[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6157624,"mediaKeyId","5464730-7871128386e283a71ee4b1d6aeca68b2","parentId",5464730,"title","County greenlights Restore Act procurement; $7.5 million grant to expand coastal park facilities and RV capacity","audioSeconds",268,"startMs",10759000,"endMs",11027000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5464730-7871128386e283a71ee4b1d6aeca68b2&start=10759&end=11027","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5464730-7871128386e283a71ee4b1d6aeca68b2/thumbnail_10759000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6157624/Nueces-County/Texas/County-greenlights-Restore-Act-procurement-75-million-grant-to-expand-coastal-park-facilities-and-RV-capacity","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6157624-2a17165cb709bd64ec70f4a7f97a141b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129457&Signature=HQ72z~-PMwIiw5K7vBMxDQ~ZQa6R1E-8PdGHOOo~VvO1-3vuwTX3e-yOho~4ybg4H2jXdoASrPubZ1gkzabZpPOTJ7czjGJMoff5UWqAvrcah91HN0XYDQd36RlbLktZCrvgbBkSyOcL4WfeGnPKHGT77xQaI8e26TH5Fxp5yBZQDia5zC80I9AigQeDkc2RD8VyRYvKCBtyA3Cb~iiwdAcYr5ulNVyZdURHvphU~8ePhV1hqAGWXbE6SK2c2gRGOSYUGPZr8CE1TDObR82LKuAG40lPsfrAuQeYSeJSmjoTGzlkRzIdYPo1VQR~W4A2PIBqRINeNZ98sPUvgeQvTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nueces County, TX","date","2025-07-24T18:42:52.393Z","article","Nueces County officials told the commissioners court they are ready to move forward with procurement to implement a $7.5 million RESTORE Act grant for coastal parks improvements, including enlargement of RV pads and new amenities at IB McGee and Padre Island facilities.

Scott (coastal parks director) told the court he wrote the original funding application in 2016 and the county received the award in 2018. \"It took me this is no exaggeration. It took me 3 weeks, 7 days a week to write this thing. And out of all the applications that received in bucket 1, which is what this is of the Restore Act, there were over 3,000,000,000 applicants and applicants that were received and only 114,000,000 that was awarded,\" Scott said.

He said the grant will be used to expand RV capacity, add restrooms and shower facilities, build an open-air pavilion and complete other site improvements. He said permitting and environmental reviews are largely complete and that the grant requires project completion by February 2027.

Why it matters: Coastal parks generate significant visitor revenue for the county. Commissioners emphasized the importance of detailed financial projections'how much the expanded facilities will produce in net revenue and how operating costs will be handled'and asked staff to return with granular profit-and-loss figures for the piers and RV facilities.

Key procurement and program details

- Grant size and timing: Scott said the RESTORE Act grant award is $7.5 million and that construction and obligations must be completed by Feb. 2027.

- Project elements: Scott said planned work includes doubling or tripling RV capacity at locations including Padre Island and IB McGee, adding restrooms/shower facilities, an outdoor pavilion funded by an additional small TCEQ amendment ($315,000), and other visitor amenities.

- Procurement: Commissioners approved the procurement method and directed staff to proceed with bidding and contract awards under county procurement rules. The court also approved an ARPA-funded equipment purchase (a trailer) for park operations.

Commissioners asked for more financial detail and timeline

Commissioners asked staff to return with detailed revenue and expense projections for the expanded RV parks and the piers so the court can evaluate long-term operating impacts and subsidy needs. Scott said RV occupancy runs near 92% year-round and described the projects as revenue-generating investments that will reduce net subsidy over time.

