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Henderson County approves $63,300 emergency contract to replace Justice Center lift‑station pumps
Summary
Commissioners found an emergency under Texas Local Government Code §262.024(2) and unanimously approved Mosby Mechanical’s $63,300 contract to replace failing pumps at the Henderson County Justice Center, citing risks to inmate health and county operations.
Henderson County Commissioners Court on Wednesday approved a $63,300 contract with Mosby Mechanical to remove and replace lift‑station pumps at the Henderson County Justice Center, finding an emergency that allowed the county to waive formal bidding requirements.
County officials said the jail’s three‑pump system has degraded to the point that the facility is operating at roughly one‑third of normal capacity and that rusted parts were falling into the reservoir. Major (Henderson County Sheriff's Office) told the court, “we are running on 1 third of its capability right now,” and described a failing second pump and a third pump that is on the ground.
The county attorney explained that staff reviewed procurement law and recommended using the emergency exception in the Texas Local Government Code. “We felt that this fell under exemption number 2 under 262.024 of the local government code,” the county attorney said, urging the court that waiting for a competitive bid could allow a “calamity” that would increase cost and create public‑safety risks for inmates and staff.
Commissioner Richardson moved to approve the Mosby Mechanical contract and Commissioner McCam seconded. The court unanimously approved the contract and authorized the judge to sign. Court minutes note the decision was made “to preserve and protect public health and safety.”
Court staff said the Justice Center houses about 450 individuals; speakers described the lift‑station upgrade as cyclical maintenance, noting similar work about five to six years ago and earlier upgrades roughly 12 years prior. Officials said the contractor will remove pumps and piping, scrub the reservoir and rebuild the system with upgraded components.
The contract award and the court’s emergency finding mean county staff can proceed without a separate competitive bidding process; the judge was authorized to sign the contract and begin the work to avoid interruption of jail operations.
