TipSheet: Travis County, 11.28.17

The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website.

3. Consider and take appropriate action regarding the departmental move of the Law Library from the Communications and Records Services Department to the Justice Planning Department, including: a. Making the Law Library a division of the Justice Planning Department effective January 1, 2018 b. Authorizing various departments to make the necessary changes in SAP related to the departmental move. (Commissioner Gómez)

Monitor’s Take: The public Law Library in the county’s Granger Building at West 11th and Guadalupe streets is set for a move … to a new division. The physical location won’t change, but the Justice Planning Department will assume control of it from the Communications and Records Services Department. The backup material justifies the shift by pointing out that the library and JPD both provide resources to the community to enhance the county’s justice system and that both have common customers.

9. Consider and take appropriate action regarding additional County resources needed for capital projects related to the November 2017 Bond Election. (Judge Eckhardt)

Monitor’s Take: In order to expedite work on $280 million in bond projects approved by both the Commissioners Court and voters, the county is looking to add seven new positions with a $549,000 price tag for the current budget cycle. That will increase by $662,000 in subsequent years. In other words, it takes money to spend money.

13. Consider and take appropriate action on one-time Add Pay for employees who refer hires to hard-to-fill roles at Travis County. (Commissioners Travillion & Gómez)

Monitor’s Take: The county’s Human Resources Department is looking to reward employees who make its job easier. The proposal is to pay $500 to any existing county worker who refers someone to a fill a “hard-to-fill” role. The payout wouldn’t come until the new employee has been on the job for a minimum of six months. As for what a hard-to-fill role is, the department will use several guidelines. Examples provided in a memorandum include registered nurses and crossing guards.

29. Consider and take appropriate action on Travis County appointments to the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) Board of Directors. (Judge Eckhardt)

Monitor’s Take: Two of the county’s appointments to the CTRMA board are nearing the expiry of their terms. David Armbrust has served more than six years, an incumbency that requires the county issue a call for applicants. Charles Heimsath, however, went through that process last year and is thus eligible for direct reappointment by the court. He has indicated his desire to stay in his seat. Armbrust has been on the CTRMA board since 2012. Heimsath has served since 2009.

The Austin Monitor’s work is made possible by donations from the community. Though our reporting covers donors from time to time, we are careful to keep business and editorial efforts separate while maintaining transparency. A complete list of donors is available here, and our code of ethics is explained here.