Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell seeks $8,000 in reimbursements for mask supplies

Updated 2:40 p.m. April 20

Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell will ask commissioners to approve an $8,263.24 reimbursement to him and his wife for the purchasing of supplies to make masks for the coronavirus pandemic, according to the April 21 agenda.

“Such reimbursement provides an overall public benefit and public purpose by attempting to aid in the protection of the public’s health and safety during the current pandemic and that such expenditure and reimbursement is not for the private and personal benefit of Judge Bill Gravell, Jr. and Jill Gravell,” the agenda read.

The purchases were made at Hobby Lobby stores in Georgetown, Round Rock and Cedar Park, per the receipts, and include fabric, sewing supplies and scissors, among other supplies. Gravell said in an April 20 press conference that he paid with a personal check after Hobby Lobby informed him their credit card machines—in which the county credit card would have been used—was not working with the business closed due to the the closure of non-essential businesses.

Williamson County has since launched its mask brigade and is asking for volunteers to help make the masks as well as donations for supplies.

As of April 16, the brigade had made 1,700 face marks with 140 volunteers and more than 2,100 hours of donated time, according to an April 16 news release.

Gravell was previously scolded by the court during its April 14 meeting for judge-ordered spending without court approval during the pandemic. During that meeting, Gravell did warn commissioners that this expense would be coming in the April 21 meeting.

Williamson County Commissioners Court meetings are currently being held virtually at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays. Those who wish to speak publicly can still do so but must go in person to the Williamson County Courthouse at 710 S. Main St., Georgetown.

Below is the expense report attached to the agenda item.