Mineral Wells council approves $132,000 contract for assistant public works services

The City of Mineral Wells City Council on a unanimous vote approved a professional services agreement with Nathan Bouchau, doing business as Brazos Area Consulting LLC, in the amount of $132,000 for fiscal year 2026 to provide contracted assistant public works director services.

Staff described the contract as a means to secure project-management capacity for major capital projects, including oversight of the water treatment plant, a reverse-osmosis project, generator and valve work, and multiple street projects. "The biggest one is project management," staff said, noting the contractor will assist with design, implementation and procurement while the city evaluates permanent staffing.

Council members asked whether the position would lead to an advertised, permanent job. Staff said the contractor will work with internal staff to identify and prepare candidates; if no internal candidate is available, the city will recruit externally. "If we determine that there's not [an] internal candidate, then Nathan will be in the process of identifying who that permanent person would be," staff said.

Councillors cited the size of the public works workforce and the upcoming state revolving fund loan and grant for water projects as reasons to add dedicated management support. The council approved the agreement on a motion by S7, seconded by S1; the motion carried 6-0.

The agreement is structured as a contract-services engagement rather than a W-2 employment relationship; staff said the contractor will provide required insurance and paperwork to protect the city from IRS exposure. The contract document includes an exhibit listing priorities and goals for the contractor; staff said they will correct minor company name inconsistencies in the draft before signature.

Next steps: the city will finalize corrective language in the agreement and begin the transition with the contractor in place while continuing internal staffing discussions.