A rather short list of action items followed a number of presentations and updates to commissioners Tuesday morning. Here are three takeaways from the Jan. 23 meeting:
  • Commissioners reinstated a burn ban for the unincorporated areas of the county at a meeting Jan. 18. According to emergency management staff, certain areas of the county have experienced very dry conditions, especially after the cold winds blew in last week causing a significant drop in the ground's humidity levels. Commissioners decided to keep the ban in place at today's meeting. The ban will expire Feb. 14.
  • The Travis County Sheriff’s Office will accept a donation of 12 Pivothead video glasses, valued at $2,144.29, from the Travis County Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Association. The wearable smart video eyewear will be used by the county's SWAT Unit, which currently has limited capabilities with only six cameras available during operations. The new equipment, approved for use by commissioners Tuesday morning, is expected to provide better quality video. Video will only be captured during tactical operations and is not ready for day-to-day use.
  • Commissioners approved a bid for the remodel of the Austin-Travis County Sobriety Center awarded to Tegrity Contractors Inc. A total of nine bids were received ranging from $707,777 to $1.29 million. According to county documents, the facilities management department reviewed the proposals and determined the lowest bid, submitted by Tegrity Contractors, as fair and reasonable. The center will move into the county's existing medical examiner's office, located 1213 Sabine St., Austin, which will be partly remodeled. The construction period is estimated to last 150 days.