Commissioners approve interlocal amendment, clear path to hire engineer for Concho stormwater project

Aransas County Commissioners Court on a unanimous vote approved an amendment to an April interlocal agreement with the City of Rockport and the Aransas County Navigation District that clarifies how the three parties will select and contract engineers and share cooperative-purchasing resources for a stormwater management project around the Fort Harvey/Concho area. The court then accepted the stormwater technical committee’s recommendation and authorized hiring the top-ranked engineering firm to complete the design phase of the Concho stormwater drainage project.

Why it matters: The action clears an administrative hurdle county staff said was necessary to move from planning into engineering design before the June engineering deadline. County and Nav District officials said completing design work is the next step before any construction commitments or grant-funded purchases are made.

The court debated whether approving the amendment now exposes the county to risk if the other parties later change terms or decline to proceed. Tim Tuggie, attorney for the Aransas County Navigation District, urged approval to keep the project on schedule and said the April interlocal already provides some authority; the amendment mainly expands and clarifies engineering provisions. “I would urge you to go ahead and approve this,” Tuggie told the court. Judy Velasic, who represents Precinct 1A on the Navigation District, said the item has been discussed for years and urged moving forward on the engineering portion: “We do need to move forward with the engineering portion of it…we need to get going on something like this.”

County staff explained the amendment shortens procurement time by allowing use of the county’s general engineering pool and cooperative purchasing accounts so the parties can meet a 60-day target to engage a firm. Commissioners pressed for assurance that selecting an engineer now commits the county only to the design phase; staff and counsel said any construction decision would return to each governing body for separate approval. “As a practical matter, if you approve this right now, all you’re doing really is committing to the design piece of that engineering engagement,” the Nav District’s counsel said.

Following presentations from the stormwater technical committee, the court voted to accept the committee’s top-ranked firm (recorded in the meeting as “half” engineers) and then approved a related hiring resolution to authorize the firm contract. The record shows the selection and related hiring resolution passed unanimously.

What’s next: With the design firm engaged, the commissioners, city and nav district will receive preliminary designs and cost estimates; any decision to proceed to construction or to accept grant-funded purchases will require separate approvals by the parties. County staff noted a mutual deadline for the engineer engagement and asked the court to approve now so work can begin on items tied to the engineer’s scope.

Votes at a glance - Motion to approve amendment to interlocal cooperative agreement with City of Rockport and Aransas County Navigation District (to clarify engineering selection, cooperative purchasing and support for grant applications): approved, unanimous (Commissioners Cheney, Castorlein, Russo, Dupnik and County Judge voted Aye). - Motion to accept the stormwater technical committee recommendation and select the top-ranked engineering firm for professional engineering services associated with the Concho stormwater drainage project: approved, unanimous. - Motion to approve hiring resolution to authorize contracting with the selected engineering firm: approved, unanimous.

Speakers who spoke on this topic included Tim Tuggie (attorney for the Aransas County Navigation District), Judy Velasic (Navigation District commissioner, Precinct 1A), Jack Wright (citizen), county engineering staff and members of the stormwater technical committee. The court’s county engineer and the Nav District’s attorney explained procurement and next steps, and multiple commissioners voiced support contingent on returning for construction approvals.

Ending note: County staff and the Nav District said any outstanding amendment language not related to the engineering provisions can be renegotiated and brought back to the court, and that the immediate objective is to secure the engineering work required to advance grants and planning work for the Concho/Fort Harvey drainage improvements.