Recap from Montgomery County Commissioner's Court, November 5, 2026
Residents from NE Montgomery came to speak against a new stop sign in their neighborhood, Commissioner's Court recognized November as Veterans Month, and the county is applying for additional FEMA flood buyout money for homes with repeated flooding events.
Introduction to the Meeting
Montgomery County Commissioner's Court was held at the Alan B. Sadler Building on Thursday morning November 5th. Judge Mark Keough presided, accompanied by all four precinct commissioners.
The Quick Highlights
--A proposed stop sign on McCrorey Road at Tanyard Road, in Precinct 1, was put deferred after discussion brought forth from multiple residents speaking against it during the public hearing.
--Commissioner Ritch Wheeler presented a proclamation during court recognizing November 2026, and every November after it, as Veterans Month in Montgomery County.
--The county is applying for additional FEMA flood buyout money for homes that flood repeatedly. Emergency Management said 148 properties have been bought out so far, and this round of funding is targeted to buy out about 50 more.
--The October 17th water damage at the Sheriff's Office Criminal Justice Center is expected to reach the county's $2 million self-insured retention. Risk Management said the first estimate it has seen puts the damage in the low $4 million range, and the cost and any contractor responsibility are still being worked out.
--The court accepted a Texas Historical Commission planning grant of $1,804,249 to design a restoration of the 1936 courthouse. The City of Conroe is expected to split the county's roughly $773,000 match using hotel occupancy tax money, if its council signs on.
Court Recognizes November as Veterans Month
Commissioner Ritch Wheeler, of Precinct 3, presented the proclamation. Before he began, though, he asked the veterans in the room to stand, saying the proclamation was "really for you guys," along with the veterans who weren't in the courtroom.
The proclamation recognizes November 2026, "and each November thereafter," as Veterans Month in Montgomery County. The proclamation also points back to the Montgomery County War Memorial Park, dedicated in Conroe by President Gerald R. Ford on April 29th, 1976.
Wheeler reminded the room that Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, November 11th.
"Just thank a veteran if you see one, shake their hand, say thank you for your service," he said.
As the veterans came up for a photo with the proclamation, Commissioner Charlie Riley pointed out from the dais that Wheeler is a veteran too, and "should have been standing up while he read that."
County Plans to Buy Out Additional Homes Deemed as Severe Repetitive Loss Properties
The court approved a task order of up to $60,000 with Hagerty, the county's grant consultant, to build its application for FEMA's 2026 Flood Mitigation Assistance program.
Jason Millsaps, who heads the county's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, presented the item to the court.
What Counts as a Severe Repetitive Loss Home
FEMA calls a building a severe repetitive loss property if it carries flood insurance and has either four or more claims of more than $5,000 each, adding up to more than $20,000, or at least two claims that together add up to more than the building is worth.
Millsaps said about 250 properties in the county currently fall into this category. Most of which are within Precincts 3 and 4, "just based on the historical nature of our flooding," he said.
He said the county has already bought out 148 properties across six of these programs. This new round of grant funding is aimed at buying out about 50 additional properties within the county.
Buyouts are Voluntary, and on a Short Clock
The buyouts are completely voluntary. Millsaps said his office will start contacting eligible homeowners right away to see who wants to take part in this program. His department handles all the paperwork and details for the homeowners.
The application has to reach the Texas Water Development Board in under 45 days, and the state has to send it to FEMA by February. "This came up less than three weeks ago, so it's not something that I was just holding until the last minute," Millsaps said.
Who Qualifies within Montgomery County
Commissioner Matt Gray, Pct. 4, posed the question of who qualifies within the county. Millsaps said it has to be a home and a primary residence, not a business. Plus, it has to be covered by the National Flood Insurance Program, and past flood claims have to have been addressed by repairing the home. Some owners may also qualify for moving expenses and down payment help through the same grant.
Touching on previous efforts, Millsaps mentioned River Plantation. "We've noticed less and less damage in River Plantation because of the homes we've bought out that are no longer there," he said.
Who Mows the Lots After the County Buys Them
Once a home is bought out, the county owns the lot, Millsaps explained. This, however, can cause some friction in neighborhoods with homeowners associations.
"The HOAs hate us because we have to maintain these properties," he said. "I don't have a lawn mowing service in my office." Furthering, he asked the commissioners for any help they could give, saying "we have to at least keep the grass cut."
Commissioner Charlie Riley, Pct. 2, didn't think that should fall on the county. "We don't need to maintain. We don't need to be mowing grass. We don't need to be doing that," he said.
Millsaps said he would take that discussion back to the HOAs with that sentiment.
Nothing was decided on who maintains the lots; the vote was on the grant application work.
The item passed unanimously.
Tanyard Road Stop Sign Put on Hold After Multiple Neighbors Speak
The last item of the morning was a public hearing on a new stop sign. The agenda item was simple, and read: "Consider and approve establishing a Northbound stop sign on McCrorey Road at the intersection of Tanyard Road."
This intersection sits within Precinct 1, Commissioner Robert Walker's district.
Multiple people who live along Tanyard Road came to speak against this new stop sign. By the end of the hearing, the motion had been withdrawn and the item deferred.
What the County Engineer Recommended
The recommendation comes from Lucas, from the County Engineer's office. His memo calls Tanyard Road a collector that "operates as the Major Route" at the intersection of McCrorey Road.
The memo recommends a stop sign and stop bar on McCrorey, along with temporary red flags or a flashing LED sign so drivers notice the change.
Many Residents Spoke Out Against the Agenda Item
Matt, a resident from the area, said he has lived off Tanyard Road for five years, on land his wife's family has owned since 1901. He said the county engineer confirmed by email that it has no traffic volume numbers for the intersection. Further, he also said residents pulled the crash history themselves and found one crash in the last five years.
"So this is not a well-traveled section of road. This is a rural road," he said.
His bigger worry was the road itself. "My only suspicion is that there are intentions at some point down the road to change our nice little rural road to a major thoroughfare," he said.
Commissioner Walker answered that McCrorey Road was recently blacktopped and has no houses on it, while Tanyard sees more traffic as Republic Grand Ranch builds out. "What is the objection to the stop sign?" he asked. Matt said the concern was the road being treated as something it isn't.
Commissioner Gray said the real question seemed to be about a thoroughfare or development, not the stop sign itself. "These are very valid concerns," he said. He then asked Lucas, from the engineering office, to "please work with these people immediately after court."
Dominique, also a resident of the area, made the point again: no traffic study was done to show the sign is needed.
In another public comment, a resident explained his position. "I think the stop sign is a little piece of a bigger picture," he said. "I'm against the stop sign the way it's presented right now."
In another comment, a resident said her family has been on Tanyard since 1901. "Our concern is this is a precursor for how y'all are looking at trying to expand our road, and we're not for that," she said.
She said traffic has picked up from Republic Grand Ranch using Tanyard for construction, and asked for proper studies before anything changes.
Tom, the last to speak, said he walks the road several times a day and wants it kept walkable, "a connector, not a thoroughfare."
The Motion Came Off the Table After Discussion
Wheeler suggested Walker talk with the neighbors first. Riley left it to Walker. "I hate voting yes on this, but it's up to you," he said.
Walker agreed to pull his motion. "We'll withdraw the motion and we're going to defer it," Keough said. No date was set for it to come back.
