Waller County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Waller County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
GIS Program and Support Department Investment
Johnson Development wants to name a collector road in memory of Brittlee Hildebrand, but it conflicts with the county's naming policy because of a similar road name to the north. The engineer sees no emergency-response risk but tabled it to avoid setting precedent without the precinct commissioner present.
La Sagara Section Two partial replat
Final plats for multiple subdivisions and business parks across Precincts 2 and 4 are on the agenda, plus moving Sunterra Lakes North roads into the developer's one-year maintenance period. These steps advance residential and commercial growth in the county.
Civil Rights and Law Enforcement
The Sheriff's Office and three constable precincts would get the Rocket in-car video platform, a roughly $51,500 purchase aimed at equipping patrol vehicles with modern video recording.
In-car video systems for deputies and constables
The Sheriff's Office and three constable precincts would get the Rocket in-car video platform, a roughly $51,500 purchase aimed at equipping patrol vehicles with modern video recording.
Proposed IDV QOZB 2023 tax abatements
New proposed tax abatement agreements between the county and IDV QOZB 2023, LLC are up for discussion. Abatements trade future tax revenue for investment and jobs in the county.
Deerwood Lakes lot sales and septic concerns
A resident reported new home construction clearing over a creek on small lots where bylaws and TCEQ rules bar septic systems within 100 feet of a creek. The county says three nearby lots were already deemed unbuildable for the same reason and will route the complaint to Environmental and Road and Bridge.
Courthouse project spending transparency
A Monaville resident delivered a petition asking the court to share cost breakdowns and renderings for the courthouse/justice system project, arguing a certificate of obligation spends money without voter approval while a bond would require a vote.
Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels funding
A $70,000 payment to Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels, allocated in the 2027 budget, would fund meal services for seniors in the served area.
Precinct 3 building design contract amendment
The new Precinct 3 building can't connect to the nearby subdivision's water and sewer for years, so the county is installing its own well, septic, and generator — making it emergency-ready like Precinct 4 — and pushing bidding to January or February.
2027 Legislative Agenda
The county is drafting its legislative agenda, including funding for the detention pond and jail expansion, a new district court, commercial vehicle parking restrictions for neighborhoods, and changes to county assistance district law.
Spending limits for outgoing officeholders
New policy requires court approval for big spending by officeholders who lost their re-election bids, preventing lame-duck budget drains.
Broadband and utility installations in county rights-of-way
AT&T, Comcast, and PS Lightwave got notices accepted for fiber optic lines and poles along Hegar, Rice, Joseph, Cameron, Penick, and Twinwood roads — more broadband infrastructure coming to the county.
Homeland Security radio grant for county law enforcement
The county won its full homeland security grant request but equipment prices jumped, so it scaled back to 20 portable and 5 mobile radios and put up local money to finish the project.
State underfunding of county mandates
Dr. Maddox warned that the legislature cut $4.5 million from the Secretary of State's budget, forcing Waller County's election administrator to run elections on a 2024-level budget despite rapid population growth.
Morton Road bond project pipeline crossings
Road-bond construction on Morton Road requires agreements with pipeline owners to cross their easements. Roughly 30 pipelines cross the project, and more agreements are still needed.
Constable Salary Grievance Resolution
Constables pressed the court to pay their deputies the same as sheriff's deputies, citing an 84% jump in papers served and a 103% jump in evictions. The court committed to studying parity and staffing, with grievances pending Thursday.
Brookshire detention facility project terminated
A grant-funded detention facility planned with Brookshire is dead because land prices jumped $2.5-2.7 million during the slow federal grant process. The county will raise the funding-delay issue with its state delegation.
A/E services selection policy
A new policy creates a pre-qualified vendor bank for architects and engineers, letting the county skip months of procurement for small routine projects. Some concern was raised that tiny firms may struggle with the paperwork.
Prairie View water plant generator cost overruns
Prairie View will pay about $60,000 in cost overruns on a grant-funded generator at Water Plant No. 2, which the county will hand over to the city when done. The overruns came from four years of cost escalation since the grant application.
Illegal dumping cameras
A new H-GAC grant buys trail cameras for known dumping hot spots so deputies can catch and prosecute serial dumpers.
Mowing contract failure
The county's road mowing contractor failed to perform — showing up with zero-turn mowers instead of shredders — so the court terminated the contract and will rebid with backup vendors. That's why county ditches have looked rough.
Flock license plate reader contract opposition
A resident warned that proposed data centers in the region are 'surveillance data centers' that could aggregate residents' personal data, and questioned Governor Abbott's assurances about reduced electricity bills. She also asked for transparency on a large project in Katy.
Prairie View A&M University Sesquicentennial
The county formally recognized PVAMU's 150th anniversary. The university is a major economic engine — $1.2 billion a year — and is expanding with a $47 million academic building and a $130 million public health complex.
Non-emergency medical transportation access
A retired nurse wants to start a non-emergency medical transport service for hospice and dialysis patients, freeing county EMS ambulances for true emergencies. Commissioners liked the idea but tabled it pending a business plan and legal clarity on the county's oversight role.
Historic cemetery access protections in Klaus Road subdivision
A resident asked the court to delay a variance next to a cemetery dating to 1885, worried new development could squeeze out cemetery access. The court solved it by requiring a plat note barring any access from the cemetery road.
Support for small businesses and workforce development
The extension office reported two years of results: 34 business academy graduates, housing fairs, financial literacy training at Hempstead High School, and a toy drive for 450-plus kids.
Courthouse third-floor renovation completion
The courthouse third floor is on track to finish in June, the modular buildings are essentially done under budget, and the sheriff's maintenance garage is about six weeks from completion.
Delinquent tax collections
The county renewed its five-year deal with its delinquent tax law firm at no cost to taxpayers, and scheduled a June resale of ten tax-delinquent properties, including many small lots in Deerwood East where roads were never built.
Creation of a county parks department
The county now has an official parks department with the court acting as its board, plus a possible $1.5 million donation from a solar farm agreement — with hopes of building a place families can fish.
Owens Road rehabilitation extension
The road bond project will now cover the 1,500-foot county-maintained gap in Owens Road between Prairie View and Waller, with a future deal possibly shifting maintenance to the city. Officials noted heavy traffic uses Owens as a relief valve from FM 3602.
Recognition of Mayor Danny Marberger's retirement
After 48 years leading the City of Waller, Mayor Marberger was honored with a county proclamation. Commissioners recalled his hands-on service, from spraying weeds to helping widows with their trash.
Electronic warrants in the field
A new Cloud Gavel system lets judges magistrate warrants remotely with CJIS compliance, instead of the current cumbersome scan-email-sign process. It has a 30-day out if it doesn't work.
Employee health benefits broker agreement
The county hired ANCO Insurance to negotiate its TAC health plan at no upfront cost, with a goal of a zero-deductible, zero out-of-pocket plan for employees. If negotiations don't improve the renewal, the county pays nothing.