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Newton County approves one-time procurement exemption and OKs $80,000 tractor purchase
Summary
Newton County commissioners on Oct. 28 approved a one-time exemption to allow purchases above $50,000 on health-and-safety grounds and authorized buying a used 2010 John Deere 6330 with boom mower for $80,000. The court also approved routine bill payments and a $250 petty-cash item for a hotel-run food kitchen.
Newton County commissioners on Oct. 28, 2024 voted to grant a one-time procurement exemption allowing the county to purchase equipment costing more than $50,000 when necessary to protect public health and safety, and immediately authorized the purchase of a used 2010 John Deere 6330 with a boom mower for $80,000.
The court opened with a prayer led by Brother Danny and then confirmed a quorum before taking up agenda business. The first item asked the court to find that a discretionary exemption from “section 26223 of the Texas local government code” applied so the county could make a purchase that would otherwise exceed the $50,000 competitive-bid threshold.
Commissioner Py moved that the exemption be granted on health-and-safety grounds, saying, "I'm going to make the motion that it is definitely a a health and safety issue for our for our people." Commissioner Benson seconded, and the motion passed by voice vote. County officials said the exemption was sought because the item being purchased was a used piece of equipment, for which standard bidding comparisons were difficult to obtain.
Following that vote, the court considered and approved the specific purchase: a used 2010 John Deere 6330 equipped with a tiger boom mower, for a total of $80,000 from Service Chevrolet (Lafayette, Louisiana). Commissioner P moved for approval; Commissioner Benson seconded and the motion passed by voice vote. The court discussed that the exemption and the purchase were linked: the exemption cleared the way for approving a purchase above the typical $50,000 threshold.
On routine financial business, the court reported no budget amendments. Under payment-of-bills the court added several items to the payables list: a $250 petty-cash check to provide change for a hotel-run food kitchen opening Nov. 5; a general-fund utility payment of $569.49; a solid-waste disposal payment of $27.93; the $80,000 equipment invoice tied to the tractor purchase; and a $4,500 payment for wood that had been stored while moisture content was checked. Commissioner White moved to approve payment of the bills; Commissioner Benson seconded and the motion passed by voice vote.
A motion to adjourn was made and approved, and the court recessed after completing the listed business. The record does not show roll-call vote totals; actions were recorded as approved by voice vote.
