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Commissioners approve Expo contracts, generator grants and award electrical contract
Summary
Washington County approved Expo rental contracts, received an Expo quarterly report citing a roughly $7.8M local economic impact, approved FEMA/DR-4485 hazard mitigation grant applications (Expo generators and EMS Station 3) with required county matches, and awarded generator contracts to Mueller Electric LLC.
Washington County Commissioners Court on Feb. 3 approved multiple Expo and emergency-preparedness actions, including rental contracts, a quarterly Expo report and two FEMA/DR-4485 hazard mitigation grant applications for generators.
Expo report and contracts: Court approved two Expo rental regulation contracts (a Brenham High School band parents club fundraiser and a society event) by voice vote. In the Expo quarterly presentation, staff identified about $7.8 million in economic impact to the community from Expo events in 2025, noted a mix of livestock and equine events that brought thousands of animals and support staff to the facility, and outlined marketing metrics and a modest advertising spend ($3,300) to reach audiences. "We had an economic impact for the county of right around $7,800,000," the presenter summarized.
Hazard mitigation grant applications: Staff explained the county resubmitted DR-4485 hazard mitigation grant applications after bids exceeded earlier estimates. The court approved submitting a grant application for Expo generators with federal funding of $512,662.50 (90%) and a required county match of $56,962.50 (10%) to cover a 400 kW and 260 kW generator for the Expo Office Building and annex. The court also approved submitting a DR-4485 application for a 30 kW generator at EMS Station 3 with federal funding of $57,786.75 (90%) and a county match of $6,420.75 (10%).
Procurement: Staff reported that two companies responded to the generator bids and that Mueller Electric LLC was the lowest responsive bidder on all three generator projects. The court voted to award the work to Mueller Electric LLC. Separately, the court awarded a bid for three 7-by-8 concrete box culverts (246 linear feet) on Old Independence and Seeker Road to Del Zotto Products of Texas for a low bid of about $178,800; staff expects delivery and installation within approximately four to six weeks.
Court action and context: Each of the above motions was made, seconded and approved by voice vote during the meeting. The grants, if awarded by the grantor, would require the county to provide the listed matches and carry the procurement and installation responsibilities.
