Commissioners OK two public health agreements

The county commissioners approved two agreements with the Texas Department of State Health Services on Tuesday — one for immunizations and one for public health emergency preparedness.

As part of its consent agenda, the Hays County Commissioners Court approved the submission of a renewal interlocal agreement with the state for the Fiscal Year 2020 immunization program for $192,341. The funds will provide support for the salary and benefits of staff involved in the county health department’s immunization program. 

The second contract renewal with the state is for funds that go toward the salaries of the county emergency preparedness coordinator and strategic national stockpile coordinator. A portion of the $122,790 would also go toward operating expenses in the county health department. The contract renewal requires a 10 percent match of either in-kind contributions or operating funds from the health department.

In other business, the commissioners approved a contract with LNV Inc. for Community Development Block Grant engineering services. Precinct 3 Commissioner Lon Shell pointed out that the project, which has to do with improvements to the Cedar Oak Mesa water system, is a grant project that uses no county funds. 

Commissioners also approved a contract with Blair Wildlife Consulting related to the management of the county’s Regional Habitat Conservation Plan, and a change order calling for padding for four cells in the expansion of the Hays County Jail. Capt. Mike Davenport of the sheriff’s department explained that the violent cell padding was originally part of the expansion project but accidentally got cut out, necessitating the change order. The cost will come from the contractor’s contingency fund.