Two Brazos County commissioners who did not get information delays votes on awarding contracts totaling $54.5 million

This podcast contains comments from the March 11, 2025 Brazos County commisson meeting.The two newest members of the Brazos County commission say they did not get information on two contracts totaling $54.5 million dollars.That resulted in a vote to delay action on the contracts for an architect and a construction manager at risk for the Brazos County's new office complex across Texas Avenue from the courthouse.Commissioner Bentley Nettles, who made the motion to delay the vote, said "what I didn't see in the documents before me was a study of the office space and a justification why we needed the additional office space. So if that's out there, if you all can just get that to me, that'll probably be fine. And that's why I didn't want to vote today, because quite frankly without that information, I'm afraid I'd have to vote no (against awarding the contracts)."Nettles was not swayed after county judge Duane Peters shared how the complex would address current and future space requirements.Nettles brought up that this isn't the first time that county staff has not provided him with information on a project that began before he was elected last November. Nettles told county judge Duane Peters "this is a frustration I've had, and you (Peters) and I have discussed this and so have I and the (commission's) chief of staff about needing to get the information so I can make the decision."Commissioner Fred Brown, who began January 1 with Nettles, added "the issue here is the fact that Bentley and I come in as new commissioners, and we're asked to vote on a $50 million dollar project that we haven't been brought up to speed on", and "somebody needs to talk to us about it because that's a big big amount of money."Both Nettles and Brown emphasized they are not against the project, which includes an office building to house the public defenders and adult probation offices and the precinct four constable and justice of the peace offices. The project also includes a skywalk over Texas Avenue connecting the new building to the courthouse and a parking garage.Nettles and Brown were joined by Peters and commissioner Chuck Konderla to bring back the contracts at the next meeting. Wanda Watson did not vote for the delay. She chose to abstain.