Brazos County commissioners approved a feasibility study at their April 21 meeting to begin planning a future relocation of the District Attorney's Office. The measure passed with one opposing vote.
About the project
The court authorized a $114,860 contract with Broaddus Planning to evaluate renovations needed to move the DA's office into the current Adult Probation building once county departments transition into the new courthouse annex, which is expected to happen after May 2028.
County Judge Duane Peters said the move is separate from the annex project itself but is intended to prevent delays once the new building opens.
Under the long-term plan:
- Adult Probation will be relocated to the courthouse annex.
- The DA's office will then move into that vacated space, following renovations.
What they're saying
First Assistant District Attorney Brian Baker said the current DA offices inside the courthouse are no longer functional for modern operations. He told commissioners the existing layout of Adult Probation limits evidence storage and daily workflow, calling the space "functionally unworkable."
Precinct 3 Commissioner Fred Brown voted against the proposal, describing it as "a total waste of money," while other commissioners said early planning will help avoid future delays. Brown's opposition was not with the move itself, but for the price tag to "tell us where to put desks, where to put office walls."
"It’s a professional service that’s provided. The fees are what they are, I mean, nothing’s cheap anymore," Trevor Lansdown, county project manager, said.
Also on the agenda
- $7.8 million hospital transfers: Commissioners approved a wire transfer of almost $780,000 tied to the state's Hospital Augmented Reimbursement Program, described as hospital funds passing through the county rather than taxpayer money. Peters said the same went for the $7 million transfer for the ATLIS health data interoperability program, which supports Medicaid hospital systems.
- March primary election results: Commissioners received hand-counted results from the March primary election. A recount in the Precinct 2 commissioner race required officials to review ballots from 30 precincts, including early voting, election day locations and mail-in ballots. Elections Administrator Trudy Hancock said her team counted 7,117 ballots during the process, which required 110 staff hours and resulted in no change.
