WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE CONTRACT FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE FACILITY
Washington County Commissioners agreed to a contract with Collier Construction for the new county Road and Bridge Facility at today’s (Tuesday) meeting.
The contract with Collier Construction comes after the county previously awarded a $4,081,000 bid to the company.
The facility, being built on 21 acres of property on Highway 36 North, will house the Road and Bridge Department, rural addressing and environmental services. The county intends to use cash in reserves to fund the project.
Mike Collier of Collier Construction said at the meeting that he and the company appreciate this opportunity to work with the county. He also said he would work to get a good percentage of local subcontractors and vendors working on the project.
Also at the meeting, commissioners approved seeking bids for drilling on 2,387 acres of land in Tom Green County. County Attorney Renee Mueller said this piece of land was left off what the county approved for advertising in October. With this, all of the land is available to lease for oil, gas, and minerals.
The county also approved funding changes for several community service contracts. County Judge John Brieden said decisions were made in the budget for all of these services, and the changes made were only monetary.
The county has increased what it pays for services rendered to groups like the Washington County Healthy Living Association, Boys and Girls Club, New Beginnings Pregnancy Center, CASA, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (N.A.M.I.), and the Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC).
Commissioners also added a section to the county employee handbook policy, dealing with cyber security awareness training. The training, offered by the Texas Association of Counties, is now mandatory for employees. Courses will begin on January 14th.
Commissioners also received a report from County Extension Agent Kara Matheney. Matheney discussed the year of agricultural activities in Washington County. She said this year embraced the youth component, with events such as the South Texas Central Calf and Cow Clinic, the Lunch N Learn series, and added scholarships.
Commissioners also:
- Appointed and reappointed officials to the Washington County Historical Commission for 2019-20. These include Wilfred Dietrich, Jane and John Barnhill, Becky and John Barton, Teddy Boehm, Joycine Hanath, Eddie Harrison, Mary Tom Middlebrooks, Peggy Moser, Nancy Rosenbaum, Beth Rothermel, and Thomas Stevens. Potential alternates are Zeb Heckmann, Barbara Schoenemann, and Stanley Sommer.
- Approved renewal of a bond for Reserve Deputy Sheriff Harold Sprawls.
- Received a series of monthly reports.
- Granted authority to county officials to make budget amendments and line-item transfers to close out the 2018 fiscal year.