Court approves contractor payments and directs creation of grant cost-allocation policy

Maverick County Commissioners Court unanimously approved issuing payments for contracted services and directed staff to complete a county cost-allocation policy for grants during its Feb. 10 meeting. The court said the actions followed attorney-led executive-session discussions and were intended to ensure the county met contractual obligations and avoided future legal exposure.

Commissioner Ramos moved to proceed with payments to service providers identified by the county attorney’s office, including AccessIT and LGS Toshiba; Commissioner Gris seconded the motion and the court approved it by unanimous vote. In public remarks following the vote, the presiding officer said the contracts had been previously approved by the court and that the immediate question was ensuring payment while the county finalizes a cost-allocation plan.

The court set a timeline to review a final cost-allocation policy at the next commissioners court meeting; the presiding officer said meetings with the auditors office and other staff (naming Miss Masuka and Mr. Racheta) would take place to finalize the policy. Commissioners raised concerns about uniform application of cost allocation (percentages applied to grants) and the risk to Operation Lone Star and other grants if the policy were applied inconsistently. The presiding officer said the policy would be finalized and presented to the court at the next meeting and urged auditors to apply it uniformly.

No dollar amounts or specific contract payment schedules were discussed in detail in open session; the court recorded the vote as unanimous.