Brazos County Commissioners approve routine items, table voting-equipment upgrade; Macy Road contract reduced

The Brazos County Commissioners Court on Jan. 28 approved a series of routine administrative items, moved to purchase property for a new 911 dispatch site and approved a deductive change order on a road reconstruction contract while tabling a voting-equipment upgrade for clarification.

The court approved Resolution 25-1 permitting the public sale of property acquired for delinquent taxes; it approved the appointment of Linda Goolsbee to the MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley Board of Trustees for a term of March 1, 2025, to Feb. 28, 2027; and it authorized a wire transfer of up to $5,396,749.68 to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) from the Brazos County Local Provider Participation Fund to support advanced uncompensated-care payments to participating hospitals.

County staff explained the HHSC pass-through arrangement during public comment. "Every time you go to the hospital, the hospitals add 7% to your bill…all this money is just a pass through through the county to HHSC," a county official said; the court confirmed that interest earned on the fund is hospital money and that reimbursements and federal/state matches flow back to hospitals rather than the county treasury.

The court approved an asset transfer within fleet services and accepted an assignment of a commercial contract for property at 2504 Kent Street to house 911 dispatch operations; commissioners said the county will remove the property from the tax rolls once acquired and relocate dispatch services there to meet space needs.

A proposed Hart Intercivic equipment and supply purchase (quote: $25,690.40) for voting-equipment upgrades was tabled so staff can clarify contract language about professional services and the fee structure; commissioners voted to delay the item rather than approve it immediately.

The court approved a deductive change order on CIP 23-607 (Macy Road Reconstruction) reducing the contract by $220,218.71 to a revised total of $1,250,674.24. County staff explained that unused contingency was removed from the contract at project closeout.

Several utility permits were approved (Wickson Creek SUD water permit; aerial crossing for electrical service by BTU with one commissioner abstaining to avoid an appearance of conflict; Brazos WiFi fiber installation), the treasurer's monthly report for October 2024 was approved, and the court accepted weekly payment-of-claims totaling $1,536,607.41. The court also acknowledged budget-to-actual reports and monthly administrative reports.

Why it matters: the actions move forward county operations — from clearing a tax-acquired property for resale to funding hospital uncompensated-care passthroughs, to acquiring space for emergency dispatch — and adjust capital project finances by returning unused contingency to the county.

What the court did not decide: the East Loop corridor alignment requested by multiple public speakers was not acted on; the Hart Intercivic upgrade was tabled pending contract clarification.

Votes at a glance (items, motion text, outcome):

- Resolution 25-1: "Provide for the public sale of property acquired by Brazos County from delinquent taxes." Motion: move for approval / second: not specified. Outcome: approved (voice vote; no recorded opposition).

- Appointment of Linda Goolsbee to MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley Board of Trustees (term Mar. 1, 2025–Feb. 28, 2027). Motion: move for approval / second: not specified. Outcome: approved.

- Authorization of wire transfer up to $5,396,749.68 to HHSC for advanced uncompensated-care payments (funded from Brazos County Local Provider Participation Fund). Motion: move for approval / second: not specified. Outcome: approved.

- Fleet asset transfer (2006 E350 asset A001000640 from jail division to Facility Services; remove 2000 Chevrolet Express asset 170015454). Motion: move for approval / second: not specified. Outcome: approved.

- Acceptance of assignment of commercial contract for improved property at 2504 Kent Street (for 911 dispatch relocation). Motion: move to approve / second: not specified. Outcome: approved.

- Purchase of Hart Intercivic selection equipment and upgrade supplies ($25,690.40). Motion: motion to table for clarification / second: not specified. Outcome: tabled.

- Approval of deductive change order — CIP 23-607 Macy Road Reconstruction with Nye Freerich Corp — decrease $220,218.71 (new total $1,250,674.24). Motion: move for approval / second: not specified. Outcome: approved.

- Vendor assignment/name change for employee assistance program services (Deer Oaks EAP Services LLC). Motion: move for approval / second: not specified. Outcome: approved.

- Wickson Creek SUD utility permit (road bore/ water services; Precinct 2). Motion: move for approval / second: not specified. Outcome: approved.

- BTU utility permit (aerial 3-phase electrical crossing at 9345 Dillashaw Tap Road; Precinct 2). Motion: move for approval / second: not specified. Outcome: approved (1 abstention recorded to avoid appearance of conflict).

- Brazos WiFi permit (6 road bores under Tejas Ranch Loop to install fiber optic cable; Precinct 2). Motion: move for approval / second: not specified. Outcome: approved.

- Treasurer's report for October 2024. Motion: move for approval / second: not specified. Outcome: approved.

- Tax refund applications (items a–c). Motion: move for approval / second: not specified. Outcome: approved.

- Payment of claims (weekly list of payees and checks totaling $1,536,607.41). Motion: move for approval / second: not specified. Outcome: approved.

The court deferred a personnel change-status item for discussion after executive session and then entered executive session under Texas Government Code §§551.074 (personnel) and 551.087 (economic development negotiations).