Wichita County commissioners approve equipment purchases, construction change orders and start Sprague electrical study; realign Precinct 4 salaries

Wichita County Commissioners Court approved a package of purchases and construction change orders, assigned an electrical engineering project for the county-owned Sprague building and approved a budget-neutral realignment of Precinct 4 salaries at its Jan. 21, 2025 regular session.

The court approved multiple procurement items for the sheriff’s office and county departments, including a Defender Supply quote for computer docking stations ($43,843), a Dell quote for 35 rugged laptops ($100,157.40) and related battery chargers ($5,901.58), and an Enterprise Fleet Management purchase ($90,364.45) for a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado HD dump-bed truck for Precinct 4. Commissioners voted to approve those items by recorded motion; each motion carried on a 5-0 voice vote.

The court also approved two Mars Patriot Construction change orders for ongoing annex work: a request to install 3-inch conduit from a pole into a building at an additional $9,162.50, and a request to install HVAC fire dampers at an additional $16,455. Both items were presented as necessary to bring the annex work into compliance with current building and fire code; each was approved 5-0.

Commissioners assigned a project number and directed Harper Perkins to proceed with electrical engineering for the Sprague Electrical Service Rehab Project. Commissioner Beauchamp said the work is “inevitable” to rebalance the building's electrical loads, reduce reliance on multiple aging transformers and modernize switchgear and panels; the court approved the assignment and engineering step 5-0. The item was described as a preliminary engineering step to produce plans and cost estimates; the transcript notes that long-lead equipment such as switchgear and transformers could take many months to procure.

The court approved a budget-neutral realignment of several Precinct 4 salary maximums, moving positions to new biweekly caps (for positions 2, 3, 4 and 6 to $1,531.10 and position 5 to $1,577.26). The change was made effective Jan. 17, 2025, and the court voted 5-0. County staff confirmed payroll adjustments will be processed to reflect the new maximums and that no additional appropriations beyond the approved 2025 budget were required.

Additional routine and project items approved by unanimous vote included: ratifying regular bills and payroll processing directions; approving minutes of the Jan. 14, 2025 regular session; a carpet replacement quote for the adult probation suite ($10,504.60); and a Defender Supply estimate for docking stations ($43,843) to support in-car computing and cameras. The court also approved the Dell rugged laptops purchase noted above and accessories tied to those devices.

Two consent/administrative items were removed or tabled: the district attorney’s disposal of three items (request to dispose of a DVD player and two rolling AV carts) was pulled from the consent agenda for clarification and tabled while staff determine appropriate disposition; a permanent-improvement railing item was identified as a duplicate and was also tabled.

During the public-comment portion the court introduced three newly hired information-technology staff: Aaron (systems technician), Samuel Mullins (systems technician) and Jonathan Beck (software support), positions authorized in the 2025 budget.

Court members closed the meeting for an attorney briefing on East Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery under Texas Government Code section 551.071. The court returned to open session and reported no action taken on the closed-session item before adjourning.

Votes at a glance (items discussed and outcomes): - Consent agenda as amended — approved 5-0 (consent included routine appointments and administrative items; item removing DA disposal was pulled) - Item 1: Regular bills and payroll processing — approved 5-0 - Item 2: Minutes of Jan. 14, 2025 — approved 5-0 - Item 3: Defender Supply estimate (docking stations) $43,843 — approved 5-0 - Item 4: Enterprise Fleet Management quote $90,364.45 (2025 Chevy Silverado HD dump-bed truck) — approved 5-0 - Item 5: Dell rugged laptops $100,157.40 (35 laptops) — approved 5-0 - Item 6: Dell extra laptop batteries and chargers $5,901.58 — approved 5-0 - Item 7: LRW Fabricators railing around courthouse smoking area — tabled (duplicate/previously completed) - Item 8: Wagner carpet replacement, adult probation suite $10,504.60 — approved 5-0 - Item 9: Mars Patriot Construction request #3 (3" conduit) $9,162.50 — approved 5-0 - Item 10: Mars Patriot Construction request #4 (HVAC fire dampers) $16,455 — approved 5-0 - Item 11: Assign project number and direct Harper Perkins for Sprague Electrical Service Rehab Project — approved 5-0 - Item 12: Realign Precinct 4 salaries (budget neutral), effective Jan. 17, 2025 — approved 5-0

The court’s actions were procedural and budgeted items or contingency-funded work; no new taxes, land-use changes or litigation outcomes were decided at the meeting. Commissioners indicated several items approved for construction work were required to meet building and fire code and to reconnect state computer systems at the annex.

Ending: The court recessed into closed session for legal advice on a cemetery matter and after returning to open session reported no action taken. The court adjourned at 11:53 a.m.