County to receive public safety bond update

The cost of the Hays County Jail and Public Safety Building could go up if the Hays County Commissioners Court votes to approve several contract extensions.  

The Hays County Commissioners Court is expected to vote on a change order, a revision of the project execution plan and two additional service requests for work related to the Hays County Public Safety Bond projects this Tuesday. The Court will also hear an update on the Hays County Public Safety Bond Program, which funds the Hays County Jail and Public Safety Building projects, by Codi Newson. 

According to documents provided in the agenda packet, the Change Order #2 of the agreement between Hays County and Turner Construction Company will address schedule updates, revisions to an amendment, permitting adjustments and a contingency balance and could cost $2,195,250.00. 

Commissioners could also authorize the execution of an Additional Services Request from HOK which will increase their contract by $179,043. 

Additionally, Commissioners could also authorize the execution of an Additional Services Request with ECM International which will increase their contract by a not-to-exceed amount of $277,280.00. 

In other business, the court will hear an update by Charlie Campise of the October 2019 Hill Country Mental Health Development Disabilities Board Meeting. 

Likewise, Commissioners will discuss and take possible action to execute a Hays County HazMat Team Monitor Maintenance grant of $20,000. According to the agenda item, the funds from the Office of the Governor Homeland Security Grants Division will “provide funding for the maintenance of the monitoring equipment to respond and detect chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive (CBRNE) in the event of a terrorist attack.”

The Court will also discuss and take possible action to execute a Hays County SWAT Team Capability Improvements grant of $104,860. The grant from the Office of the Governor Homeland Security Grants Division will “be used to acquire robotic technology to establish increased correspondence, coordination and environmental manipulations when responding to an incident or act of terrorism.”

The Court will discuss and take possible action to execute a Victim Assistance Coordinator grant from the Office of the Criminal Justice Division in the amount of $110,859.93 with a cash match of $22,171.99. The grant will be used to provide the salary, benefits and training of a Victim Assistance Coordinator position in the Hays County District Attorney’s office. 

According to the agenda item, “The VAC provides services and assistance directly to victims of crime to aid them in their recovery and guides them through the criminal justice process.”

Commissioners will discuss and take possible action to authorize the submission of a grant application to the Texas Veterans Commission in the amount of $100,000. The funds would be used to add a Healthcare Liaison position and Emergency Financial Assistance for the Veteran Services Office “to assist veterans and their dependents.”

The court will also vote to authorize a grant application to the Texas Veterans Commission for $300,000 for the continued services of the Veterans Treatment Court. 

The Hays County Commissioners Court meets Tuesdays on the third floor of the Hays County Historic Courthouse at 9 a.m.