Commissioners adopt DBE program to qualify airport for BIL funding, designate auditor for administrative reconsideration
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Summary
The court approved a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program required by federal regulations to make the county-owned airport eligible for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grants, assigned the DBE liaison role to the county contracts procurement specialist and designated the county auditor’s office as the administrative-reconsideration point.
Aransas County Commissioners unanimously approved a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program prepared by the Selco Group (recorded in the meeting as Selco/Soko) to satisfy U.S. Department of Transportation requirements and qualify the county airport for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) grant funding. The court also designated the county contracts procurement specialist as the DBE liaison officer and amended the administrative-reconsideration officer from a county-attorney-office representative to the county auditor’s office (recorded as a position rather than a specific name).
Why it matters: The DBE program is a precondition for certain federal aviation grants; county staff said they have programmed approximately $1.3 million in BIL funds for airport projects over five years and indicated an immediate target is replacement/relocation of the airport fuel farm.
Discussion and clarifications County staff and the consultant described the DBE liaison officer (DBLO) role and the administrative-reconsideration process. Kelvin (identified in the record as Kelvin Selco/Soko of the Selco Group) outlined duties: “the DBE liaison officer is, of course, the primary overseer of all the women, and minority owned firm activities, progress, etcetera, etcetera.” He explained the administrative-reconsideration person is a second-level contact a firm can use if an issue with the DBLO is not resolved, using as an example payment disputes.
Commissioners raised points about where the DBLO should report and whether the administrative-reconsideration function should sit in the auditor’s office or county attorney’s office. The draft document mistakenly listed the City of Rockport mayor as the DBE liaison’s direct contact; staff corrected that to the county judge. The court amended the program to record the administrative-reconsideration officer as the county auditor (position), and staff agreed to provide the auditor’s contact information to the consultant.
Action taken The court voted to authorize the county judge to sign the DBE program, designate the county contracts procurement specialist as DBLO, and record the county auditor as the administrative-reconsideration officer (position). The vote was unanimous.
Ending: County staff said the DBE program is flexible and can be revised later if personnel change; staff will proceed to register the project and DBE plan in TxDOT and federal grant portals.
