Big decisions made in 2015

• Countywide road bond approved In November, voters approved a $280 million bond to support countywide road improvement projects. A $350 million road bond proposal failed to receive voter approval in May due in part to opposition regarding a proposed 6-mile Woodlands Parkway expansion project.

• Animal shelter management In November, the court gained control of the Montgomery County Animal Shelter after hearing mismanagement concerns from residents regarding the previous operator, Care Corp. The court will retain control of the shelter until a new director can be found.

Top issues for 2016

• Road bond projects The county will begin design and construction on several of the road bond projects approved in November, including expansions of FM 1097, Research Forest Drive, Fish Creek Thoroughfare and Rayford Road.

• Open-carry legislation The court will enforce new security points at various county buildings to correspond with House Bill 910, which went into effect Jan. 1. The law permits individuals with concealed handgun licenses to openly carry handguns in multiuse county buildings but not within the courthouse. All persons will be required to pass through a security station unless they present a CHL.

Meetings

Commissioners Court is held every other Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Alan B. Sadler Administration Building, 501 N. Thompson St., Conroe. 936-756-0571. www.mctx.org

Terms and compensation

Commissioners and the county judge each serve staggered four-year terms with no term limits. The judge’s annual salary is $170,705, and the commissioners each earn $163,891 to $164,851 annually with a cell phone and vehicle stipend.