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Hardin County delays decision on hiring outside counsel to pursue $73,878.94 recovery from MPTX Associates
Summary
The Hardin County Commissioners Court postponed consideration of authorizing the county attorney to retain outside counsel to recover $73,878.94 in alleged overpayments to MPTX Associates Inc. tied to FEMA hazard mitigation project DR4332-0052; the county attorney recommended no action pending further investigation.
At 11:29 a.m., the Hardin County Commissioners Court postponed action on whether to authorize the county attorney to hire outside counsel to recover $73,878.94 in alleged overpayments to MPTX Associates Incorporated related to FEMA hazard mitigation project DR4332-0052, a project connected to Hurricane Harvey.
The item matters because it concerns recovery of federal hazard-mitigation funds administered through FEMA; the county is considering legal steps to retrieve the money if overpayments are confirmed.
County Attorney (unnamed) told the court that the attorney recommended "no action at this time until we can make some further, investigations," citing the need for additional review. After that recommendation, County Judge McDaniels moved to pass item number 34 until a future date. The transcript records a second and a voice vote; the court recorded members saying "Aye." The motion to postpone carried and the court moved on to item 35.
The item on the agenda sought authorization for the county attorney to consult and negotiate with outside counsel on behalf of the court to recover the specified amount and "any other amounts which may be discovered in overpayments to MPTX in the future," and to pursue "any and all legal action as necessary to recover said funds from MPTX Associates Incorporated." The transcript shows the county attorney advised a pause for further investigation before pursuing outside counsel.
Following the vote on item 34, Commissioner Cook moved to adjourn; Commissioner Kuykendahl seconded, and the court adjourned after another unanimous voice vote.
Discussion: The record documents the county attorney—s recommendation for more investigation but contains no further details about the nature of the overpayment, the source of that finding, any prior audits, or a timeline for the investigations. No dollar breakdown beyond $73,878.94 or additional amounts was provided in the public record. The transcript does not identify which commissioner seconded the postponement motion, nor does it record individual roll-call votes for item 34.
