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Commissioners authorize sheriff’s grant application, reentry contract and multiple change orders for sheriff’s office remodel
Summary
The court approved the sheriff’s application for the MVCPA SB224 catalytic‑converter grant (funded from fund 51), a one‑year $46,350 reentry program contract with 1 Community USA, and multiple prime change orders plus an Official Change Order for the SCI construction contract as part of the sheriff’s remodel project.
Rockwall County’s commissioners on April 28 approved a package of measures tied to law‑enforcement operations: authorization to apply for a Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority SB224 grant, a one‑year contract to expand reentry services at the detention center, and a series of contract change orders for the sheriff’s office remodel.
Sheriff Garrett told the court the SB224 grant application would continue the county’s catalytic‑converter theft response and noted prior investment in cameras and drone (DFR) infrastructure that reduced the local matching cost. The court approved applying for the FY2027 grant with the match drawn from fund 51 (motion carried 5–0).
On reentry programming, the court approved a one‑year agreement with 1 Community USA for $46,350 annually billed to jail commissary funds. Ian Fuhrer, CEO of 1 Community USA, described an inside‑the‑jail pre‑release weeklong course (22 hours over four days), volunteer subject‑matter instructors, and a voluntary post‑release mentorship program. Fuhrer said roughly 10% of participants who engage while incarcerated follow up outside; the program aims to reduce recidivism by offering mentoring and practical skills.
Commissioner Stacy reviewed the sheriff’s office renovation status and asked the court to approve numerous prime contract change orders (PCOs 19–30) to SCI Construction and Official Change Order No. 1, which shifts approximately $300,000 of owner’s allowance into the contractor’s contingency and memorializes the PCOs. The court approved those actions 5–0. Stacy said dispatch and evidence relocation are the project’s most critical path items and that the remodel remains under budget but about 90 days behind schedule.
Financial details recorded in the court packet: the 1 Community USA agreement is $46,350 per year, and the OCO consolidates multiple PCOs and owner allowances; furniture purchases remain outstanding and were discussed separately.
Next steps: staff will file the grant application by the May 8 deadline, finalize the SCI contract change documentation, and proceed with dispatch and evidence moves as scheduled.
"We have to make sure we have the dispatch moved and evidence appropriately cataloged before final demo," Commissioner Stacy said during the briefing.
(Reporting is based on the county commissioners’ court transcript, April 28, 2026.)