County Briefs
The Young County Commissioners Court met on June 30 to approve a new food service contract for the county jail, consider budget requests, and receive updates on ongoing economic development projects, including solar and data center proposals.
During the meeting, commissioners approved a food service agreement for the Young County Jail. They tabled a proposed memorandum of agreement with Helen Farabee Centers, the county’s mental health provider, which is requesting a significant increase in its annual funding. Commissioners opted to delay a decision until the county’s budget picture becomes clearer.
A scheduled meeting with a consultant regarding a proposed solar tax abatement for the Titus/ Tapaderos project was postponed due to a scheduling conflict.
The county currently has two active tax abatements— one with Plug Power for a future hydrogen plant and another with NextEra Energy for the Young Wind Project. According to County Judge Win Graham, the abatements generate $293,000 and $918,000 annually, respectively, and have enabled the county to maintain a lower tax rate by a combined 11.75 cents.
Judge Graham also updated the court on the proposed data center development, stating he had not heard from developers in over a month and feared the project was dead.
However, shortly after the meeting, he learned that the developers had made significant progress and were nearly finished with an Oncor power study. He has invited them to attend a future meeting to update the public.
During the budget workshop that followed the meeting, commissioners reviewed departmental budgets for both justices of the peace, Constable Bryan Little, and Juvenile Probation, among others.
They voted to publish a proposed 3 percent raise for all county employees—including elected officials—before taking formal action at their July 28 meeting. The raise proposal will be published in both the Graham Leader and Olney Enterprise.
Other county highlights included: - Youth Service Project: Local 4-H members painted the new fence around the William P. Johnston Cemetery, a project delayed by weather but completed under clear skies.
- Historical Preservation: Interbank donated two fireproof filing cabinets, each weighing 2,000 pounds, to the Young County Historical Commission. Sheriff Babcock and the jail work crew managed the challenging transport to Fort Belknap.
- Grants and Funding: Judge Graham finalized the county’s Safe Streets 4 All planning grant and worked on administrative components of a mental health response team grant.