Indigent health, inmate housing on tap

A payment to Central Texas Medical Center (CTMC) for indigent health care and an agreement with Caldwell County to house inmates are on the agenda for this morning’s Hays County Commissioners Court meeting.

The commissioners are slated to consider authorizing an agreement with CTMC and a payment of $1.5 million on or before Sept. 28 for indigent health care costs. The county budgets funds each year to pay the hospital for indigent health care. CTMC provides the county’s indigent population with hospital care and with primary care at its Live Oak Community Clinic at no cost to the patients. The $1.5 million comes from the county’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget; additional funding has been rolled into the FY 2019 budget. 

Commissioners also will consider approving an agreement between Hays County and Caldwell County for the housing and care of Hays County inmates. The agreement will be used when the Hays County Jail exceeds capacity and will guarantee 40 medium-security custody beds in the Caldwell County Jail for Hays County’s use. 

In other business, the commissioners are expected to vote on a change order to an agreement with SI Mechanical for the installation of a water treatment system at the Hays County Government Center. SI Mechanical is requesting more time to finish the job.

The Hays County Commissioners Court will meet at 9 a.m. on the third floor of the Hays County Courthouse, 111 San Antonio St. Meetings are also streamed live.