Brazos County approves RFP for master plan and a $2.4 million property purchase amid public concern

The Brazos County Commissioners Court voted to advertise RFP CIP 26533 for a county master plan and to approve a committee that will review proposals and prioritize scope to stay within the FY26 budget. Staff told the court the project was adopted in the FY26 budget (budgeted at $1 million) and that the scope has been divided into multiple sections to control costs; the court moved and voted to authorize advertisement of the RFP and to appoint a committee to evaluate responses.

On a separate agenda item (No. 29), the court approved a contract with Mosquite Properties joint venture to purchase real property for $2,400,000. The purchase generated sustained public comment: citizen speakers raised concerns about transparency, asserted the county assessor's tax valuation and a prior 2025 sale price (reported in the public comment) were significantly lower than the $2.4 million purchase price, and asked whether the acquisition fits the county’s 25-year plan or represented premature land-banking. Commissioners and the judge responded that competing offers existed, that the county had previously tried to acquire the property, and that holding the parcel preserved future options for county facility expansion (including potential jail-related needs) and equipment storage. The motion to approve the purchase passed with one recorded dissenting vote.

The court also approved several procurement and administrative matters on the consent agenda and during regular business: adoption of county brand and identity guidelines, approval of a package of new and revised county policies, adoption of an investment policy, cancellation of a transportation planning contract (contract 20-094) effective July 31, 2026, and procurement of project-management software (Procore) and contract-management software (Unit Solutions). Personnel changes and payment of claims were approved on the consent agenda.

What happens next: The master-plan RFP will be advertised and proposals reviewed by the approved committee; staff said they will seek to keep costs within the current budget. The county authorized a letter of intent to consider purchase of real property (an action taken after executive session) and will proceed with closing steps per the approved contract and any required administrative steps. Several citizens asked for more public information about plans tied to the purchase; commissioners said staff will identify properties to be offered for sale to offset costs in the future.