Montgomery County commissioners approved Labor Day overtime exemptions for two law enforcement agencies Aug. 20 following a tense discussion over how much control elected officials should have over their departmental budgets.
The court also advanced flood mitigation work along several San Jacinto River tributaries. In a separate meeting, the Montgomery County Toll Road Authority awarded a nearly $6 million road contract.
The details
Commissioners approved Sheriff Wesley Doolittle’s request to exempt his employees from the county’s 80-hour overtime rule from Sept. 4-8 for Labor Day weekend. A similar exemption was approved for Precinct 1 Constable Philip Cash’s office, which oversees holiday marine patrols on Lake Conroe.
Budget Officer Amanda Carter said the county tested the exemption earlier in the summer for the sheriff’s office and Precinct 1, 3 and 4 constable offices. Approximately $82,000 was paid as overtime that otherwise would have been paid at straight-time rates.
The sheriff’s office and Precinct 1 remained within their overtime budgets, while Precincts 3 and 4 used vacancy savings to cover additional costs, Carter said.
Doolittle said three recent task force operations cost about $35,000, plus salary and benefits, and generated roughly $42,000. The exemption added $11,715 beyond what the office would have ordinarily spent.
“We’re managing our office well,” Doolittle said. “As a constitutional elected official, I think I need that discretion and not be micromanaged in my budget.”
Doolittle questioned why the request was pulled from the consent agenda and said he felt singled out. County Judge Mark Keough apologized and said the court was not attempting to micromanage the sheriff.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Ritch Wheeler said the earlier trial showed elected officials could manage the additional flexibility.
“We gave elected officials a budget,” Wheeler said. “Those elected officials held their departments accountable and stayed within that budget.”
County staff said an item could return at a future meeting to give law enforcement offices broader overtime authority when they remain within budget.
Also on the agenda
Commissioners also authorized negotiations with the highest-evaluated vendor for debris monitoring tied to San Jacinto River watershed flood mitigation projects.
The work includes Stewart Creek, Lake Creek, East County waterways and portions of the East Fork of the San Jacinto River. Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Gray said the projects will include removing accumulated debris and sediment from several tributaries.
“This is finally happening,” Gray said. “This is super exciting to see this move forward.”
County Purchasing Agent Kelly Vidal clarified that the action only authorized negotiations. A final contract will return to the court for approval.
Before you go
The Montgomery County Toll Road Authority awarded Hassell Construction Group a $5.97 million contract for improvements to Decker Prairie and Hardin Store roads near Hwy. 249.
The project will widen the roadway and improve drainage from approximately 0.086 miles west of Hwy. 249 to 0.285 miles east of the highway, per the agenda.
Vidal said the lowest bidder, Environmental Allies, was not recommended because of concerns about the company’s ability to complete the work based on references and feedback from the project’s engineering firm.
The authority selected Hassell as the “lowest and best” bidder for $5,972,080.12.
