Fort Bend County commissioners fired Human Resources Director Nicole Ledette on Thursday, Aug. 13 and named Danielle Suduya as interim replacement, one of several actions at a meeting that also pushed forward park improvements and road work near Fulshear.
The termination came after a closed-session discussion. No public explanation was given.
Commissioners approved a search committee to find a permanent HR director.
The three-member quorum that conducted business included Interim County Judge Daniel Wong and Commissioners Andy Meyers and Vincent Morales. Democratic Commissioners Dexter McCoy and Grady Prestage did not attend, continuing a boycott that began in late June.
All-abilities park gets $205,960 shade structure
Commissioners approved a request to pursue a $205,960 grant from the Cross Creek Ranch Community Association for a shade structure at Super Dave's All Abilities Park in Precinct 1, which includes the Fulshear area. The grant requires no county cash match.
Separately, the court increased an existing contract for playground equipment and a splash pad at the park by $9,171.30, bringing that contract to approximately $1.9 million total. The extended performance period runs through Oct. 31.
Fulshear-area roads, transit deal
The court acted on engineering and mobility items involving Fulshear-Gaston Road, Grand Parkway/SH 99, Fulshear Lakes, Arabella on the Prairie and several other subdivisions, though specific actions on individual items were not detailed in public records.
Commissioners also approved a $780,000 commuter transit agreement with the Houston-Galveston Area Council for service to downtown Houston running Aug. 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027. Fort Bend County's local match is up to $156,000.
The Fort Bend Parkway Sound Wall project was awarded to TWL Construction for approximately $1.10 million, funded through mobility bonds.
Budget hearings set, quorum still in question
Two public hearings on the proposed FY2027 budget are scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 5:30 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. in the Commissioners Courtroom at the Historic Courthouse in Richmond. A public hearing on the proposed tax-rate increase is also set for Thursday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m.
"Now, one thing we want to make clear, if we don't have four present for the Sept. 10 adoption of the tax rate, then this is not going to be the tax rate we end up with," Commissioner Meyers said at the Aug. 13 meeting, according to Click2Houston.
County Budget Director Pamela Gubbels warned at an Aug. 7 budget hearing that without a quorum on Sept. 10, the proposed cost-of-living adjustment for county employees would have to be removed from the FY2027 budget, according to the Fort Bend Herald.
Residents who want to speak at the Wednesday, Sept. 9 or Thursday, Sept. 10 hearings must submit a Public Participant Form at least 15 minutes before the meeting at publicspeakers.fortbendcountytx.gov and check in with the Court Services team upon arrival.
