Tom Green County commissioners approve contracts, grants and equipment purchases; accept Goodfellow security award

At its Jan. meeting, the Tom Green County Commissioners Court approved a series of contracts, grant applications and purchases affecting public safety, county IT infrastructure and county facilities, and accepted a $4,821,472 award to fund a security upgrade at Goodfellow Air Force Base.

The largest action was the court's acceptance of a Texas Military Preparedness Commission award of $4,821,472 to pay part of a $12.5 million Defense Access Control Point project at Goodfellow Air Force Base. Nancy Staczynski, representing the base, read a letter summarizing the grant and said the funds will build serpentine vehicle lanes, add a visitor center and install pass readers to reduce gate backups and improve security. "This grant award of $4,821,472 ... will construct the serpentine lanes into the guard huts," Staczynski said while reading the letter from Caroline Bonds.

The commissioners approved a 24-month contract with LexisNexis for Accurint/Trak services at $11,875 effective Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2026, and authorized the Tom Green County Sheriff to sign related documents. A sheriff's office representative told the court, "The Trak software is a significant tool that we use at the Sheriff's Office," saying the product helps organize and analyze cell‑phone data for investigations and daily tips.

The court also approved two grant actions for the sheriff's office: a Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) application for $36,005.54 to fund specialized training for the special operations group and criminal investigations unit (covering conferences such as the Texas Association of Hostage Negotiators and Texas Tactical Police Officers Association), and a fiscal year 2026 Homeland Security grant application to buy six binocular‑style night‑vision units at about $10,005.84 each for a total request of $63,504. The court was told there is no matching requirement for those grants.

On IT and communications, the court authorized a 36‑month redundant internet contract with Cantera Ultra Broadband at $890 per month plus a $300 non‑recurring installation charge to provide backup connectivity for downtown services. Separately, commissioners approved an Optimum Business change order to increase the county's primary internet service from 1 gig to 5 gig, with a reported monthly cost increase of $1,362; staff said minimal equipment changes will be required and the cost fits the budgeted amount.

Other approved items included: authorizing the purchase of two duty pistols and one rifle for the Constable, Precinct 1, totaling $1,557.50 and approving trade‑in of an asset; awarding a roof replacement for the Concho Valley Female Community Corrections Facility to Harrison Roofing (adjusted contract amount $222,524.39 after an insurance deduction); and approving a $6,538 change order to Elite Solutions to add 14 network drops as part of an annex cabling project. The court also accepted a FY2025 sustainability grant modification from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission increasing reimbursement to the Concho Valley Public Defender Office to reflect county COLA and merit increases.

The court tabled one item — the SAS conversion (item 14) — for two weeks because of contract venue discrepancies.

Votes were taken by voice on most items and were recorded as "aye" with no roll‑call tallies given in the transcript. Several agenda items had brief staff presentations and little public discussion before motions, and the court's decisions were unanimous as recorded in the meeting transcript.

Announcements at the end of the meeting included a warning that ongoing cabling work in the clerk's office may cause brief closures and a reminder that Monday is a county holiday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.