacement ambulances and staffing impacts.

Lana, the elections department representative, asked commissioners to include $600,000 for new certified voting machines in the upcoming budget to replace ballot‑on‑demand printers; commissioners discussed staffing, poll worker pay increases and potential revenue growth tied to new property valuations.

L3Harris told Erath County commissioners its drive tests showed roughly 97.3% radio coverage across the county; commissioners approved Amendment No. 4 to the L3Harris agreement and heard a timeline pushing a mid‑to‑late August go‑live for core dispatch services while a few coverage gaps may require additional equipment.

Your Legal Compass in Erath County, Texas: Guiding You Through Life’s Legal Emergencies Welcome, residents of Erath County. We are…

Your Legal Advocates in Erath County, Texas: Attorney911 When a legal emergency strikes in Erath County, it can turn your…

Your Legal Compass in Erath County, Texas: Guiding You Through Life’s Legal Emergencies Welcome, residents of Erath County. We are…

The court voted June 22 to reject the Erath County Appraisal District's proposed purchase of a commercial building and to disapprove its adopted budget, citing cost concerns and pending state appraisal changes; the disapprovals trigger a 30‑day revision process for the district.

At a June 22 Somerville Subregional Planning Commission meeting, state representatives and dozens of residents described coordinated filings, petitions and a five-to-zero PUC abatement to delay isolated approval of proposed transmission projects; residents urged more study of water, grid and environmental impacts ahead of an Aug. 18 deadline.

At a June 8, 2026 meeting in Stevenville, Erath County commissioners approved payment of roughly $1.46 million in invoices, authorized line‑item transfers to purchase a juvenile probation building and advance a unified dispatch center, reappointed a development district director and approved several contract and asset actions.

At a June 1 special session, the Erath County Commissioners' Court approved an interlocal agreement with the city of Stevenville to allow Stevenville dispatchers to cover county dispatch shifts amid staffing shortages and high overtime; the agreement was approved by voice vote.

Residents and local officials in an Erath-area meeting told Encore and commission members that dozens of burial sites and other cultural resources were missing from the project’s environmental record, that mailings and hearing rules left many citizens effectively excluded, and that the Public Utility Commission’s notice parameters have left communities uncertain about protection and follow-up.