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![By CJ Vetter
Calhoun County commissioners accepted a bid for construction of the Magnolia Beach Volunteer Fire Station Sept. 30 following a rebidding of the project. Commissioners also approved up to $2.86 million in funding for Memorial Medical Center as needed.
Commissioners unanimously accepted a bid of $1.87 million from Noble Building & Development, LLC, for construction of the new Magnolia Beach station. The project is funded by a General Land Office Community Development Block Grant awarded to the county for disaster mitigation and is expected to be completed within 220 days of groundbreaking.
“G&W [Engineers] has reviewed the contract [with] no objection [to] what is being considered,” G&W Engineers representative Anthony Gohlke said. “G&W Engineers Incorporated recommends, based on this information, that we approve this contract with Noble Building & Development LLC and get [the] fire station started.”
“When’s the start date on this?” Calhoun County Judge Vern Lyssy asked. “I don’t want this to fall in the cracks again.”
“I don't have [that] information. I’m sorry,” Gohlke said.
Following a presentation by MMC CFO Michelle Cumberland, commissioners unanimously authorized MMC to request up to $2.86 million as needed. The money will be drawn from a contingency fund set aside by the county and will be used to cover an intergovernmental transfer for the federal Quality Incentive Payment Program and temporary cash-flow gaps as MMC moves away from its current revenue cycle management company.
“Memorial Medical Center is asking Calhoun County for approximately $2.8 million in support between the months of October and December of 2026. One of those items is for the December QIPP [intergovernmental transfer] payment,” Cumberland said.
Cumberland explained that the QIPP transfer is part of a payment by the government and returned $1.6 million in net revenue the year prior. She also said that funds used for temporary gaps in cash will cover payroll and vendor payments until late payments arrive.
“This would be the second half of that payment, and then the other $1.5 million is just to cover a temporary cash gap. We're moving away from our current revenue cycle management company, and so because of changes in the way that our insurance will be processed and notifying payers, there will be a time where we will not be getting as much money coming from claims, so we're worried that there may be a cash gap during that time,” Cumberland said.
“I would like to point out though that the balance that we have in the contingency, I think it's like $2.6 million. I'd have to look to get the exact number, but I believe when I looked at this before, [we] didn't quite have enough for $1.5 million, and maybe like $1.3 or 4 million, based on what's in the balance in the contingency,” Calhoun County Auditor Lucy Dio said.
A piece of property obtained by the county in 1947 originally valued at $100 to $150 was unanimously approved to be sold by the commissioners following a request by Seadrift Mayor Bill Cathey. The 50-foot by-52-foot bayfront-adjacent property is currently appraised at $85,650.
“The city mayor asked if we would consider putting it back on the roll so that they can get a little more tax money off of it, and the county has no actual use for it,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Gary Reese said.
Commissioners unanimously recognized October 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Calhoun County Judge Vern Lyssy issued a proclamation, and The Harbor Children’s Alliance and Victim Center Director Maria Walton addressed commissioners about the observance.
“We're here to ask you to sign a proclamation designating October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence thrives in the dark. For too long, fear of judgment, isolation, or financial dependence has forced individuals in our community to suffer alone,” Walton said. “By issuing this proclamation today, this court is shining a much-needed light on a crisis that affects families right here in Calhoun County.”
Commissioners unanimously recognized Oct. 4-10, 2026, as National 4-H Week. Following a presentation by Calhoun County 4-H students, Lyssy commented on the students’ speaking skills.
“I do want to encourage everybody on Monday to wear green in support of Calhoun 4-H and 4-H across the nation, and if you want to send a picture of yourself wearing green to me, then I can post it on our social media to paint the world green on Monday.” Calhoun AgriLife Extension Agent and 4-H Director Emily DeForest said.
“You can see how their speaking is better and better each year,” Lyssy said.
The Calhoun County Commissioners Court meets every Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Calhoun County Courthouse in the Commissioners Courtroom. For more information and to see future agendas, visit www.calhouncotx.org/commissioners-court/.](/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBdWN0IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--ffea7089bfa977999f9a85510407e8e8adae70e3/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCem9MWm05eWJXRjBTU0lJYW5CbkJqb0dSVlE2RTNKbGMybDZaVjkwYjE5bWFXeHNXd2hwQXFNQ2FRS1FBWHNHT2d4bmNtRjJhWFI1U1NJTFkyVnVkR1Z5QmpzR1ZBPT0iLCJleHAiOm51bGwsInB1ciI6InZhcmlhdGlvbiJ9fQ==--282cc0ef596d0761b9b7c937751a0b917c8bdc6d/100726%20Maria%20Walton%20Renette%20Todd%20Deborah%20Edwards.jpg)
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![By CJ Vetter
Calhoun County commissioners accepted a bid for construction of the Magnolia Beach Volunteer Fire Station Sept. 30 following a rebidding of the project. Commissioners also approved up to $2.86 million in funding for Memorial Medical Center as needed.