Ending

The court authorized staff to proceed with procurement steps for the RESTORE Act-funded coastal parks improvements and approved an ARPA purchase to support operations; staff will return with the bid results and detailed financial projections.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","7/23/2025 Nueces County Commissioner’s Court","oneSentenceSummary","Nueces County approved procurement steps for a $7.5 million RESTORE Act award to expand coastal park facilities including RV sites and amenities; county staff said the work must be completed by February 2027 and will be bid under public procurement rules.","taxTitle","Nueces County, Texas","taxId",2715,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6157628,"County public hearing on colonias grant focuses on debris removal, waste pickup and deadline to spend funds",1355,1125000,2480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5464730-7871128386e283a71ee4b1d6aeca68b2&start=1125&end=2480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5464730-7871128386e283a71ee4b1d6aeca68b2/thumbnail_1125000.jpg","/articles/6157628/Nueces-County/Texas/County-public-hearing-on-colonias-grant-focuses-on-debris-removal-waste-pickup-and-deadline-to-spend-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6157628-2b1c165ce054b73eae161629faea57dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129457&Signature=oaxm4n02-TY-PTjRfG1TPnkl9Sxj3KxUFAhJSPs1vGzyNNJvjhkO2zz~7lESNnsq2LGEKsy4mhdUtSOvhTwg8LEgon8eceZHkpEjOnj0OLmvmOx7-jR1nX2Vk6yZuHW79BM~ky031EZCrEh2SDCVg4pu~LwDn2Lg7VHLPXsSd8X3AtrDXFQMCgUq0XgJkO7FrkGhdwwb8qRRTJelv-HaTSU2puj30QNlTLUzZv8kztA6x77wN3m~l5uhvqI90OpePQ2kNDYK~1QInrn1SXi7SZpsBxeGFrfFu~-MtApRNsJ57eDlY9xyCEKxGAFiaL4iXNa2y1150nSkIRQiIpwvuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Nueces County held a public hearing during commissioners court on proposed changes to a colonias self-help grant the county will submit to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).

Anna (county staff) told the court the grant covers a $500,000 allocation and that staff is seeking authority to move certain line items. \"This grant will be ending 12/31/2026. That is why we're trying to just move some of these monies to debris removal, which is $20,000,\" Anna said.

Community needs and proposed changes

Speakers at the hearing described routine illegal dumping and limited waste disposal access in colonias. A resident who said they had worked in colonias urged solid-waste removal and rehabilitation services rather than full reconstruction in some cases, citing localized needs such as storm damage, roof failures and dispersed settlement patterns.

County staff and a marine reserve unit described survey work in the colonias that will be used to support future grant applications. Major Adam Lorenz, officer in charge of a 10-person Marine Corps civil affairs detachment, said Marine Corps IRT (Innovative Readiness Training) troops had visited more than 24 colonias and attempted more than 2,000 resident surveys to support the county's grant work.

Timing and constraints

County staff said the grant must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026, and that the county will bring a resolution for court signatures to amend the contract with TDHCA. Anna told the court staff will return with recommendations on which colonias will receive services if commissioners approve the changes; she listed current service areas including Bluebonnet, Cindy Park, Ranch and Jaylen.

County operations and follow-up

County staff said they plan to seek bids for contractors to perform debris removal and to run a street-by-street solid-waste pickup in selected colonias, drawing on a model used in Cameron and Willacy counties where organizers said similar programs were successful. Commissioners asked staff to clarify funding carryover risks and whether grant cycles would leave the county with a funding gap between state allocations; staff said they would investigate whether the Texas agency can bridge timing gaps when the legislature is not in session.

