Judge Doyal proposes road bond project accountability and transparency policy

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — To ensure the accountability and transparency that taxpayers deserve, County Judge Craig Doyal propose to Commissioners Court today that the county adopt a policy for all bond projects from November's successful $280 million road bond election be reviewed by the County Engineer's Office before being submitted for approval.

The court will met at 9:30 a.m. today, Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015 in the commissioners courtroom at 501 N. Thompson for a regular meeting; commissioners expressed support for the proposal, and suggested even expanding it.

"Every contract using bond funds will be reviewed by the County Engineers Office and the County Attorney's Office," Judge Doyal said.

"The voters have placed their faith in us by supporting the $280 million road bond; we owe it to them to ensure that the projects completed with these funds go through a transparent and accountable process to ensure taxpayers get the best value possible for the money they approved."

While that has been the standard practice in the county for most road projects involving outside engineers or consultants, recently that practice was not followed for a $1.9 million contract with RPS Klotz Associates related to widening of Rayford Road requested by Precinct 3. It was only after the contract was approved that Doyal said he learned after the meeting the contract was never reviewed by the County Engineers Office.

Judge Doyal said that while it has always been his practice as a commissioner and county judge to have engineering contracts reviewed by the county staff, it has not been adopted as a formal policy for bond projects, but should be. He asked the court to support the following policy:

1. Any contract for professional engineering services and/or consulting services for any or part of any of the Road Bond Projects which contract is in the amount of One Hundred Thousand ($100,000) dollars or more (hereinafter "Road Bond Project Contract") shall be reviewed by the office of the County Engineer and the office of the County Attorney before such contract is submitted to Commissioners Court for approval or rejection; and
2. Purchasing shall not submit for approval any Road Bond Project Contract unless the Road Bond Contract has been reviewed by the office of the County Engineer and the office of the County Attorney; and
3. The County Engineer, or his representative, shall indicate his review of each Road Bond Project Contract on the contract or by attachment thereto; and
4. The County Attorney, or his representative, is requested to indicate his review of each Road Bond Project Contract on the contract or by attachment thereto.

During discussion, commissioners agreed to expand that review to include other contracts, and bring a revised resolution back to Commissioners Court for approval.