Montgomery County Responds to Calfee Middle School Permitting Dispute

WILLIS, TX -- As of 4:00 PM today, the City of Conroe has shut off water service to the Calfee Middle School construction site, including both domestic and fire suppression water. This action, taken unilaterally and without prior coordination, directly impacts the readiness of the school for the upcoming academic year.

Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough issued the following statement:

“The City of Conroe, through its administrative staff, erroneously accepted and processed a permit application from Willis ISD for Calfee Middle School—a project located entirely outside of the Conroe city limits and within unincorporated Montgomery County. In doing so, the City collected several hundred thousand dollars in permit fees and assumed authority it did not have.

For years, Conroe officials have conducted inspections and exercised oversight on this site without notifying or coordinating with Montgomery County. Now, at the final stage of construction, the City has informed Willis ISD that it cannot issue a Certificate of Occupancy due to lack of jurisdiction and instructed the District to ‘call the County.’

Montgomery County has answered that call. We are currently working closely with Willis ISD to ensure Calfee Middle School is safe, inspected, and ready for students next week. The Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office has stepped in and is actively reviewing the building to ensure it meets all safety requirements for occupancy.

Let me be clear: this is not about money for Montgomery County. We do not charge permit fees to other governmental entities like school districts. This is about safety, accountability, and the rule of law.

I want to recognize Mayor Duke Coon for his efforts to help resolve this issue. He has attempted to find a solution, but has faced difficulty due to actions taken by city administration. The responsibility here lies with those who collected fees and issued permits without jurisdiction.

While we remain focused on collaboration and finding solutions, Montgomery County will always prioritize our students, our schools, and the families we serve. When others back out, Montgomery County steps up.”