Ending

No formal vote to change the grant was recorded at the hearing; staff said they would return to court with an interlocal amendment and recommended locations and a plan for debris removal and rehabilitation work prior to submitting an amendment to TDHCA.","At a public hearing, county staff and community partners discussed proposed changes to a colonias self-help grant to add solid-waste removal and shift reconstruction to rehabilitation; the grant totals $500,000 and expires Dec. 31, 2026, staff said.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6157633,"Nueces County cuts contribution to two TIRZs, adopts moratorium on new zones pending policy",1532,5197000,6729000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5464730-7871128386e283a71ee4b1d6aeca68b2&start=5197&end=6729","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5464730-7871128386e283a71ee4b1d6aeca68b2/thumbnail_5197000.jpg","/articles/6157633/Nueces-County/Texas/Nueces-County-cuts-contribution-to-two-TIRZs-adopts-moratorium-on-new-zones-pending-policy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6157633-99f3fe4fcf472442770ed8f793b837b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129457&Signature=aCtrqeXS42oVUApVsm9YeCkTmDuWUSQ7GRYo9nUMyIefYvtBserCkY4HWVsOFmw6yur73Lg-nH2RihinxwbQxYUFx0RTpTO0NmTOW~Nkv3SbgLm0vAQKseZ1Lj5CM2k2ijeqgDA~FZzIOF~ZDRsVt-Kuastry-QPvh89FSrKv8Ska3K5ofDfS0ryKL6BhD9pvD1l5vcXxKXWhy0uRo9dliTXaYWprwtUTTY6ffiCnwTocnqCOy2Bnvf0A927m7VNaOFRM29AZuHmJK8pTkgyyVOsU0PEpbqCPpRgNDlHMA0u5ipF6UC~TUGQUgooNrJi8~BWMeKQKvtD1Z0sgMPs8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Nueces County Commissioners Court on Tuesday moved to make current TIRZ funding more consistent and to pause acceptance of new TIRZ applications while it drafts a formal policy governing county participation.

Commissioner Chesney asked the court to reduce the county's participation in downtown and North Beach TIRZs to the same stepped schedule the county already uses for Padre Island; the court voted unanimously to make the change.

\"I think we ought to reduce the remaining 2 to the same level that we've done for the island because that's fair and that's consistent,\" Chesney said during the discussion.

The court also approved, unanimously, a temporary moratorium on any new TIRZ (Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone) applications submitted after June 15, 2025 until the court adopts written criteria for county participation. Commissioner Chesney volunteered to lead the policy development work.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the action brings the county's commitments into parity across multiple city-led redevelopment zones and gives the court time to adopt a policy that clarifies when the county will participate, how long it will contribute, and which public improvements county funds should support.

Details of the change and moratorium

- Participation change: The court agreed to apply the stepped participation schedule already used on Padre Island (a phased percentage that steps down over years) to the downtown and North Beach TIRZs. The county said the change takes effect immediately for the two zones addressed.

- Moratorium: The court adopted a temporary moratorium on new TIRZ applications received after 2025-06-15. The moratorium permits zones already in the pipeline to proceed but stops the court from accepting and approving any additional new TIRZs until the court adopts a policy.

Commissioners emphasized fairness and fiscal limits

Commissioners said the county has been subsidizing projects that, after annexation, primarily benefit city tax rolls and developers. Several commissioners said the county should continue to partner where it helps county residents or addresses county-level burdens (for example, replacing septic with city sewer) but should have consistent rules for participation.

Next steps

The court asked staff to draft policy options and asked Commissioner Chesney to lead the policy development for return to court. The moratorium will remain in place until the court approves a written policy on TIRZ participation.

Ending

The court said the moratorium and immediate parity change are intended to give the county time to develop transparent rules for participation while preserving existing projects currently in process.","The commissioners voted to reduce the county's contribution schedule for downtown and North Beach tax-increment reinvestment zones to match a longstanding agreement on Padre Island, and approved a temporary moratorium on new TIRZ applications until the court adopts formal policy.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6157638,"Developers propose large London-area TIRZ; county moves discussion into executive session",251,5359000,5610000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5464730-7871128386e283a71ee4b1d6aeca68b2&start=5359&end=5610","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5464730-7871128386e283a71ee4b1d6aeca68b2/thumbnail_5359000.jpg","/articles/6157638/Nueces-County/Texas/Developers-propose-large-London-area-TIRZ-county-moves-discussion-into-executive-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6157638-2716516141956125913b5732d6d27363/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129457&Signature=nKVNsrfLiGtoZYAZqtjYtdlf~m5TPpKKOizfzbyip4hE9Io-F7K3Wb2kAfl5KcQaMV3Gv1dp9pLE1Ph20uswpMy-ynOvOsACrwF7NYDyIFI6m1nDNqaY-wURJsHwtngJ-cuiNO~DzuJjKCsArBhY0MMdDRi55LHPUqyIOmONqJw8ag8LbsRc6ALsJp4DTMRjpvJ5RJpcq-gqjdOaxJc3lbpjwrTmWFF5V~mcdWxrrQMgHAASysBd2eBZFJT7CWNbPUSq8PgcSTQVygXDmeh9Vz4QJ349hQ1W5KoC9dt57glacgbJSdzAbuHYrw92eQEGoukrE1Y2pagl4C2tg0kc6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Moses Mastagasi, a developer working with the city, described a proposed Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) covering roughly 4,400 acres of the London area and told the commissioners the zone would support sewer, drainage and higher-density residential and commercial development.

