Wichita County commissioners approve consent agenda, payroll disbursements and several departmental purchases

The Wichita County Commissioners Court approved its consent agenda and several purchase and contract actions during its Jan. 7 meeting, including acceptance of a $52,000 state cybersecurity grant and authorization to disperse payroll and vendors within 72 hours.

The consent agenda was approved on a motion by Commissioner Mueller and seconded by Commissioner Pink Cannon. County officials said the state and local cybersecurity grant would “help to the tune of $52,000” to pay for county cybersecurity defenses. The court voted 5-0 to approve the consent agenda.

The court then approved routine payroll and bills, with a motion by Commissioner Beacham and second from Commissioner Mueller. That vote passed 4–0 with one abstention: Commissioner Buchanan recorded the lone abstention. The judge explained the larger-than-usual batch included scheduled support payments to volunteer fire departments and the Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health entities that had been budgeted.

Other approved items included: - Ratification of the Dec. 31, 2024 regular-session minutes (motion by Commissioner Fincannon; seconded by Commissioner Beacham; vote 5-0). - Payment of invoice #475731 to Martin’s Auto Sales in the amount of $675.41 for carpet and labor on a 2024 Chevrolet pickup, to be paid from remaining monies from “Senate Bill 2022, 2024 allocation” (motion by Commissioner Fincannon; seconded by Commissioner Beauchamp; vote 5-0). Commissioners amended the payment language to note the 2024 allocation before voting. - Approval of COI Group LLC quote for $11,747 to furnish the 89th District Judge’s office, to be paid from non-departmental line 409 (motion by Commissioner Mueller; seconded by Commissioner Watts; vote 5-0). County staff said the prior judge’s furniture was personal property and a new suite was needed for the incoming judge; temporary furniture was provided at no cost until the order arrives. - Authorization for the county judge to: give 30 days’ notice to Hudson Imaging Systems to discontinue services; purchase a new copier for the historical commission for $1,350 charged to Department 4015 with a budget transfer from non-departmental 409 contingencies; and add the new copier to the county’s maintenance contract with Benchmark Visual Edge IT. The court approved those steps on a motion by Commissioner Beacham, seconded by Commissioner Fincannon (vote 5-0). Staff said the historical commission’s existing copier was very old and parts were difficult to obtain, and moving to Benchmark should be cost-neutral or slightly cheaper over time.

The court’s verbal votes and recorded tallies matched motions presented during the meeting; no measures failed or were tabled during this sequence of votes.

The court moved on after the approvals to additional procurement and departmental matters.