Williamson County officials have granted a public safety exemption for mortuary transportation services, allowing the county to continue using Tranquil Mortuary without going through a formal request for proposal process.

Background

The county’s purchasing department had flagged that annual spending on deceased transportation had reached almost $253,000, surpassing the $100,000 threshold that typically triggers a formal request for proposal process. However, the four Williamson County JPs opposed an RFP process, requesting that the court use a local government code provision to grant a discretionary exemption for services necessary to preserve public health and safety.

Precinct 2 JP Angela Williams stated that the exemption allows for efficiently removing a body from a public area, which is critical for both mental health and public safety. Tranquil Mortuary, the county’s current provider, is the only reliable 24-hour local option, and hiring an out-of-county provider would lead to extended response times.

Outcome

Commissioners voted 4-1 for the exemption, with Precinct 2 commissioner Cynthia Long voting no. In addition to allowing the exemption, commissioners requested that the purchasing and legal teams establish a formal contract with Tranquil going forward.

Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.