12/30/2025
Here’s a 2025 Year-in-Review Summary from the Rockwall County Commissioners Court — Actions, Decisions, and Priorities for the Year
**New Commissioners Announced**: As of January 1, 2025, Bobby Gallana and Lorne Liechty have been sworn in as the new commissioners for Precinct One and Precinct Three, respectively.
**Strategic Plan 2050 Presentations**: The County unveiled its long-term Strategic Plan 2050 to the Commissioners Court following comprehensive community outreach and collaboration with consulting firms Baker Tilly and Freese & Nichols.
In early spring, the Commissioners Court officially adopted the Strategic Plan 2050. This plan will guide the county in areas such as transportation, growth management, infrastructure, and community quality of life through the middle of the century.
**Project Updates**: The Rockwall County Courthouse Annex has officially opened at 1101 Yellow Jacket Lane, in Rockwall. This facility centralizes vital county services, including voting, veteran assistance, indigent health services, building permits, and vehicle registration.
Commissioner Court discussions also included updates on the additions of the Courthouse Courtrooms on the third floor and improvements to the Sheriff’s Office.
**Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Adoption**: The Court adopted the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which establishes a tax rate of $0.2510 per $100 valuation—a slight reduction from the previous year. This budget allocates funding for essential services such as road repair and maintenance, the new 503rd District Court, and emergency services.
**Transportation Initiatives**: The Commissioners continue to emphasize transportation projects. The Court has authorized the issuance of $50 million in new Trip 21 funding, aimed at advancing engineering and preparation for various projects on the county's priority list. Additionally, Freese & Nichols has been officially contracted to update the County's Master Thoroughfare Plan, a vital measure to manage future growth and align transportation infrastructure with county objectives.
**Judiciary Update**: Attorney Keith Wheeler has been appointed to complete the remaining term of The Honorable Brian Williams as Judge of the Rockwall County Court at Law #1. Williams will transition to serve as the 503rd District Court Judge.
**Emergency Management Initiatives**: First responders from Rockwall County and various cities—including Rockwall, Heath, Fate, Royse City, McLendon-Chisholm, and Rowlett—came together at Pegasus Foods in Rockwall for a joint hazardous materials response exercise. This marks the third consecutive year that the Rockwall County Office of Emergency Management has organized this collaborative drill.
In 2025, the Rockwall County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) was awarded an $18,000 grant from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to enhance the county's capability to respond to hazardous materials incidents. Each local fire station has received a 95-gallon barrel of absorbent pads for spill response, as well as a kit for sealing leaks. Furthermore, one member from each department will be trained in the Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations (CAMEO) software for tracking hazardous materials and assisting with emergency planning.
**Website Redesign**: Rockwall County has launched a redesigned website aimed at improving citizen access to information and enhancing transparency in government operations. Additionally, the county is working with vendors CivicPlus and ENVISIO to further improve the dissemination of information to the public.
**Employee Spotlight**: After 25 years of dedicated service, Felicia Morris has stepped down from her role as Chief Assistant and Court Coordinator. During her tenure, she had the opportunity to work alongside five different county judges.
**Historic Monument**: The Court has unanimously voted to accept private donations for the installation of a Ten Commandments monument at the historic courthouse.
**Special Recognition**: Rockwall County has been designated the Marriage Capital of Texas through Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 6. This honor will last for ten years and was officially signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott.
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