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Cameron County approves grant consultant and commits funds for Bejarano McFarland park improvements, subject to waiver
Summary
The commissioners approved hiring a consultant to prepare a Texas Parks & Wildlife grant application and committed county match funds for phase 2 improvements to Bejarano McFarland Memorial Park, contingent on state/federal waiver of retroactivity for use of recently purchased land as match.
Cameron County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved hiring Alexander Business Development to help prepare and submit a Texas Parks & Wildlife Local Park Non-Urban Outdoor grant application for phase 2 improvements at Bejarano McFarland Memorial Park, and approved a county commitment toward the grant match — both approvals were made contingent on required waivers.
County staff explained the county has already approved purchase of additional property intended to serve as the local match for the Parks & Wildlife grant, but the state and the federal program both require a waiver of retroactivity for recently acquired land to be used as match. County staff requested that the court approve the consultant agreement to prepare the grant and authorize a commitment of county funds for the match if the waiver is granted.
“Subject to the waiver of reciprocity being given to us,” Commissioner Gadsden moved to approve the consultant agreement; Commissioner Reese seconded the motion. The court approved the consultant contract with the condition that the waiver be approved before the county signs or finalizes the purchase as match.
Separately, the court approved item M to apply for the Parks & Wildlife local park non-urban outdoor grant and to provide a commitment toward the local match. During the discussion county staff and commissioners debated the total local-match obligations across recent park projects and noted other park infrastructure projects (Isla Blanca electrical and sewer work) have increased capital needs; staff said they are researching funding sources and value-engineering prior to bidding those projects.
County staff said they will work with Texas Parks & Wildlife to expedite the waiver and complete required documentation; the county judge and staff were directed to follow up with the sellers and the state so approvals can move forward. The court did not take any immediate property-closing actions without the state waiver in hand.
