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Commissioners authorize inmate housing interlocal and public‑safety equipment purchases amid jail capacity concerns
Summary
The court approved an interlocal inmate housing agreement at a discussed rate of $52 per night and authorized contracts for in‑vehicle cameras and radios; commissioners noted jail capacity near 144 beds and placed staff and scoring committees to manage procurement.
Van Zandt County Commissioners Court approved multiple actions related to corrections and public safety after staff described capacity constraints and equipment needs.
On inmate housing, the court authorized an interlocal agreement to send inmates to a neighboring county’s jail when needed; staff said the updated agreement includes a $52‑per‑night rate and noted many counties are at or over capacity. Presenters said the county’s rated capacity is 144 beds and the nightly average has been about 130–135 inmates, which prompted discussions about moving some detainees through the court system faster or using interlocal placements.
For law enforcement equipment, commissioners authorized a five‑year contract with Motorola Solutions for two M500 in‑vehicle camera systems for patrol vehicles and approved the purchase of additional radios under the county’s L3 Harris contract (approximately $13,997.17) for Road & Bridge and jail use. Staff noted a durability issue with the radios’ battery‑retention knobs and said holsters and warranty repairs are being used to mitigate breakage.
To oversee selection of a jail video system, the court established a scoring committee that includes jail leadership, auditor staff, IT, and a citizen volunteer to score vendor proposals and forward compiled results to the auditor’s office for reporting to the commissioners court.
