Travis County Commssioners Court
October 28, 2003
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Item 17
Item number 17 is to approve termination of contract number o 2 t 0057-mp with executive security systems.
>> inc. For noncommissioned security guard services. And Commissioner Daugherty I think has a question.
>> cyd?
>> cyd, I know that we have discussed this before, and I just want to make sure that I'm clear on how it ended with this. We now have a third party that has been our security at cscd. Are all of the cscd offices, do they all have security?
>> well, currently they had security at the frederick lane and also at woodward street. So they had security at both those facilities that was being provided by this contractor. And since they're going to be moving to the new building, we're going to terminate the contract and the constable will be providing that security. And mr. Biewberry is here. He explained to me that it's sort of a wash. It looked like we spent about $60,000, and there was a half-time position that was approved in the budget to go with another half-time position at the constable's office to cover security, so it's sort of a wash on budget.
>> well, I guess really my issue is I really want to try and get comfortable with why is it that Travis County is really only one of two. Because I understand that tear rant county also does -- tarrant county also does security for csc: and that's just add to me. That we are two out of 254 254 counties. I guess every county does have a cscd unless you just have -- you have one that's on probation.
>> or a district.
>> or a district or whatever. And I also find it odd that when I went over to the executive office building the other day to visit with tnr, I don't think -- is there security in that building, joe, for the cscd part that's on the fourth floor? Are there more floors than just the fourth floor?
>> seven.
>> those are the kind of things that I just wonder when we selectively have them at some places, we don't have them at other places. We are one of the two that provides security. So the whole thing is kind of an odd deal to me. Not to say that -- I mean, I had a number of people in the tnr office that commented about, you know, we at times we're a little frightened about not having security. Joe, has that been something that you've heard from your staff before?
>> it hasn't been a major problem for us. There has been some discomfort among the staff, but we have not had any incidents. At one time we did have security guards in the building. The doors are locked at 5:00 o'clock. We have pretty good security after hours. There used to be a guard stationed after hours when they're having classes, and that's no longer the case. I'm not sure it's necessary.
>> I wonder if -- cyd, do you know if there's a degree of what people respond to one location versus what responds to another location?
>> I don't know that it was something at this office, the downtown office goes to the sheriff's. I think it's dispatched quickly compared to some of these other outlying buildings where security might not could get there as fast. I do not know the history on why we provide that for cscd.
>> well, and I'm probably asking questions that cscd needs to answer, and i'll get those unless somebody on the court knows.
>> of course, we're a very unique county as you've figured out.
>> I think it had more -- I think I was led to believe that it was Travis County's responsibility to provide security. There was a compelling argument made on the locations. And I didn't really question it. It was not until we started having more in-depth discussions with cscd is what exactly are we supposed to pay for and what is the lovely state of Texas supposed to pay for? Especially at a time when they were sending monies back to the state of Texas. And we are not required to pay for the security. However, what is a pretty standard practice is that if you have a shared facility where you have county people and cscd, there's kind of a sharing of things there. So I kind of see that as what's happening over at the precinct 4 building. We have county people in that building, so we're paying for our piece of it. Remember, they had asked for twice as much of what they've actually being budgeted for. To me it's like cscd still has the opportunity to do their piece of it, but we're doing the general fund piece on behalf of the general fund employees that are still. We can still challenge cscd to use its fund the way every other county does where cscd is covering the cost of their own security.
>> well, again, I would ask cscd, but it's add to me that you don't have security in the executive office building. And that building is certainly loaded with Travis County employees. And yet we do have it where the new precinct 4 plg is going to be. I think i've got what I needed. I'll ask cscd those things.
>> i'll make a motion on this. It calls for the termination of the contract.
>> second.
>> all in favor? That passes by instance vote.
Last Modified: Wednesday, October 28, 2003 7:52 AM