\"The London area is very unique. It's 87 square miles, mostly farm land in the area,\" Mastagasi said during a court briefing, which the county and city intend to use to coordinate potential annexations and infrastructure funding.

Mastagasi said the proposal is intended to permit annexation and targeted infrastructure investments that would allow higher-density housing and commercial development near the London Independent School District. He described three \"shovel-ready\" projects inside the hypothetical zone, including Mirabella, a planned amenity-focused community of about 1,200 homes, and a commercial corridor the developers say would support neighborhood services.

Why it matters: County staff and the presenter said the TIRZ would differ from downtown and North Beach TIRZs because most of the land is undeveloped and currently on septic. The county would participate in infrastructure costs intended to move properties from septic systems to city sewer and build roads and drainage; Mastagasi said the initial projects could generate substantial taxable value over time.

Key points from the briefing

- Scope and rationale: Mastagasi described a beginning zone focused on a corridor of roughly 4,400 acres around the school and church to enable sewer tie-ins and city-standard streets and drainage.

- Shovel-ready projects: The presenter identified Mirabella (about 1,200 planned homes), a London-proper residential component and a commercial district corridor as early projects that could use TIRZ financing.

- Annexation and timing: City and county staff said city voluntary annexation is part of the process. The city will consider its own interlocal agreement; county approval would follow. Mastagasi described a multi-stage process in which individual projects inside the zone would later seek TIRZ project approval.

Court action: commissioners voted unanimously to move the item into executive session for negotiations and legal review. The court stated it would require unanimity to continue discussions outside public session and asked staff and counsel to complete legal review.

What the county says it gets: proponents told the court the county's participation would support sewer and drainage that remove long-term maintenance burdens associated with septic systems and low-density county roads. Mastagasi said the shovel-ready projects alone could represent very large future taxable value and argued that the county would gain tax base and reduced infrastructure burden compared with an alternative where the same acreage developed under county, septic-based standards.

Next steps

The court took the matter under advisement and moved to address details in executive session; the county and city staff will continue negotiations over an interlocal agreement. City staff told the court the city expected to consider the zone at an upcoming council meeting and that county approval would be required before project-level approvals could proceed.

Ending

Commissioners did not vote on a final interlocal agreement at the public session. Instead, the court voted unanimously to take the TIRZ discussion into executive session for legal and negotiation work; the court expects staff to return with negotiated interlocal language and any required legal briefings.","A developer and city staff outlined a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone for an undeveloped London-area corridor; presenters said the plan would enable sewer and roads, and the court voted unanimously to continue negotiations in executive session.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6157643,"Independent forensic review finds multi-year losses in county health insurance fund, flags unauthorized transfers",953,3080000,4033000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5464730-7871128386e283a71ee4b1d6aeca68b2&start=3080&end=4033","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5464730-7871128386e283a71ee4b1d6aeca68b2/thumbnail_3080000.jpg","/articles/6157643/Nueces-County/Texas/Independent-forensic-review-finds-multi-year-losses-in-county-health-insurance-fund-flags-unauthorized-transfers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6157643-d789e0385ba655e45e64ef93f9f6bd56/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129457&Signature=nZ~WO3QQDboaYsQKMRUCH-V~nembKMGOX9F5wAuTlv7F5UG72BULwVnmfDr5BxHEQuEiKX2J5m7zJT5shS411gAHNY48tDDnJkkotCb4WqUmuT2630a206yEgMUwmaEwoOrX5X92iXgYHjkiFM0Eapslq4AQ0T8SenhlgcAxNXVNRlo8PIbWR07vOk7MHL2D4bnpJMy1KlQvInEOO0FQCV4twIPo2dykl9LZHkmdnsAsilfx0bOLOSaCqc9Fn6k0Fv1-dMMUtTZcYVyRHEQQ~kpIf-Z-WMiQEhCvN10w3sPBgaNte9kwdd4E6B5mzj7GUTOAsReV4Jfe8l3TGTgFGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ben Kincaid, a partner with forensic accounting firm Carr, Riggs & Ingram, told the Nueces County Commissioners Court on Tuesday that preliminary work shows the county's health insurance fund ran deficits over a five-year review and that some transfers into the fund were not presented to the court.

