WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE CHANGE ORDER TO SPEED UP JAIL GENERATOR TIMELINE
The hunt for a new generator for the Washington County Jail may conclude around the end of the year, after all.
After worries that the process to secure a generator could be delayed well into 2024, county commissioners today (Tuesday) approved a change order to the county’s contract with W-Industries to ensure that all of the needed equipment, minus one piece ultimately considered unnecessary, will arrive by October. Installation is now expected to wrap up by the conclusion of 2023.
County Judge John Durrenberger explained that the county was able to find another 500kW generator inside the country after it had been trying to get one shipped in from overseas. Durrenberger said the overseas generator has not even been built yet, meaning the timeline could have extended to near the end of next year instead of this year, but this will “speed the entire process up”.
In order to perform the change while still staying at the cost initially approved in April, the court decided to opt out of getting a docking station. Durrenberger said the original contract had a docking station included, but it did not come with a main switch for where the generator connects to the building. The county needs the main switch, but it was previously going to be an extra add-on; now, the switch replaces the docking station on the contract so there will not be additional cost. Commissioner Dustin Majewski said the switch is expected to be the last piece of equipment that arrives in October.
The approved generator price was $702,169, to be paid with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The add-on would have been an added $35,000 without the change order.
Sheriff Otto Hanak and other members of the sheriff’s office were in agreeance with the change order. Hanak thanked Majewski for his work with the project thus far, saying the county is where it is now because of him. Majewski in turn thanked Commissioner Don Koester for quickly getting him up to speed on what he needed to know. Durrenberger said while “it’s not over with yet,” this is “a big step.”
In other business today, the court:
- Declined to go out for bids for a portable jail generator, based on the previous action taken with the change order for the generator.
- Approved the county’s half of an interlocal agreement with Burton ISD for a second school resource officer. The state is requiring all school districts to put an armed officer at each campus. Commissioner Candice Bullock noted that the state is only contributing $15,000 per officer for schools.
- Approved resolutions adopting commercial tax phase-in agreements with PlanNorth LLC and Valmont Industries. The agreements were previously approved by the Brenham City Council.
- Permitted the Washington County Expo to issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) and request for proposals (RFP) for design services relating to the master plan using ARPA funds. The deadline for submittal is August 29th at 10 a.m.
- Approved a pipeline bore across Bascome Lane, Koether Road, Upshaw Road, Homeyer Mountain Road, Century Farms Road, Fuchs Road, Wickel Road, Sawmill Road, Horak Road, Dogwood Road and Kamas Road for a natural gas pipeline crossing by Matterhorn Express Pipeline, LLC in Precincts 2 and 4.
- Approved a service agreement between the sheriff’s office and Voice Products Service, LLC. The contract is for the audio/video system to conduct formal interviews.
- Approved an amendment to the sheriff’s office’s inmate payphone services agreement.
- Approved voluntary employee benefit plans for the 2023-24 benefit year.
- Approved a final plat for the Brenham Hills subdivision, a development consisting of 23 lots and 2 roads along Jozwiak Road in Precinct 2.
- Approved an interlocal agreement between the county and Regional Public Defender Office Local Government Corporation.
- Discussed a formal notice from Corix Utilities for a 2-inch road bore across Mount Pleasant Lane for a 1-inch new service water line in Precinct 1.