Aug. 23 update: Commissioners have an ambitious agenda

There are full agendas, and then there's today's Kerr County Commissioner's Court meeting. The court will bid farewell to Pct. 2 Commissioner Tom Moser and then replace him with T. Beck Gibson. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the Kerr County Courthouse.

However, there's plenty of action and probably some hard pills to swallow if it wants to accept millions in federal aid to bolster the county's COVID-19 response.

Earlier this month, the Texas Department of Emergency Management told a state senate committee that very few counties had taken advantage of the federal coronavirus relief. Kerr County's share, according to the state, is more than $10 million. Across Texas, 23 counties have sent in their funding applications. There are strings, like:

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• The county can't present false information about the funding, and they have to ensure there is outreach to non-English speakers. That means Spanish.

Peterson Health spurred some of this action when it told the commissioners that it was fighting an unsustainable battle against COVID-19 hospitalizations. For most of the last 30 days, about 30% of Peterson's total hospitalizations have been COVID-19 patients — many of them critical.

Today's action accepts the funding conditions while authorizing Judge Rob Kelly to sign the agreement. The cities of Kerrville and Ingram accepted similar funding to help offset COVID-19-related expenses.

The swearing-in of Gibson to replace Moser comes when Pct. 2 is being swamped with development, and that's clear on today's agenda. A proposed ranch-style development could add 109 homes on 5-acre lots near Camp Verde, and a 99-unit mobile home complex is being considered near Center Point.

Last week, Kelly said he was counting on Gipson's extensive real estate experience to help the county navigate an expected wave of development in Center Point and east Kerr County.

And, by the way, the county commissioners will adopt the 2021-2022 budget.

COVID-19

Of course, we're watching the latest developments on COVID-19 as we start the second week of school and people return to work. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported another Kerr County death over the weekend — this one from Aug. 16.

WISDOM AND MUSING FROM LAST WEEK

We had a series of great shows last week on The Lead Live. Just some of the highlights:

• Julie Davis, who heads the Convention and Visitors Bureau, said HBO location scouts were thrilled with Kerrville's police station's dated and dilapidated look. Davis did not know what project HBO was considering, but we're hoping for season 4 of True Detective.
• George Eychner, the virtuoso behind the Kerrville Christmas Lighting Corp., said the plans to light up Tranquility Island are underway. The Kerrville City Council will approve a plan to run power to the Island from the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library. However, giving power to Tranquility Island provides the community with another space for major events — something Davis acknowledged.
• Amy Goodyear, office manager of the Cailloux Theater, provided insight into the remarkable set design of the Cailloux Theater's performance of "Murder on the Orient Express." Goodyear said the rotating set was one of the largest undertakings in the theater's recent offerings, and it apparently was a hit. "It exceeded my expectations," said Delayne Sigerman, a co-host of The Lead Live and who saw the opening night of the performance.
• We made it out to the Doyle Center to see their showcase of dance led by Clifton Fifer. It was a great night of dance that was well attended by about 75 people, who were treated to sandwiches, cake and cupcakes. The dancing ranged from ballroom, line, polka, Cumbia and praise. Check out some of the photos here: https://www.facebook.com/thekerrcountylead/posts/494712331744577

WISHING A SPEEDY RECOVERY

We heard that Darrell Beauchamp, the Museum of Western Art executive director, was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash, but he's making a recovery. He said he would be in the hospital for a few days. We're making an editorial statement here, but Beauchamp is a huge asset to this community and MOWA. We look forward to seeing him back to work.