WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING RECAP (11/12)

  

The Washington County Commissioners Court is getting the ball rolling on renovating the grounds at the Washington County Courthouse.

Commissioners approved an agreement with Terralab Landscape Architects at their meeting on Tuesday for professional design services and consultation.

The agreement is for $92,690.

The estimated budget for the project is $1.02 million, with the general contractor's estimated scope of work coming out to $966,125, and the remainder being performed by county maintenance and the Engineering and Development Services Department.

Among the items on the scope of work were:

Demolition and Salvaging for monuments, historical signage, and existing “red” pavers

Demolition of existing pedestrian pavements throughout the site, as well as, landscape, and sick/dying trees

Grading and Drainage improvements

New pedestrian pavements, retaining/seat walls, a “Heroes and Hstory” plaza, and making it Americans With Disabilities Act compliance

Site lighting improvements

Synthetic turf and gravel areas for public use

Landscape and irrigation overhaul.

In other business:

The Commissioners unanimously approved allowing retiring Sheriff Otto Hanak to purchase his service weapon for the cost of $1. Hanak has served Washington County for the last 27 years as a Texas Ranger, D.A. Investigator, and has been Sheriff since 2013. Due to state law, the County cannot gift him the firearm, so they let him purchase it for the same price as Sheriff J.W. Jankowski when he retired.

Commissioners also accepted a donation from Joyce Moore, who donated four ledger books from Wiede and Son Store. Wiede and Son was located on FM 2621 in the Sandy Hill community. The books are dated between 1906-1913. Moore donated them to the county to help preserve history.

The Commissioners also approved the County Engineering and Development Department going out for bids for contracts for Right of Way Mowing, Road Materials, Contract Hauling, and Emergency Debri Removal.

The contracts are for one year from January 1 to December 31 of 2025. Bids will be due on December 5 at 10am, and awarded at the Commissioners meeting on December 17.