Wichita County commissioners approve routine bills, equipment purchases and construction fixes

Wichita County Commissioners Court on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, approved routine bills and a package of vendor payments and equipment purchases that county officials said are needed to keep operations and public-safety services running.

The court approved the consent agenda and acted on individual items including payments to a local auto shop, a lease and radio arrangement for the Emergency Management Office (EMO), a scheduled installment payment for Tasers, and radio purchases and programming for the Wichita County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO). Commissioners also approved a construction change to extend a firewall at the county annex and tabled two other annex change requests for further review.

The actions formalize budget transfers and vendor payments county staff said were already authorized or budgeted. County staff described most items as adjustments to previously approved contracts or purchases rather than new programs.

The court approved the consent agenda by voice vote. Later, when commissioners considered regular bills and payroll disbursement authority, the motion passed with four ayes and one abstention; Commissioner Van Kamin recorded the abstention. County staff said payroll and vendor payments will be dispersed within 72 hours by mail or electronically per the order.

On auto repairs, the court amended a prior court order to add an invoice reference and approved payment to Martin’s Auto Sales for additional, unforeseen repairs to a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe (unit 83). The two related entries authorized payment of an added invoice in the record and a second smaller invoice for the same vehicle.

County staff and commissioners spent more time on an EMO vehicle lease and radio procurement that required splitting radio costs out of a vehicle lease so the county could take advantage of a state/government discount from Motorola. Staff said Enterprise Fleet Management could not secure the discounted governmental radio price through Motorola; splitting the radio purchase out of the lease allows the county to buy the radios and installation directly at the discounted rate.

County staff described the change as a re-allocation of already-budgeted…