Blanco County moves to authorize three‑year contract for virtual‑assistant phone service

Blanco County commissioners on an unspecified date voted to move forward with authorizing the county judge to sign a three‑year contract for a virtual‑assistant phone service intended to route routine citizen calls and deliver documents by text.

The presenter (Speaker 5) described the system as an enhancement to office operations, not a replacement for staff, saying: "It's really an assistant to my assistant, so that it frees up her time" and later noting the county‑office subscription cost is about $3,000 a year. Commissioners asked whether the county had compared that cost with hiring a dedicated staff member and whether the service could be expanded to handle non‑emergency dispatch calls; the presenter said the county's call volume did not justify a full salaried position and that the vendor offers different plans for other offices.

The board debated contract terms and portability. A vendor representative told commissioners the company works with roughly 200 local government entities and typically includes a 60‑day opt‑out in its contracts. A motion to authorize the judge to sign a three‑year agreement was made and seconded during the meeting; the transcript does not include a recorded final roll‑call vote on that motion.

The contract discussion also included clarifications on scope: presenters emphasized the system routes callers to the appropriate court or agency, can text septic permits and other documents, and leaves an option for callers to reach a live assistant when needed. Commissioners said they want records on vendor references and assurance the service will not supplant existing positions.

Next steps: commissioners advanced the authorization motion for the judge to sign the proposed three‑year agreement; the contract details and any final vote were to be finalized in follow up staff work.