WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE PURCHASE OF EDS VEHICLES, 911 COMPUTER SYSTEM

  

Washington County Commissioners approved a set of purchases today (Tuesday) for the Engineering and Development Services (EDS) Department and 911 Communications. 

Commissioners agreed to purchase 12 fleet vehicles, nine for road and bridge and three for environmental, for a total of $448,022.  County Engineer Wesley Stolz said the vehicles came in under the county’s original budget estimates of $559,114.

Commissioner Kirk Hanath said the vehicles will be bought using money from fund balance.  Stolz said the department, which is making these purchases in order to move away from leasing vehicles and toward owning them, also expects to receive some money back when it returns the vehicles it had been leasing from Enterprise.

Eleven of the vehicles are coming from LaRoche Chevrolet Buick GMC in Brenham, with the last one from Oviedo Chrysler Dodge Jeep & Ram of La Grange.

The other purchase approved was from Computer Information Systems for a new computer-aided dispatch (CAD) records information system and jail management system.  The cost is $225,000 initially, divided between the county, the City of Brenham and Blinn College on a 45-45-10 percent split, respectively.  The next five years will have a cost of $185,000, with the same percentage split between the three entities. 

The new system is replacing the county’s existing provider in CentralSquare, formerly known as Zuercher.  Hanath said one of the key notes in making this switch was the hope of obtaining better customer service, and 911 Director Robyn Hood and Information Technology Director T.J. Harris said all indications thus far are that the new provider will be able to achieve that.

Hanath said this touches every public safety department in the county and all of them were involved in the discussion leading up to this decision, with a majority being in favor of going this route.  County Judge John Durrenberger said this was “a thoroughly done process.”

Also today, the court:

• Approved a right-of-way permit application for Texas Renegade Outriders LLC for a trail ride on Saturday, November 9^th beginning on Wiesepape Road and traveling to North Meyersville Road.
• Heard the Office of Emergency Management’s quarterly report.
• Approved the 2025 sheriff’s and constable’s fees.  Durrenberger said there is no change from the previous fees. 
• Approved a subdivision variance request for a land division fronting Gerland Wagner Road, consisting of 34.38 acres in Precinct 4.
• Accepted Independence Trail (0.205 miles), located in the Independence Trail subdivision in Precinct 3, into the county road system.
• Discussed a formal notice from Corix Texas Utilities for a water line bore along the county right of way of Conner Road in Precinct 1.  No action was necessary.
• Discussed a formal notice from Industry Telephone Company for an underground fiber cable line along the county right of way of Homeyer Mountain Road and Willie Hinze Road in Precinct 4.  No action was needed.