WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS HIRE NEW 911 DIRECTOR

  

Washington County has hired a new director for the 911 Communications Department. 

County commissioners voted today (Tuesday) to approve the hire of Zachary Sheets for the role. 

Sheets began his career in emergency communications in 2011 in West Tennessee, working for the City of Jackson.  He moved to Colorado in 2021 and has since been employed at the Public Safety Communications Center for the Town of Vail, where he currently serves as its director.

Human Resources Director Amber Skalka said Sheets progressed from working as a dispatcher into the roles of supervisor, operations manager and now director. 

According to Skalka, the county conducted two rounds of interviews through the recruiting firm, Strategic Government Resources (SGR).  The county’s 13-member hiring committee was made up of representatives from local public safety agencies, including law enforcement, fire departments, EMS and other 911 personnel.

Washington County’s 911 Department was led on an interim basis by Jerod Hartfield, who was appointed as the director last fall after the resignations of former director Robyn Hood and former operations manager Shannon Selden.

Sheets is being hired at a salary of $95,886.  He is also being provided a $3,000 stipend to assist with moving costs.  His anticipated start date is January 12, 2026, contingent on a background check. 

In related business for the 911 Department, commissioners approved the extension of a lease agreement with the City of Brenham for use of the facility at 301 North Baylor Street as the dispatch center.  The county has leased the building from the city since 2014 for emergency dispatch services.

The extended lease begins on January 1, 2026 and ends on December 31, 2027.  It also increases the county’s monthly rent payment to the city, going from the existing payment of $2,500 to $3,000 in 2026 and $3,500 in 2027. 

Also at today’s meeting, commissioners accepted the resignation of Tom Stevens as board chair of the Washington County Historical Commission as of December 31, 2025.  In the same motion, they agreed to appoint Sharlie Douglass as the new board chair for the 2026-27 term.

Stevens thanked the court for allowing him to serve as chair for the past five years, saying it has been a “most enjoyable experience”.  He said he is not stepping away from the commission entirely, but it is time to “pass the torch” for the position of chair. 

Commissioners thanked Stevens for his service, with County Judge John Durrenberger saying he has “done a fantastic job” and brought the historical commission “so far in a short period of time.”  Commissioner Candice Bullock said Stevens has been “instrumental in expanding on the scope of what the historical commission does.”

Douglass said taking over for Stevens will be a “very difficult act to follow”, but she is “honored and excited” for the opportunity and grateful for Stevens’ support during the transition. 

Also in session, the court:

• Approved an amendment to the county’s agreement with Brannon Industrial Group for administrative support services for the October 2026 scrap tire collection event.  Environmental Health Director Mark Marzahn said the rate for the agreement is not changing from the previous tire collection event in 2024, and that the only change needed is to adjust the date in the agreement from 2024 to 2026.
• Approved a resolution authorizing Washington County Environmental Health to submit a grant application to the Brazos Valley Council of Governments Regional Solid Waste Management Grants Program.  The application is for grant funding to conduct the county’s local tire cleanup event for all Washington County residents.
• Approved a contract with Scott Ballard for representation of indigent defendants for County Court at Law.  

Commissioners will meet again on Thursday for a workshop to discuss the subdivision manual.  The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Washington County Courthouse.