Commissioners approve tri‑party safekeeping and several contracts; U.S. Marshals per‑diem negotiated higher

The McLennan County Commissioners Court approved a series of contracts, a collateral safekeeping arrangement and an updated intergovernmental rate for housing federal inmates during its May 5 meeting.

Bill Hilton presented revised tri‑party safekeeping and collateral security agreements that will allow pledged municipal bonds to be held by an independent custodian. "The custodian provided the tri‑party agreement," Hilton said; the court approved the agreements by motion.

The court also authorized a professional services agreement with Quiddity Engineering to pursue bridge and guardrail repairs after TxDOT consultants identified a bridge with a critical repair and three with urgent needs. The court approved the contract to begin the repairs and associated inspection work.

In corrections contracting, staff reported a negotiated renewal with the U.S. Marshals Service that raised the per‑diem for housing federal inmates to $112 per inmate (up from $84.12) and increased the guard rate from $28.14 to about $40.83 per hour. David, presenting the marshals item, described the negotiated increases as the result of recent discussions with federal negotiators; the court approved the updated agreement.

A separate procurement for courthouse camera upgrades from Warlick Electric was initially deferred while IT clarified whether the work pertained to the courthouse or to the jail. Later in the meeting the county project manager clarified the quote was for courthouse needs and the court approved moving forward; an associated budget amendment for additional courthouse camera funds was considered under the budget items and approved.

Elections staff also won approval for a one‑year maintenance extension for the county election server while longer‑term plans are finalized; the transcript recorded the service total unclearly (the quoted line reads "$16.50 66" in the record) and staff said the extension would bridge the upcoming election cycle.

What happens next

Staff will finalize the tri‑party documentation, begin work with the selected bridge engineering firm, implement the U.S. Marshals rate update, and include the courthouse camera costs in the approved budget amendment. Elections staff will return with procurement options for long‑term server hosting.

Key approvals

- Tri‑party safekeeping and collateral security agreements approved.
- Quiddity Engineering contract for bridge repairs authorized.
- ICE IGA modification (+$2,000) approved.
- U.S. Marshals Service rate increase approved: per‑diem to $112, guard rate to ~$40.83.
- Courthouse camera quote clarified as courthouse work and moved forward; matching budget amendment approved.