Jefferson County commissioners approve contracts, budget transfers and hire reserve deputy; public commenter alleges ballot omission

Jefferson County Commissioners Court met Sept. 24 in Beaumont and approved a package of purchasing contracts and renewals, several budget transfers and grant-authorizing resolutions, and the hiring of Jennifer Vogel as a reserve deputy for Constable Precinct 2.

The meeting opened at 10:31 a.m. with an invocation led by Commissioner Synagogue and the pledge of allegiance. During the public-comment period, Patty Allen said she had filed as a write-in candidate but that her name was not placed on the ballot, citing provisions of Title 5, Subchapter A. "My inalienable right has been denied," Allen said. The presiding judge replied the court had no authority over that election matter and suggested pursuing remedies in district court.

On the consent/purchasing agenda, the court received and filed bids and approved awards and renewals covering products and services including larvicidal products (Clark Mosquito Control Products, Inc.), law-enforcement uniform renewals (Burgoon Company, Galls LLC, T and D Workwear Company LLC), emergency debris monitoring (Tetra Tech Inc., second-year renewal), dust suppressant and liquid soil stabilizer renewals/extensions (Base Seal International), and a professional services agreement with LJA Engineering Inc. for pesticide general-permit implementation. The agenda also included a subscription for NEOGOV online testing software recorded on the agenda as "Bridal Online TestGenius" with an initial-year charge of $4,563.85 and a higher recurring rate for the second year; a county staff member said the first-year amount reflected a discounted introductory rate and that the listed $9,000 figure is the ongoing price.

The court moved and seconded approval of the purchasing items and adopted them by verbal vote; the presiding officer announced the motion carried.

County auditor items included budget-transfer requests for Road and Bridge Precinct 4 maintenance, a $4,000 transfer for service-center tire costs, and an amendment seeking $250,000 for courts and jury expenses related to indigent defense attorneys and juror costs. The court also considered two resolutions authorizing county grant applications to the Texas Department of Agriculture for the Home Delivered Meal Grant Program (one for Jefferson County and one for the Center for Christian Services at United Board of Missions) and miscellaneous ARPA subrecipient agreement revisions, including work with Adaptive Supports for Kids, Inc. The agenda listed authorization for the county judge to sign an offer letter as part of a Texas General Land Office (GLO) Hurricane Harvey home-buyout program for the property at 5385 Boyd Road in Beaumont.

During discussion the court flagged a needed correction to an earlier-adopted budget item affecting Constable Precinct 2 and directed staff to prepare a transfer to equalize constable budgets where appropriate; the judge said the previously adopted budget could not be changed retroactively and that staff would follow up.

The consent agenda and budget items were approved by verbal vote. Later the court considered and approved the hiring of Jennifer Vogel as a reserve deputy for Constable Precinct 2 under Local Government Code section 86.011; the motion was moved and seconded by Commissioners Alford and Senegal and approved on a verbal vote.

The meeting concluded with no further items and the court adjourned.

Votes at a glance: procurement and purchasing package — approved (verbal vote); consent agenda and budget transfers — approved (verbal vote); hire of Jennifer Vogel, reserve deputy, Constable Precinct 2 — approved (moved by Commissioner Alford, seconded by Commissioner Senegal, verbal vote).

What remains unresolved: Patty Allen's claim that her write-in name was omitted from the ballot was noted by the court, which stated it does not have authority to resolve election-ballot placement; Allen was advised to pursue district court remedies.