Maverick County accepts $475,000-plus catalytic-converter grant to fund investigators and vehicles

Maverick County commissioners on Aug. 26 recognized a catalytic-converter grant award the clerk described as "a little over $475,000" from the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority and approved opening a dedicated county bank account for the funds.

County staff told the court the award required no local match. According to staff, the grant will fund three investigator positions and three vehicles to investigate catalytic-converter thefts and related auto burglaries; sheriff’s-office statistics and staff support were cited as underpinning the application.

"We did receive a little over $475,000. It was through the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority...and that's with no match," county staff (S6) said during the meeting. The court voted unanimously to accept the grant and later unanimously approved opening a named bank account to track the grant funds separately.

County staff and commissioners discussed keeping separate accounts for separate grants so each grant remains identifiable for treasurer and auditor purposes; staff said auditors would advise on commingling or separate-account rules if additional funding arrives.

The court also unanimously approved the procedural step to open the account now so the treasurer can properly receive and disburse funds under the grant program. Further administrative steps and hiring/position details will be handled by county departments and the sheriff’s office as implementation proceeds.

Next steps identified in the meeting included account establishment with the county treasurer and coordination with the auditor on grant accounting practices.