Wichita County Commissioners Court met Tuesday and approved a slate of routine payments and administrative steps while authorizing a takings impact assessment needed to advance proposed county subdivision regulations.

The court opened at 10:00 a.m. and, after brief public comments and an announcement that the courthouse will be closed for New Year’s Day, moved through its consent agenda and general business items. Unidentified Speaker 1 recorded a motion to amend consent agenda item 2 to read as a repair offer from TAC for a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe, with a repair value listed in the agenda materials as $7,751.09; the consent agenda passed without recorded opposition.

The takings impact assessment for the proposed Wichita County Subdivision Regulations was presented to the court as a required administrative step before posting and holding a public hearing. "Nothing has changed on this one from the one we did prior," Unidentified Speaker 1 said, adding the county is asserting the assessment finds no taking but must complete the review to proceed. Commissioners and other participants said the document will likely be refined over time; the court approved and authorized the county judge to sign the assessment so the public hearing process can proceed.

The court approved several vendor invoices and quotes. An invoice (listed in the meeting materials as INV001654) for $64,866 for annual software license and support renewal for the county’s election machines was approved to be paid from budgeted 2025 funds in department 490. County staff discussed machine service and repair costs and said the machines were chosen to balance auditability and efficiency.

A prior invoice to JWC Environmental (invoice 110-749, dated in the materials to May 2022) for replacement motor(s) was discussed after staff noted a freight-related difference and that the invoice had not been followed up for payment; the court authorized payment of $9,637.51 from permanent improvement funds to settle the matter.

The court also approved a quote to expand the county’s tape-based backup library (quote number recorded variously in the transcript) for roughly $40,000 to $40,300 to provide redundancy as data needs grow and as Axon systems and additional county data come online. "This is to expand our current backup library," Unidentified Speaker 6 said, explaining the purchase mirrors backup sets across two locations and anticipates a five-year replacement cycle.

Mister Meacham provided an update on ongoing courthouse and annex renovations, including HVAC and ductwork work at the Iowa Park annex, a new slab poured in a back area, remaining courtroom door and window-shade work scheduled for January–February, and a lighting-fixture replacement issue where the originally specified fixture was no longer available and a close replacement will be used. The 30th District courtroom was described as ready for the swearing-in scheduled for tomorrow, though punch-list items remain.

All motions recorded in the meeting were approved by voice vote as recorded in the minutes. The court adjourned at about 10:25 a.m.

Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda (4 items, including amended consent item 2 for TAC repair offer): approved (recorded as "Motion carries 40").
- Regular bills/payroll disbursement: approved (recorded as "Motion carries 40").
- Ratify Dec. 23, 2024 special voting session minutes: approved (ayes recorded).
- Takings impact assessment for proposed Wichita County Subdivision Regulations: approved; county judge authorized to sign (recorded as "Motion carries 40").
- Hart/Recivic (INV001654) — election-machine annual license and support, $64,866: approved from department 490 (recorded as "Motion carries 40").
- JWC Environmental (invoice 110-749) — motor replacement, $9,637.51: approved from permanent improvement (recorded as "Motion carries 40").
- SHI backup library quote — ~ $40,000–$40,300 to expand tape-based backup: approved from department 412 (recorded as "Motion carries 40").

Next steps and context
The takings impact assessment approval permits the county to post the proposed subdivision regulations and schedule public hearings; staff and the subdivision committee indicated the regulations will continue to be adjusted. The county will also proceed with the approved IT and equipment purchases and complete remaining courthouse punch-list items ahead of the swearing-in tomorrow.