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Willacy County commissioners table decision on countywide phone procurement after questions about contract terms and reimbursement
Summary
Commissioners heard a status update about failing phones in the sheriff’s office and a vendor proposal for 22 replacement phones tied to a 12‑month service commitment; the court took no action on the status update and voted to table countywide bids pending contract review and reimbursement clarity for the Texas Animal Health Commission office.
Willacy County commissioners on May 28 heard a status report on the county’s telephone systems after staff said roughly half of the sheriff’s office phones were not functioning and a vendor proposed replacing 22 handsets at no hardware charge in exchange for a service commitment.
County staff reported that 11 of 22 phones in the sheriff’s office were working and that a vendor would provide new phones at no hardware cost but asked the county to enter a 12‑month service agreement. A prior discussion had referenced a 36‑month term; the vendor and staff said the proposal had been changed to 12 months.
The judge and commissioners said the auditor had not yet received a copy of the proposed contract or an invoice for review. “I think she was we were going to request time anyway,” the judge said, noting the auditor needed time to examine contract terms and billing documents before the court could approve any procurement.
Commissioners also raised questions about countywide procurement and whether a mobile office used by the Texas Animal Health Commission would be eligible for county reimbursement if the county paid for service. Staff said they would check reimbursement and whether the county could contract for service on an office that the partner agency paid for.
After discussion, the court voted first to take no action on the status update and then to table the separate agenda item to accept bids for a new countywide phone system until the full commission and the auditor could review the proposal and related paperwork.
Next steps: staff will provide the auditor and commissioners with the vendor’s contract terms, invoices and a written summary of who would be billed and whether partner agencies would reimburse the county before the item returns to the agenda.
