Trinidad, Texas – At a recent city council meeting, officials focused on two pressing municipal matters: restoring public safety after the disbanding of the Trinidad Police Department and moving forward with a new water‑meter procurement process.
Policing options under review
The council heard presentations from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and Log Cabin Police regarding how the city might secure law‑enforcement coverage. Log Cabin Police proposed hiring two full‑time officers to patrol the city and to handle ordinance violations. In contrast, the sheriff’s office said it would increase its presence within city limits but would not assume responsibility for city ordinances.
Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse emphasized the reliability of a county partnership, stating, “What I can guarantee you, if you enter into this agreement with the county, you’re going to have more presence of the sheriff’s office in the city limits. If you decide not to, I can’t guarantee you that.”
Mayor [Mayor’s Name] noted that council members want to be at full strength before making a final decision, as one council seat remains vacant. The council also approved the sale of the city’s aging police vehicles, with the mayor tasked to research options and report back at a later date.
Water‑meter procurement put on hold
In a separate agenda item, council members tabled the expected vote on how to solicit bids for new water meters and related equipment. Council Member Steven Stearman explained that the city could purchase the meters through a program called BuyBoard, which offers pre‑set pricing through an already‑approved procurement process. “The company that we looked at agreed to sell to us through another company, through BuyBoard. And BuyBoard is a legal way that government entities can bypass the RFPs. It’s already done for us,” Stearman said.
Although the council decided to postpone the vote, members agreed to bring back detailed pricing at a future meeting. The mayor also reported that crews have begun a citywide water‑line survey, a project approved last month to assess the condition of existing infrastructure.
Next steps for public safety and water services
With the police department currently inactive due to a failed state audit, Trinidad’s leadership is seeking a solution that balances immediate law‑enforcement presence with long‑term departmental rebuilding. The council’s deliberations on whether to partner with the county sheriff or to expand Log Cabin Police staffing will shape the city’s public‑safety strategy for the coming months.
On the water‑service front, the BuyBoard approach offers a streamlined path to acquire meters without a full request‑for‑proposals process, but council members want more pricing data before committing funds. The ongoing water‑line survey will inform future infrastructure upgrades and ensure reliable service for residents.
Both issues reflect Trinidad’s broader effort to maintain essential services while exercising fiscal responsibility and transparency for its citizens.
Original reporting: KLTV 7 Tyler (news) — read the source article.
