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 funds rather than a net increase in the overall cost of the two leased trucks. The court authorized a separate purchase order for radio equipment at a stated total of $17,077.92, an initial lease payment of $23,421.30 to Enterprise, and a revised monthly lease payment of $2,408.36.

On public-safety equipment, the court approved an Axon Enterprise invoice (INUS312121) for $53,599.97 as the 2025 installment payment for previously budgeted Taser purchases. The court also approved a Motorola Solutions quote for $10,255.64 and a Mobile Phone of Texas charge of $260 for programming and setup related to four new radios for the WCSO. The WCSO chief told the court that the department had exhausted spare radios and needed four new units to equip two new positions and keep two backup units available: “With the 2 new positions that we were given this year, we don't have any more radios... We don't even have a backup right now,” the chief said.

In construction oversight, commissioners approved Mars Patriot Construction change request No. 2 — described by a commissioner as work to extend a firewall to decking and to double-sheetrock and fireproof wall penetrations — at a cost of $9,900 to be paid from the Permanent Improvement fund. Commissioners tabled Proposal Request No. 3 (conduit installation) and No. 4 (HVAC fire dampers and related work) pending additional review by the architect/engineer, Harper Perkins.

Several votes were handled by voice; recorded tallies are described below. Commissioners closed public comment and adjourned at 10:39 a.m.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (9 items): Motion to approve carried by voice vote (5–0). Motion by Commissioner Fincannon, second by Commissioner Beauchamp.

- Item 1 — Approve and disperse regular bills and verify payroll taxes: Motion carried with 4 ayes, 0 nays, 1 abstention (Commissioner Van Kamin abstained). Motion by Commissioner Mueller, second by Commissioner Beauchamp. Notes: order directs treasurer to disperse payroll/bills within 72 hours.

- Item 2 — Ratify minutes (Jan. 7 regular session and Jan. 10 special session): Motion carried by voice vote (5–0). Motion by Commissioner Buchanan, second by Commissioner Beauchamp.

- Item 3 — Amend court order 24.1126.725 to add Martin’s Auto Sales invoice #475,728 for $7,751.90 (repairs to unit 83): Motion carried (5–0). Motion by Commissioner Fincannon, second by Commissioner Beauchamp. Note: staff said the second invoice reflected unforeseen additional repairs.

- Item 4 — Approve Martin’s Auto Sales invoice #475,729 for $986.13 (additional repairs to unit 83): Motion carried (5–0). Motion by Commissioner Fincannon, second by Commissioner Beauchamp.

- Item 5 — Amend court order 24.0625.384 for leasing of two EMO vehicles: Court authorized separate purchase order for radio equipment ($17,077.92), initial lease payment ($23,421.30), and amended monthly lease payment ($2,408.36). Motion carried (5–0). Motion by Commissioner Mueller, second by Commissioner Fincannon. Notes: staff said splitting radio costs out of the lease secures a governmental discount on radios.

- Item 6 — Approve Axon Enterprise invoice INUS312121 for $53,599.97 (2025 Taser installment): Motion carried (5–0). Motion by Commissioner Beauchamp, second by Commissioner Buchanan.

- Item 7 — Approve Motorola Solutions quote #294-4302 for $10,255.64 and Mobile Phone of Texas quote #241-220 (programming) for $260 for four WCSO radios: Motion carried (5–0). Motion by Commissioner Buchanan, second by Commissioner Mahler. Staff clarified the $260 is programming/setup.

- Item 8 — Approve Mars Patriot Construction Proposal Request No. 2 to extend firewall and fireproof penetrations: Motion carried (5–0). Motion by Commissioner Beauchamp, second by Commissioner Fincannon. Commissioners described the work as necessary to meet fire code after a drop ceiling removal revealed the firewall did not extend to the decking.

- Item 9 — Mars Patriot Construction Proposal Request No. 3 (3" conduit underground): Tabled pending further review from Harper Perkins. Motion by Commissioner Beauchamp; no objection recorded.

- Item 10 — Mars Patriot Construction Proposal Request No. 4 (HVAC fire dampers): Tabled pending further review. Motion by Commissioner Beauchamp; no objection recorded.

What was discussion vs. decision

Discussion only: staff and commissioners discussed the difference between selling surplus vehicles through Enterprise Fleet Management vs. Purple Wave (see separate summary). Commissioners also discussed logistical details of construction punch lists and upcoming meetings with the architect/engineer.

Direction/assignment: two annex change requests (items 9 and 10) were sent back for further review by Harper Perkins before the court will decide.

Formal action: the motions recorded above were approved as stated and will be reflected in amended court orders and vendor payments.

Clarifying details

- Martin’s Auto Sales invoice #475,728 — $7,751.90 (repairs to unit 83, 2018 Chevy Tahoe). Invoice #475,729 — $986.13. These were described as a supplemental billing for unforeseen issues.

- EMO radio purchase and lease adjustment — staff stated radios and installation total $17,077.92; initial lease payment for the two trucks $23,421.30; revised monthly lease payment $2,408.36. Payments to be made from Department 406 with transfers from 100-4090 (non-departmental) and lines determined by the county auditor.

- Axon Enterprise invoice INUS312121: $53,599.97 (2025 installment payment for Tasers), to be moved from capital expenditures to supplies and operations in Department 560.

- Motorola Solutions quote #294-4302: $10,255.64; Mobile Phone of Texas quote #241-220: $260 (programming/setup) for four WCSO radios; to be paid from Department 560.

- Mars Patriot Construction Proposal Request No. 2: $9,900 (Permanent Improvement fund). Proposal Requests No. 3: $9,162.50 and No. 4: $16,455 were tabled pending Harper Perkins review.

Proper names mentioned

Wichita County (agency), Martin’s Auto Sales (business), Enterprise Fleet Management (business), Axon Enterprise, Inc. (vendor), Motorola Solutions (vendor), Mobile Phone of Texas (vendor), Mars Patriot Construction (contractor), Purple Wave (auction platform), Harper Perkins (architect/engineer firm), Wichita County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), Red River Valley Wildfire Academy (public commenter event).

Ending

The court concluded routine business and scheduled follow-up reviews for the annex change requests; no new policy measures were proposed at the Jan. 14 meeting.