This week’s regular meeting of the Tom Green County Commissioners Court was a good example of how institutional controls help ensure accountability, and why sometimes flexibility is absolutely necessary.
Sheriff Nick Hanna brought a couple of housekeeping items from his accounting department, regarding expenditures that were necessary due to unplanned contingencies.
The first item was a bill for a hotel room in Arkansas for one of his deputies to stay in overnight during a prisoner transfer, which was supposed to have an associated purchase order, but for one reason or another, did not.
The next item was another missed PO, but this time for a non-working camera at the detention center, which a company was good enough to come right out and fix.
Sheriff Hanna expressed his gratitude to the company, reminding commissioners that having every security camera working is a top priority.
The court approved purchase orders for both items.
The other main item discussed was the replacement of roofing at the detention center for a little over $500,000.
The project will replace skirting and some underlayment around the bottom of the roof, which was damaged by hail.
The court approved the measure, along with the associated certification that no engineering or design services were needed.
