Randall County commissioners approve $1.46 million road contract, AV purchase and multiple routine items

CANYON, Texas — The Randall County Commissioners Court on April 22 approved a series of routine and budgetary items, including a $1,455,581.40 renewal for a seal‑coat outsourcing contract, purchase of audiovisual equipment for a county facility and a proclamation designating April as Senior Hunger Awareness Month.

The court voted 4‑0 on every item during the meeting at the Randall County Commissioners Court in Canyon.

The approvals included the renewal of a seal‑coat contract with Freeman Paving at $3.90 per square yard for an estimated 373,000 square yards (about 28.4 miles of road), a $97,892 purchase of audiovisual equipment under BuyBoard contract 73924 for Fire Station 1 and related classroom and South Bay spaces, and authorization to advertise a new bid for seal‑coat aggregate (bid 202547121).

Why it matters: The sealing and maintenance work represents one of the county’s largest ongoing investments in infrastructure; the contract renewal and aggregate bid set funding and procurement steps for road maintenance later this year. The AV purchase updates technology used for trainings and public meetings at a busy county facility.

County staff and outside partners also briefed the court on local efforts to address senior hunger and requested a formal proclamation. Jessica Hartman, senior program officer at the Mary E. Bivens Foundation, told the court, “The overall food insecurity rate for Randall County is 13.9% according to Feeding America, and that means there are at least 3,318 residents food insecure today.” Glenn Bachus, director of the Market on Tierra Blanca, said the pantry serves many older residents and that “we're here to serve you.” Davina Brown, director of the Interfaith Hunger Project at Habit Charities, also spoke in support of the proclamation.

Procurement and contracts

Tim (Road & Bridge staff) presented the seal‑coat renewal, saying the $3.90 per square yard price applies to roughly 373,000 square yards. The court approved renewal of the seal‑coat outsourcing contract with Freeman Paving, with the total at the presented pricing of $1,455,581.40; the motion carried 4‑0.

The court approved specifications for bid 202547121 (seal‑coat aggregate). County staff said the specs call for about 5,080 tons of grade 4 Type B aggregate and roughly 200 tons of grade 5 Type B aggregate; responses are due May 15 and award would follow in late May.

Information technology and facilities

Brandon Robbs of the county’s information technology staff described the planned AV upgrades for Fire Station 1, saying the work will “replace all the equipment in the classroom, upgrade it to a more functional system like that's in this room and all of our courtrooms” and add Zoom capability, improved cameras and lobby TV output. The court approved the purchase under BuyBoard contract 73924 for $97,892, and staff said county IT will perform the installation.

Other actions

- The court declared a list of county equipment as surplus inventory and authorized disposal or auction. Staff described the list as including PCs, printers, an animal cage, a welder, monitors and phones. The motion carried 4‑0.

- The court approved a memorandum of understanding with the Pampa Fire Department to allow shared use of an SCBA air‑bottle fill station; county staff said the MOU documents reciprocal access and compliance with Texas Commission on Fire Protection regulations. The motion carried 4‑0.

- Travel for multiple county employees from several offices was approved, and the court approved vouchers totaling $2,649,847.25 (including the April 11 payroll of $1,082,880.75). Raven (Auditor's office) presented the vouchers. The motion carried 4‑0.

- The court approved two overpayment/erroneous tax refunds exceeding $2,500: $10,022.21 to David Bray Raven and $5,005.37 to Shepherd Property Investments LLC; the motion carried 4‑0.

- The court adopted a proclamation proclaiming April as Senior Hunger Awareness Month in Randall County after presentations from local organizations; the motion carried 4‑0.

- The court accepted a range of official monthly reports (auditor, county clerk, constables, fire departments and volunteer fire departments) and approved minutes from the April 8 meeting. Both motions carried 4‑0.

Votes at a glance: approved items

- Approve minutes of April 8, 2025 meeting — approved, motion carried 4‑0. - Approve overpayment/erroneous tax refunds >$2,500: $10,022.21 (David Bray Raven) and $5,005.37 (Shepherd Property Investments LLC) — approved, 4‑0. - Proclaim April Senior Hunger Awareness Month — approved, 4‑0. - Renew seal‑coat outsourcing contract (bid 202482874) with Freeman Paving at $3.90/sq yd; estimated total $1,455,581.40 — approved, 4‑0. - Approve specifications for bid 202547121 (seal‑coat aggregate; ~5,080 tons grade 4 Type B; ~200 tons grade 5 Type B) — approved, 4‑0. - Purchase audiovisual equipment via BuyBoard contract 73924 for $97,892 (Fire Station 1 / South Bay classroom upgrades) — approved, 4‑0. - Declare listed county property as surplus inventory for disposal/auction — approved, 4‑0. - Approve memorandum of understanding with Pampa Fire Department for shared SCBA air‑bottle fill station — approved, 4‑0. - Approve employee travel requests for multiple offices — approved, 4‑0. - Approve vouchers and payroll totaling $2,649,847.25 (payroll $1,082,880.75) — approved, 4‑0. - Accept multiple official monthly reports — approved, 4‑0.

What’s next: County staff will post the aggregate bid documents publicly on the county’s purchasing page and b2b.com, receive responses by May 15 and return to the court for award. Road and Bridge staff will coordinate work locations under the renewed seal‑coat contract; IT staff said they will install the approved AV equipment and manage warranties.

Sources: court meeting April 22, 2025; statements by Jessica Hartman, Mary E. Bivens Foundation; Glenn Bachus, Market on Tierra Blanca; Brandon Robbs, Randall County Information Technology; Tim (Road & Bridge staff); Raven (Auditor's office).