Kincaid said the review covered fiscal years 2020 through 2024. \"For both, the health insurance fund as well as the overall county, we are looking at from fiscal year 2020 through fiscal year 2024,\" he said.

The firm presented high-level findings and said draft written reports will follow. \"We now, anticipate on providing the draft reports to the county the first full week in August of this year,\" Kincaid said, adding the drafts will include management responses and detailed recommendations.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the findings raise questions about past financial oversight, budget forecasting and county accounting practices. The court directed the firm to finish reports and return with recommendations and management responses.

Key findings presented

- Adjusted revenues vs. expenditures: CRI presented an adjusted-revenue calculation that excludes one-time transfers into the health insurance fund; over the five-year review the adjusted revenues were about $74 million while expenditures were about $84.1 million, a shortfall of roughly $10.1 million.

- Unauthorized loans/transfers: Kincaid said the firm identified $3,750,000 in loans or transfers from the general fund into the health insurance fund that were not documented as having been brought before the commissioners court. \"We identified $3,750,000 in loans and transfers that were not brought before the commissioner's court and were not made aware by the former county auditor,\" he said.

- Accounting basis and timing effects: CRI reported that the former county auditor had shifted payroll deduction timing and that the county historically recorded premiums in a way that did not reflect an accrual of one pay period in advance; the firm said correct accrual accounting would require an adjustment of about $300,000'$400,000 to the health insurance fund balance.

- Premium and contribution trends: The firm said employee premium increases were small or absent during much of the period while employer contributions rose; according to CRI, Nueces County employee premiums were low relative to comparable counties while employer contributions were comparatively high, and medical cost inflation outpaced premium changes.

Areas of county-wide concern

CRI also reported systemic weaknesses that extended beyond health benefits: siloed operations in the auditor's office, elevated fraud risk in specific areas, underutilization and inconsistent deployment of the county's enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, weak procurement-card controls, untimely bank reconciliations and insufficient procurement documentation.

Commissioners' responses and next steps

Commissioner Chesney, who had requested the forensic work, said the court asked for the review to bring transparency. \"It would sure be nice to have some sort of, I'm sure, executive summary,\" Chesney said, asking the firm to supply an accessible summary for the public in addition to full drafts.

Judge Scott and other commissioners emphasized the findings describe issues during the tenure of the former county auditor, and the court repeatedly clarified the distinctions between past practices and the current auditor's office.

CRI said the health-insurance-specific report will be about 30 pages and the county-wide forensic report about 60 pages; both will include an executive summary, detailed findings and recommended corrective actions. The court directed CRI to deliver draft reports the first full week of August and return to present final reports and management responses.

Ending

The firm provided a preliminary review and the court set a schedule for finished draft reports and management responses. Commissioners said they will use the final reports to set priorities for procedural, accounting and policy changes and to identify any potential referrals for further legal review.","A forensic accounting firm told the Nueces County Commissioners Court that the county's self-insured health plan ran a near $10.1 million shortfall over fiscal years 2020'2024 and identified $3.75 million in loans or transfers that were not brought to court.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County greenlights Restore Act procurement; $7.5 million grant to expand coastal park facilities and RV capacity

County public hearing on colonias grant focuses on debris removal, waste pickup and deadline to spend funds

Nueces County cuts contribution to two TIRZs, adopts moratorium on new zones pending policy

Developers propose large London-area TIRZ; county moves discussion into executive session

Independent forensic review finds multi-year losses in county health insurance fund, flags unauthorized transfers