The Collin County Commissioners Court met Monday to discuss several topics including an update on a request for a crisis response grant, staffing the soon-to-be newly created County Court at Law No. 7 and the continued search for a director of juvenile detention.

Grant proposal

The commissioners heard an update on the county’s crisis response grant proposal draft. LifePath Systems, a program that treats and supports individuals with mental illness, substance abuse issues and intellectual and developmental delays, has asked the county to apply for grant funding through the crisis response grant. There is $31 million in grant money available statewide.

Lifepath would like to expand the hours at their clinic in Plano to later in the evening and add Saturday hours using the grant money. It would also allow LifePath to serve 720 additional individuals.

Staffing would take most of the grant requested, which also requires a 25 percent local match from the county. The match would be made available when the county receives the grant money in September.

County Court at Law No. 7

This spring the county formally requested that a new court be created. According to court documents, when the request was made the county was in need of one court and was seriously close to needing a second. Documents within today’s court packet said the county has continued to fall behind on the disposition of cases and with each month it gets further behind.

Senate Bill 1139 from the 84th Texas Legislature created County Court at Law No. 7 effective Sept. 1 and today, the court was asked to consider staffing the court as soon as possible. According to County Administrator Bill Bilyeu, the county commissioners can select a judge until an official election can be held next spring. Today, the court considered filling the seat with a rotating judge and temporary staff.

Director of Juvenile Detention search

The county is still seeking a new Director of Juvenile Detention. The county had been working to come to an agreement with an recruiting service but was unable to do so. Commissioners voted to discontinue discussions with the firm, which essentially eliminated external recruiting services.