Ector County Commissioners will vote Monday on whether or not to issue $25 million worth of public debt for the expansion of the Ector County jail.
The agenda item comes on the heels of a special workshop meeting Tuesday night during which county officials talked about the need for the expansion, how much the county is paying to transport inmates to other jails across the state, the $25 million cost of construction and the process of issuing public debt in the form of Certificates of Obligation.
The Commissioners Court meeting is 10 a.m. Monday in the commissioners’ courtroom in the Ector County Administration Building Annex, 1010 E. Eight St.
The agenda item states the $25 million would pay for “constructing, renovating and equipping jail facilities,” improving county-owned buildings for the Sheriff’s department and “professional services rendered in relation to such projects and the financing thereof.”
Many county officials in attendance of the special workshop Tuesday night voiced support of the expansion as the Sheriff’s Office transports inmates on a daily basis and spends thousands of dollars per day to other counties for housing and care.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Simmons said he is still cautious about diving head first into $25 million of debt though.
“I’m just leery because I think there’s a lot of cost of things we haven’t considered which I think is going to negatively impact the budget down the road,” Simmons said.
If it were just a building, or an improvement to a building, it would be different, but this involves adding staffing and a lot more overhead expenses, he said.
While the estimated loan payment of about $1.9 million per year is less than the $3.1 million it takes to send inmates out of the county, Simmons said that doesn’t cover other costs involved after the expansion is built.
The jail would be adding nearly 60 more employees to their staff.
“My preference would be not to push this this quick,” Simmons said. “I don’t feel like waiting four to six weeks would be any kind of detriment to the county.”
Simmons added he does understand the sheriff and others would like to get the ball rolling though because of the time it takes for plans and the construction.
If approved Monday, the public will have the opportunity to petition the issuance of debt. Five percent of registered voters would have to sign a petition in order for the county to either stop the process altogether or hold an election.
IN OTHER BUSINESS
Commissioners will also consider the following items Monday:
- Introduce Elizabeth Flores Sertuche, also known as Lisa Sertuche, as the newly appointed Ector County Elections Administrator, with her first date in her new capacity to be April 11 and approve the official bond of Sertuche.
- Authorizing the county judge to sign a letter of indemnification to Security Benefits.
- Resignation of John F. Landgraf as the Ector County airport manager and appointment of David Peck as interim airport manager.
- A presentation from MASA Medical Transport Solutions offering the supplemental benefits provided by MASA to Ector County employees and retirees.
- Bids for County Transportation Infrastructure Fund Grant Program, Project 10, seal coat for Yukon Road, Dixie Boulevard and Golder Avenue.
- The purchase of Simtable AnyHazard System.
- The extension of Auctioneer Services On-Line award to Rene Bates Auctioneers, Inc. for an additional one-year term.
- A change order and certificate of substantial completion documents for the Ector County Law Enforcement Center roof project.
- Amended and restated Texas Energy Efficiency Market Agreement between the county and Oncor Electric Delivery Company, including the program addendum to the agreement, to approve the Self Provider Agreement with Oncor, to designate Charles Peirce as Ector County’s designated contact for purposes of submitting applications and providing information to Oncor associated with Oncor’s incentives and rebates program.
- Interlocal Cooperation Contract between the county and the Texas Department of Public Safety in which DPS will provide crime lab supplies, personnel services, equipment, operational assistance and administration services.
- The District Attorney’s application for an Office of the Attorney General grant.
- A resolution for a Victim Assistance grant.
- A request to hire an attorney at a Step 3, a technician at a Step 2 and to allow the Building Maintenance Department to advertise for new hires up to a Step 5.
- The replat of property in the Pleasant Farms subdivision.
- A consent agenda including line item transfers.
- A budget amendment to the Capital Improvement Fund, Contract Services from Unreserved Fund Balance in the amount of $59,960.
- A budget amendment to Coliseum Capital Improvement Fund, Land Acquisition, from Unreserved Fund Balance in the amount of $55,000.
- The accounts payable fund requirements report for April 10 and review county financial statements and reports.
PREVIOUS POST: Ector County Commissioners will be voting Monday on whether or not to issue $25 million worth of public debt for the expansion of the Ector County jail.
The agenda item comes on the heels of a special workshop meeting Tuesday night during which county officials talked about the need for the expansion, how much the county is paying to transport inmates to other jails across the state, the $25 million cost of construction and the process issuing public debt in the form of Certificates of Obligation.
The Commissioners Court meeting is 10 a.m. Monday in the commissioners’ courtroom in the Ector County Administration Building Annex, 1010 E. Eight St.
The agenda item states the $25 million would pay for “constructing, renovating and equipping jail facilities,” improving county-owned buildings for the Sheriff’s department and “professional services rendered in relation to such projects and the financing thereof.”
