Maverick County court approves exemption to hire Denton Navarro for planning and special counsel

The Maverick County Commissioners Court unanimously approved an exemption to procure planning and special counsel services and authorized an engagement letter with the law firm Denton, Navarro, Rodriguez, Bernal, Santi & See.

The presiding official introduced a request to exempt professional services for planning and special counsel under what was cited in the hearing as statute 262.024(a)(4). An unnamed legal speaker told the court the previously granted exemption for professional services should be sufficient but recommended including the specific statute in the record “just so that people can deal with it.”

Commissioner Rios moved to accept the exemption with Commissioner Morales seconding. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. The court then reopened agenda item 38 by motion of Commissioner Rios, seconded by Commissioner Burris, and approved it unanimously. Following that, the presiding official asked the court to authorize and enter an engagement letter with Denton, Navarro, Rodriguez, Bernal, Santi & See for planning and special counsel services; Commissioner Ramos moved, Commissioner Rios seconded, and the court approved the engagement unanimously.

Why it matters: authorizing special counsel and explicitly citing a statutory exemption can affect how the county procures legal and planning services and may influence oversight and future procurement reviews. The firm named will provide planning and special counsel work under the exemption the court confirmed on the record.

The court proceeded to other business after the authorization. The court did not record any roll-call vote totals in the transcript beyond the presiding official’s announcement that each motion was unanimous.