In July, Tarrant ESD1 received a new appointment to fill a vacancy on the board. Tarrant County Commissioner, Alissa Simmons, appointed retired Fort Worth Fire Department Lieutenant Fate Jones, to serve as the fifth commissioner on Tarrant ESD1 Board. Commissioner Jones attended his first meeting on July 8, 2025. The Board was delighted to extend an offer to Chief Russell Shelley to serve as its Fire Chief and Executive Director. Chief Shelley began his new role with the District on July 21, 2025, and has hit the ground running at full speed. The board also heard public testimony of 11 individuals testifying to the need for a fire station near them to improve response time for paramedics and fire near the area of 1187 and 377. The board unanimously voted to authorize staff and the board president, Donnie Davis, to seek out a location to place a temporary and later permanent station. Additionally, the board voted to do an audit on all of the Volunteer Fire Departments to assess overall district financial needs and performance.

Later in the month, on July 22, the board met again to hear public testimony regarding the 1187/377 corridor. The board again authorized more action to be taken to erect a temporary and later permanent fire station in that area to assist residents and taxpayers in that part of the district that have a need for more service. Options for this will be presented at future board meetings. The board discussed options to move the Tarrant ESD1 headquarters to a location in River Oaks so that the district may conduct meetings there and better serve the public at a central location. The River Oaks option was the least expensive option presented to the board. The board unanimously approved the pay structure that Chief Shelley presented that will enable the hiring of a Deputy Chief, HR Assistant, and CFO of the District. A pay structure was also approved unanimously by the board after discussion. Chief Shelley expressed a desire to hire the best of the best that possess an attitude of service towards the community. The board will meet next on August 12 and 26.