Commissioners delay vote on Harper Perkins architect retainer after competition concerns

Wichita County Commissioners on Tuesday agreed to table a proposed contract extension with Harper Perkins Architects for 2025 after members raised questions about whether the county would be effectively limited to that firm while the retainer is active.

Commissioner Buchanan led the discussion, saying he had been told that the county’s contract language could prevent staff from soliciting ideas or informal input from other architectural firms while Harper Perkins was on contract. "If we have something a project we're looking at ... by law, we can't even reach out to anybody else, talk to anybody else," Buchanan said, urging clarity about exclusive terms and options used by other governments.

County staff told the court the 2025 draft is essentially the same as the 2024 contract. Commissioners asked staff to confirm whether the contract language is exclusive and to return with a legal interpretation and, if needed, alternative contract language that would allow the county to solicit ideas from additional firms. With no objection, the court tabled the item to the next commissioners court meeting.

Ending: County staff will review the contract language for exclusivity and report back; no contract was signed at the meeting.