Commissioners unanimously accepted a bid of $1.87 million from Noble Building & Development, LLC, for construction of the new Magnolia Beach station. The project is funded by a General Land Office Community Development Block Grant awarded to the county for disaster mitigation and is expected to be completed within 220 days of groundbreaking.
“G&W [Engineers] has reviewed the contract [with] no objection [to] what is being considered,” G&W Engineers representative Anthony Gohlke said. “G&W Engineers Incorporated recommends, based on this information, that we approve this contract with Noble Building & Development LLC and get [the] fire station started.”
“When’s the start date on this?” Calhoun County Judge Vern Lyssy asked. “I don’t want this to fall in the cracks again.”
“I don't have [that] information. I’m sorry,” Gohlke said.
Following a presentation by MMC CFO Michelle Cumberland, commissioners unanimously authorized MMC to request up to $2.86 million as needed. The money will be drawn from a contingency fund set aside by the county and will be used to cover an intergovernmental transfer for the federal Quality Incentive Payment Program and temporary cash-flow gaps as MMC moves away from its current revenue cycle management company.
“Memorial Medical Center is asking Calhoun County for approximately $2.8 million in support between the months of October and December of 2026. One of those items is for the December QIPP [intergovernmental transfer] payment,” Cumberland said.
Cumberland explained that the QIPP transfer is part of a payment by the government and returned $1.6 million in net revenue the year prior. She also said that funds used for temporary gaps in cash will cover payroll and vendor payments until late payments arrive.
“This would be the second half of that payment, and then the other $1.5 million is just to cover a temporary cash gap. We're moving away from our current revenue cycle management company, and so because of changes in the way that our insurance will be processed and notifying payers, there will be a time where we will not be getting as much money coming from claims, so we're worried that there may be a cash gap during that time,” Cumberland said.
“I would like to point out though that the balance that we have in the contingency, I think it's like $2.6 million. I'd have to look to get the exact number, but I believe when I looked at this before, [we] didn't quite have enough for $1.5 million, and maybe like $1.3 or 4 million, based on what's in the balance in the contingency,” Calhoun County Auditor Lucy Dio said.
A piece of property obtained by the county in 1947 originally valued at $100 to $150 was unanimously approved to be sold by the commissioners following a request by Seadrift Mayor Bill Cathey. The 50-foot by-52-foot bayfront-adjacent property is currently appraised at $85,650.
“The city mayor asked if we would consider putting it back on the roll so that they can get a little more tax money off of it, and the county has no actual use for it,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Gary Reese said.
Commissioners unanimously recognized October 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Calhoun County Judge Vern Lyssy issued a proclamation, and The Harbor Children’s Alliance and Victim Center Director Maria Walton addressed commissioners about the observance.
“We're here to ask you to sign a proclamation designating October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence thrives in the dark. For too long, fear of judgment, isolation, or financial dependence has forced individuals in our community to suffer alone,” Walton said. “By issuing this proclamation today, this court is shining a much-needed light on a crisis that affects families right here in Calhoun County.”
Commissioners unanimously recognized Oct. 4-10, 2026, as National 4-H Week. Following a presentation by Calhoun County 4-H students, Lyssy commented on the students’ speaking skills.
“I do want to encourage everybody on Monday to wear green in support of Calhoun 4-H and 4-H across the nation, and if you want to send a picture of yourself wearing green to me, then I can post it on our social media to paint the world green on Monday.” Calhoun AgriLife Extension Agent and 4-H Director Emily DeForest said.
“You can see how their speaking is better and better each year,” Lyssy said.
The Calhoun County Commissioners Court meets every Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Calhoun County Courthouse in the Commissioners Courtroom. For more information and to see future agendas, visit www.calhouncotx.org/commissioners-court/.](/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBdWN0IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--ffea7089bfa977999f9a85510407e8e8adae70e3/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCem9MWm05eWJXRjBTU0lJYW5CbkJqb0dSVlE2RTNKbGMybDZaVjkwYjE5bWFXeHNXd2hwYVdscGV3WTZER2R5WVhacGRIbEpJZ3RqWlc1MFpYSUdPd1pVIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--8846ecf6fce2c55a24e3d1ba8454491668047834/100726%20Maria%20Walton%20Renette%20Todd%20Deborah%20Edwards.jpg)
Commissioners approve station contract, hospital funds
Barbara Jean Whatley
Julia A. Riser Edwards
Forest Harvey Canion
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