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The Potter County Commissioners Court addressed housing protections, law enforcement training policies, and budget adjustments for indigent defense during its regular meeting on March 9, 2026.
Among the actions taken was the approval of an agreement tied to affordable housing at The Commons at St. Anthony’s, a senior housing development in Amarillo. Commissioners also approved a new training reimbursement policy for the Potter County Sheriff’s Office and authorized a budget transfer within the Panhandle Area Public Defender’s Office to support immigration-related hiring expenses and summer legal interns.
New training reimbursement agreement for sheriff’s employees
The court also authorized the Potter County Sheriff’s Office to implement a Deputy Training Reimbursement Agreement for employees who attend a peace officer academy with financial support from the county.
Each year, the sheriff’s office sponsors a small number of correctional officers to attend training at either the Amarillo College Law Enforcement Academy or the academy run by the Amarillo Police Department. The office covers tuition and related costs while the employees receive their full salary during the training period.
Previously, some employees were required to maintain their normal work shifts while also attending academy training, which resulted in extremely long workdays. The new approach allows sponsored employees to attend the academy as a full-time assignment.
The new agreement introduces a requirement that employees who receive academy sponsorship remain with the sheriff’s office for at least three years after completing training. If an employee leaves earlier, they must reimburse the county for the costs associated with their academy attendance.
The reimbursement scale decreases over time. Employees who leave within the first year after training would be responsible for the full cost. Those who depart between their first and second year would owe 75 percent, while employees leaving between the second and third year would owe 50 percent. After completing three years of service following training, employees would be free to leave without any repayment obligation.
County officials indicated that the policy is intended to protect public funds and discourage employees from completing academy training and immediately accepting positions with other agencies.
Budget adjustment for the Public Defender’s Office
Commissioners also approved a budget transfer for the Panhandle Area Public Defender’s Office to cover the cost of transferring an H-1B visa for a new attorney and to provide stipends and benefits for summer legal interns.
The adjustment moved $7,380 from the office’s personnel budget into its contract services budget. Officials noted that the transfer does not increase overall spending for the year.
An H-1B visa allows U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in specialized occupations that require advanced knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree. Most of the visa transfer cost will be offset through a grant from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission.
The same agency is also providing grant funding that fully covers stipends for the office’s legal interns. The interns eligible for those stipends are typically law students or recent graduates who have obtained a summer bar card, also known as a supervised practice card. This credential allows them to perform certain legal tasks under the supervision of a licensed attorney while they complete the process of becoming fully licensed.
Public defender leadership indicated that the internships serve as an opportunity to identify and recruit potential long-term staff members for the office.
Protections for residents at The Commons at St. Anthony’s
Potter County approved a land use restriction agreement involving the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the property owner, St. Anthony’s Amarillo Housing 20 LP. The company operates The Commons at St. Anthony’s, a low-income housing development designed for senior residents.
Under the agreement, the apartment community must rent units exclusively to individuals whose income is below 60 percent of the area’s median gross income. Additionally, 40 percent of the units will have rent restrictions that cap housing costs so residents are not charged more than 30 percent of the area median gross income. These restrictions are part of the requirements tied to the development’s receipt of low-income housing tax credits.
The agreement also establishes long-term affordability commitments. The Commons at St. Anthony’s must maintain its affordable housing designation for 45 years.
Commissioners highlighted an additional provision aimed at protecting residents in the event of financial trouble for the property owner. If the development were to face foreclosure, tenants would still be allowed to remain in their homes for up to three years. The clause is designed to prevent residents from losing their housing immediately due to changes in property ownership or financial distress tied to the development.
According to the development’s website, leasing is already underway at The Commons at St. Anthony’s, with the building expected to be fully available for move-ins by early April.
Bail bond board appointment
In another action, commissioners appointed Walt Weaver, judge of County Court at Law No. 1, as a permanent member of the Potter County Bail Bond Board. The board is responsible for overseeing bail bond companies operating within the county and ensuring they comply with local regulations and licensing requirements.
The appointment formalizes Weaver’s role on the board as part of the county’s ongoing oversight of the local bail bond industry.
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