County commissioners approved a new purchasing manual to ensure consistency and avoid impropriety within the county’s contracting process.

A new hiring manager was brought in last year to overhaul a Purchasing Department troubled for years with allegations of political meddling.

Pursuant to the new manual, the Commissioners Court will still approve contracts handled by the Purchasing Department, but will be unable to override the department’s vendor choices. These changes are the latest in a series of improvements following the federal indictment of a county commissioner for rigging bids and accepting kickbacks in 2014.