Montgomery County Commissioners Court was in session Aug. 24. Here are three takeaways from the latest meeting.
Commissioners accept updated 2021 Major Thoroughfare Plan
Commissioners voted to accept a 2021 update to Montgomery County’s Major Thoroughfare Plan. The plan provides a comprehensive list of transportation needs for each precinct.
According to a news release from Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack’s office, the update would remove the Woodlands Parkway, Gosling Road and Branch Crossing extensions from the map.
Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough and Noack asked Precinct 2 Charlie Riley about the proposed Woodtrace Boulevard and any possible impact on The Woodlands and the Woodlands Parkway. Riley shut down any possibility of the proposed road affecting The Woodlands.
“There is nothing at all that touches anything to do with The Woodlands boundaries from the west side of 2978 over to 249,” Riley said.
The transportation plan was last updated in 2016. The COVID-19 pandemic stalled discussions, but commissioners were able to come together on a plan in July. Private firm BGE Engineering led the study to update the plan, which also took public comments in July.
Costs of additional coronavirus aid broken down
Jason Millsaps, Montgomery County’s director of emergency management and homeland security, provided a breakdown of American Rescue Plan Act funding that is fueling the county’s latest response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Millsaps, the county has over $17.9 million earmarked in ARPA funds. Millsaps outlined some of the expenditures, including spending on surge staff, personal protective equipment, and an increase in mental health deputies and sergeants.
The county dashboard shows that COVID-19 patients made up 24.2% of hospital capacity as of Aug. 22. Approximately 51% of the county’s population over age 12 are vaccinated, and Millsaps said he hoped that the Pfizer vaccine receiving full Food and Drug Administration approval will increase that number.
Millsaps also provided an update on the county’s antibody infusion center, which the Texas Department of State Health Services opened Aug. 16. Millsaps said that the center was working well in keeping people who had tested positive for COVID-19 out of the hospital.
“We’re still the only regional infusion center, and we’re seeing predominantly Montgomery County citizens using it,” Millsaps said. “Which is great because that will ultimately prevent hospitalizations for those patients.”
Following an executive session recess, commissioners also approved a contract with Angel Staffing Inc. to provide additional healthcare personnel for the county until Dec. 31.
County election sites consolidated for Nov. 2
Commissioners also approved an order to consolidate election polling places for the Nov. 2 election.
On Election Day, 57 polling locations will be open for voters. Most will accept voters from one to three precincts, although three—the North Montgomery County Community Center in Willis, the East Montgomery County Fair Association Building in Willis and the Performing Arts Center at Lone Star College in Kingwood—will consolidate four or more precincts each.
In a separate motion, commissioners discussed concerns over polling locations. Noack described some as “bleak” and asked Elections Commissioner Suzie Harvey what could be done if a polling location was unsatisfactory. Harvey said the county looks for private facilities that would be willing to provide their locations. She added the county could construct a building if necessary but said that was “not feasible.”
Election Day voting will take place between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 2.
