Waller County commissioners approve routine payments, grant applications and facility reorganization; accept CenterPoint generator donation

WALLER COUNTY, Texas — The Waller County Commissioners Court on Wednesday approved a slate of routine payments and grant actions, ratified a contract extension for a CDBG infrastructure project, authorized two state homeland security grant applications and voted to consolidate the county maintenance department under the facilities director. The court also accepted a donated trailer generator from CenterPoint to use for emergency response.

The decisions came during a meeting that ran about 78 minutes and included a construction update on the county courthouse and a correction to a pay application for the design‑build courthouse project. The court moved several administrative items by voice vote and recessed into executive session to discuss real estate, procurement and personnel matters before returning to approve a personnel consolidation and to authorize an offer letter for a candidate discussed in executive session.

County staff said the actions are intended to keep ongoing projects on schedule and add flexibility for emergency response and grant administration. Brooke (county grant manager) told the court the sheriff’s office will submit two applications under the State Homeland Security Program to enhance the county’s emergency operations center and to buy protective equipment to respond to weapons‑of‑mass‑destruction threats.

The court approved payment of $91,360.98 to LJA Engineering Inc. (agenda item 18) for professional services rendered Sept. 28–Nov. 1, 2024, and approved a no‑cost billboard agreement with Clear Channel Communications to run hurricane awareness messages and public service announcements (item 24). The court ratified a CDBG contract amendment extending a grant for the Dema Road infrastructure project to April 30, 2025, to allow closeout and to shift remaining grant funds from acquisition to construction (item 21 as amended).

Soudalco Inc. — the county’s courthouse design‑build contractor — had a revised pay application on…