$1.6 Million To Address Mental Health Approved By Commissioners

CONROE, TX — Montgomery County will use a portion of American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide help for the Precinct 1 Constable’s Office in its efforts to deal with a rise in mental health calls in the county.

After a lengthy and somewhat contentious discussion at its budget workshop Wednesday, Montgomery County Commissioners agreed to add three sergeants and seven deputies to the Precinct 1 Mental Health Division and Crisis Intervention Team using $1.63 million from its $117.9 million allotment of ARPA funds. ARPA, which President Joe Biden signed in March, provides $1.9 trillion for state and local government entities to help recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The item will be on the agenda for next month’s Commissioners Court meeting for final approval.
The Precinct 1 Mental Health Division is made up of 14 officers specially trained to help in law enforcement dealings with mental health situations. Precinct 1 Constable Philip Cash reported to the court that after the Mental Health Division was fully funded in 2018, mental health calls saw a decline in the county in 2019.

Cash said that COVID-19 has caused a spike in mental health problems, with his office seeing a 52 percent rise in mental health calls in 2020 and a 14 percent rise through the first half of 2021.

“This problem is not going away,” Cash said. “I think our county has addressed this, and we’re continuing to address this and doing a tremendous job responding to these people, but without additional manpower, we still have significant gaps in coverage.”

Cash pointed to officers having to miss shifts because of COVID-19 or injuries acquired while on the job as further reasons for an increase in personnel.

Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack expressed concern about keeping the countywide unit housed in Precinct 1, proposing that the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office take on some of the burden or spreading it out to all four precincts.

Cash responded saying that Precinct 1 already offers free training for other agencies in the county, adding his unit is already equipped to handle the crisis now with more manpower.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Robert Walker and Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley expressed confidence in the Precinct 1 Office’s ability to address the crisis.

“[Cash] has done a superb job, and I think if you give him 10 more deputies, it’s going to make a huge difference throughout our county,” Walker said.

Noack and county budget staff also were hesitant about the hefty price tag and what it would mean when the short-term ARPA funding ran out for the new positions.

“That’s a big risk for y'all. I'm sorry,” Noack said.

County Judge Mark Keough said the opportunity to use federal funding to help abate the mental health crisis was too good to pass up, adding that after the ARPA funds are no longer available, the court could make adjustments on the new positions as needed.

“If we can save some kids from committing suicide, some parents from abusing their kids, from kids getting involved, because they’re so strung out, in drugs, can we at least try?” Keough said. “We have money to try this. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, and it’s here right now. We’re not taking it out of the budget.”

Online Auctions For Foreclosures, Resales

During their Tuesday meeting, the commissioners unanimously passed a motion to allow online auctions for tax foreclosure sales, tax resales and to adopt rules governing online auctions.

When County Judge Mark Keough asked if there was a reason not to pass the motion, Montgomery County Tax Assessor-Collector Tammy McRae replied, “I can’t think of one. It makes perfect sense.”

The court also accepted a letter of understanding from Conroe-based law firm Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP to help coordinate the auction service.

McRae told the Conroe Courier that the service allows more people to participate in the auction and frees up county employees, who don’t have to be present. She expects the service to hold its first auctions in November.