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Commissioners table Kerr County jail contract, reject towing bids and call for broader jail/diversion review
Summary
After debate about bed use, cost and system capacity, the court voted to table an interlocal jail-services agreement with Kerr County and rejected all bids for the county towing contract, instructing staff to reissue an RFP; Commissioner Grant Moody pressed for a comprehensive April 28 work session on diversion, jail infrastructure and mental-health capacity.
Bexar County’s commissioners tabled consideration of an interlocal agreement with Kerr County for out-of-county jail beds and rejected bids for the county’s towing contract during their March 31 session, actions that followed broader discussion about jail capacity, costs and criminal-justice system reform.
During discussion of the Kerr County interlocal (item 89), Commissioner Grant Moody warned that continuing to outsource inmate beds could be expensive and urged the court to take a “comprehensive view of our criminal justice system,” citing backlog in the district attorney’s office, limited forensic and medical capacity, and the need for mental-health and diversion resources. Moody told the court, “We need a bias for action,” and secured unanimous direction for staff to bring back a broader agenda item on April 28 (minimum 90 minutes) to examine diversion centers, jail facilities, mental-health beds and related studies already paid for by the county.
On the towing contract (item 90), the court voted to reject all bids and directed the purchasing agent to provide a new request for proposals and submit selection-committee names to the court for approval. The motion passed by voice vote. Commissioners emphasized the need to refine procurement documents and ensure the selection process aligns with sheriff’s office needs.
Why it matters: Commissioners said these actions reflect an effort to assess the county’s long-term needs for inmate housing and forensics and to improve procurement processes tied to public safety. Commissioner Moody said a holistic review is needed to avoid repeated, incremental expenditures that fail to address systemic capacity constraints.
Next steps: Staff will return with a comprehensive criminal-justice planning item for an extended April 28 session and will issue a revised towing RFP and naming of a selection committee per the court’s direction.
