Change Order for TX 249 Toll Road Project Raises Objection of “Unethical Practices”

San Antonio Express-News reports, “[Montgomery County] Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack said he is fed up with what he believes are unethical practices by County Judge Craig Doyal, and made his stance known via a Commissioners Court vote Tuesday [December 2o] as well as comments afterward. Noack was the lone ‘nay’ in a 4-1 vote approving a change order that added $385,000 to the county’s $1.987 million contract with Halff Associates Inc. for work on the Texas 249 toll road project. The change order calls for additional services needed for the right-of-way acquisition assistance, storm drainage design and off-site detention pond analysis and design. . . .” The report adds, “While Noack doesn’t question Halff Associates’ qualifications, he said due to Doyal’s personal and business relationship with Bobby Adams, a vice president with Halff Associates, the county judge should recuse himself from the discussion and vote.” The newspaper notes that Doyal and Adams, longtime friends, are co-owners of a holdings company and part owners in another business venture. “Doyal has been involved in every vote regarding Halff Associates’ approximately a dozen contracts worth around $3 million since [2010].”