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Court reallocates ARPA funds, approves interlocal agreement for Zorn radio project
Summary
The court reallocated $260,000 in ARPA funds and approved an interlocal agreement with the city of San Marcos to place county radio equipment on an LCRA tower at the Zorn Substation, completing a $760,000 public‑safety radio project. Staff said delays risk a vendor price increase of about 35% if not completed promptly.
Guadalupe County commissioners voted Aug. 13 to reallocate $260,000 in ARPA funds and approve an interlocal agreement with the city of San Marcos to complete the Zorn Public Safety Radio Communications Project.
Bryce Holton presented radio coverage maps and said county staff had identified gaps in handheld coverage north of FM 1101 and in the Redwood area, affecting responders and in‑building coverage. "When those storms went through the Redwood area, we were solely relying on radio communication. We couldn't even send a text message back and forth," Holton said, stressing the importance of the equipment for fire, EMS and law enforcement.
The total project cost is $760,000. County records showed $500,000 remained in the ARPA line for radio; the court approved moving $260,000 from other ARPA lines (staff suggested MIS and a volunteer fire department line) to fully fund the project. Staff also noted a vendor price increase that had been delayed to Sept. 1 and could raise equipment costs by roughly 35% if procurement were postponed. The court then approved an interlocal agreement with the city of San Marcos to place and maintain county equipment on the LCRA tower at the Zorn Substation, and moved to implement the funding reallocation.
