COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE LENGTHY MEETING TUESDAY
Washington County Commissioners approved the purchase of 6 new vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office this (Tuesday) morning. Sheriff Otto Hanak is wanting to purchase 5 Chevy Tahoes and 1 Silverado Crew Cab Pickup. The vehicles will be used by investigators. Hanak planned to purchase the vehicles from a state contract vender, which would be Caldwell Country Chevrolet. He also obtained a quote from the local Chevrolet dealer, LaRoche, but it was $5200 higher for all the vehicles. Commissioners chose to allow Hanak to purchase the vehicles from the state vendor, Caldwell Country.
The commissioners also voted to allow the Sheriff’s Office to go out for bids on the jail inmate payphone service. The county has been with the same vendor for many years, but other companies have inquired about providing the service. The bid is expected to be awarded at the November 14th commissioners meeting.
Commissioners named Charlie Hakemack as the General Contractor for the Burton EMS Satellite Station. The metal building is being constructed on property the county purchased October 3rd.
Commissioners approved the 2016 Audit Report for Washington County. CPA Albert Crain from the county’s auditing firm reviewed the lengthy report. He said the biggest issue with report was the wait involved in receiving FEMA reimbursements for repairing storm damage. He also took time to explain the county’s Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB). That is the funding that the county sets aside for employee pensions.
Commissioners also heard reports from several county agencies.
Sheriff Otto Hanak gave the Sheriff’s report. He noted that although the county jail was designed for 175 prisoners, it is currently housing only 81 and the county is paying to house some prisoners in other counties. He explained that this was due to protective custody requirements that the jail was not designed to handle. County Judge John Brieden said that it was still cheaper than having to deal with a lawsuit by one of the prisoners.
Commissioners also approved a proclamation naming Thursday October 26th as Think Pink Thursday. Representatives from Bosom Buddies and the Brenham Clinic accepted the proclamation and spoke about breast cancer awareness.
Why does the S.O. need new vehicles again. Why not take that money and pay your deputies and your jailers more money so you c an keep them there instead of hiring new people every couple of months when you lose them to Brenham PD and other counties. WCSO pay is one of the lowest paid counties of it size in the whole state, but I bet the commissioners get their normal yearly raise and bonuses like always huh. Probably should pay the guys keeping criminals in jail and keeping our streets safe. So to all the commissioners remember when we vote you out of office this is the reason.