Commissioners court will discuss hiring law firm to help with jail operations

NEW BOSTON, Texas—Bowie County Commissioners Court will consider hiring a law firm to assist with the county’s jails at a meeting Monday.

The meeting is at 10 a.m. at the courthouse.

Commissioners will discuss retaining Haley and Olson firm of Waco, Texas, as special counsel to assist with legal matters and contracts concerning the operation and management of Bowie County Correctional Center and Bi-State Justice Building jail.

The facilities have been managed by Community Education Centers, but the New Jersey company is set to leave in February.

CEC notified the county in November that it would sever its management contract in 90 days, or Feb. 13. Officials have said they would like to hire another company to manage the jails rather than the county take over operations.

Commissioners have previously approved a request for proposals by management companies, and bids for the operations and management of the jails should be opened in late January.

In other business, commissioners will appoint the county’s representative to the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee to fill the remainder of the term of former Precinct 2 Commissioner Pete Snow.

The IAC is over Bi-State Justice Building, which is used by Bowie County and the two Texarkanas.

Snow was appointed Precinct 2 commissioner after John Addington resigned in August for health reasons. Snow served until November, when Tom Whitten was elected to the spot.

Other agenda items include declaring surplus equipment items from all precincts and approving bonds for several elected officials.

Commissioners will take action to support an application by ArkTex Council of Governments’ Rural Transit District for funding through the Texas Department of Transportation Rural Discretionary Program and Intercity Bus Program.

Members will consider a resolution for the indigent defense grant program, appoint members to the County Historical Commission and consider reappointing Bob Murray as Bowie County’s representative on the Board of Directors of Northeast Texas Regional Mobility Authority.

Commissioners will approve next year’s conferences and schools for County Clerk Tina Petty, District Clerk Billy Fox and County Judge Sterling Lacy and staff members.

Anyone wishing to address Commissioners Court should submit a public participation form to the county judge’s office 15 minutes before the meeting.

The agenda and supporting documents are online at co.bowie.tx.us/ips/cms.