WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS DISCUSS POSSIBLE OFFICE RELOCATIONS
Washington County Commissioners are looking at ways to reorganize some county office spaces.
Commissioners met for a workshop session today (Tuesday) to discuss options for moving around some of the justice of the peace and constable offices, as well as sheriff’s office security detail and the tax office. They also talked over what would be needed to make certain spaces work, such as IT logistics and room to store equipment or evidence.
The discussion came as the county prepares to move forward with building a judicial center, and as the new records storage facility on Highway 105 frees up office space at the courthouse and courthouse annex.
Options remain open for county officials. Some specific locations mentioned that could potentially be explored further include the former police station on South Chappell Hill Street, as well as the probation offices and district attorney’s office.
Sheriff Trey Holleway suggested that with the elections office moving over to the courthouse annex, sheriff’s office security detail could set up shop in the former elections office at the courthouse. Citing high foot traffic outside the tax office on the second floor of the courthouse, and the difficulty some residents have with stairs, Holleway also posed moving the tax office into a file room on the first floor. The tax office, he said, could then be repurposed as the district clerk’s office, so that those employees could move off of the third floor.
During regular session today, commissioners approved a resolution supporting an application from the sheriff’s office for the Sheriff Immigration Law Enforcement Grant Program. The program, established through Senate Bill 8 from the 89th Legislature, provides funds to sheriff’s offices who have entered into immigration law enforcement agreements with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to the Texas Comptroller’s Office, the amount of grant money awarded to the sheriff’s office varies depending on the population of the county, with a minimum of $80,000 and a maximum of $140,000. The funds may be spent over a two-year period on costs associated with participating in the agreement, including personnel compensation, equipment and training, that are not reimbursed by the federal government.
Commissioners also heard the monthly reports from the EMS Department and Washington County 911. At the conclusion of the EMS report, local resident Carol Collins, who criticized the operations of the EMS Department at past meetings in April and July, contended that the county has not adhered to the promises it made when it launched the air ambulance program in November 2019. Collins asked the county to meet with for-profit helicopter ambulance companies and consider partnering with them for service to avoid using taxpayer dollars. Collins’ full comments to the court can be downloaded and read here.
In other business, the court:
- Presented service recognitions to Washington County employees for notable years of service for the third quarter.
- Approved the CJIS security addendum with Computer Information Systems and Washington County 911. Interim 911 Director Raleigh Wellmann said the addendum holds the vendor accountable, as it will have access to criminal justice information.
- Approved an interlocal agreement between the county and the City of Burton for road improvement services. County Engineer Wesley Stolz said the scope of work for this agreement focuses on pothole repairs and is very small scale.
- Accepted a ticket to the Washington County Republican Party’s Reagan Dinner, donated by the Washington County Republican Club to Precinct 3 Commissioner Chad Dismukes.
- Discussed a formal notice from Industry Communications for new service line installation in the county right-of-way of Dead End Lane in Precinct 4. No action was necessary.
Click here to view the agenda packet for Tuesday’s meeting.