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Ellis County adds $140,000 contingency for courthouse renovation, approves interim landscaping funds, TCDRS payment and reappoints fire marshal
Summary
The Commissioners Court approved a $140,000 contingency increase for the courts and administration building renovation, approved a $35,000 interim landscaping fund, authorized a $300,000 TCDRS payment to buy down pension liability and reappointed Fire Marshal Tim Bergwell for two years.
ELLIS COUNTY, Texas — The Ellis County Commissioners Court approved budget and personnel items including a contingency increase for a renovation project, interim landscape funding and a pension payment.
Purchasing director EJ Harbin asked the court to authorize an additional $35,000 under a City of Waxahachie interlocal agreement so Lantana Lawn & Landscape Services could continue ground maintenance during the RFP award and contracting phase; Harbin said the funds would be used only during a one- to one-and-a-half-month transition. The court approved the request unanimously.
On the courts and administration building renovation, project representatives told the court the project remained on schedule for a contractual substantial-completion date of Dec. 19. They said a number of unforeseen items had arisen — missing signage in the drawings, relocating some doors, and changes to jury-pool functionality on the first floor — and asked the court to increase the construction contingency by a $140,000 not-to-exceed amount. A project representative described the $140,000 as "a ROM" (rough order of magnitude) and a "do not exceed amount," saying staff expects to spend less but requested the authorization to avoid returning to court for incremental approvals. The court unanimously approved the contingency increase.
The court also approved an annual $300,000 payment to the Texas County and District Retirement System (TCDRS) to buy down county liability. Treasurer Sharon Mancilla told the court the payment will raise the funded ratio from 88% to 88.6% and reduce the county’s contribution rate from 10.99% to 10.93%; the motion passed unanimously.
Finally, the court reappointed Fire Marshal Tim Bergwell to a two-year term beginning Dec. 14, 2025 and ending Dec. 14, 2027. Commissioners praised Bergwell and his staff; the reappointment passed unanimously.
