Commissioners approve $1.72 million North Main drain contract and multiple heavy-equipment purchases

Hidalgo County Commissioners Court on March 3 approved a construction contract and a series of equipment purchases intended to accelerate drainage work in flood-prone areas. The court voted to award the North Main Drain Expansion Phase 2 contract to Core Equipment LLC for the base bid segments and add-alvertisements, a total price announced as $1,720,008.72, subject to final legal review.

The drainage-district general manager said the district has secured grant funding with a 75/25 participation rate and noted more than $4 million in grant money is supporting the work. Commissioners also approved authorizations to advertise an RFP for several drainage-crossing improvements and gave the district manager delegated authority to approve change orders up to the statutory limits.

Separately, the court approved multiple cooperative-purchase awards for heavy equipment, including compact track loaders and a telescopic handler under a board pricing arrangement, and purchase orders for John Deere and Caterpillar equipment through Sourcewell and similar cooperative contracts. Jaime Salazar, who identified himself for the record, said the county follows standard purchasing procedures and forwards vendor attachments to county staff for review.

Supporters of the measures said the equipment acquisitions and contract awards are funded from prior budget cycles and grant proceeds and are intended to speed repairs, address erosion, and improve drainage at sites including the UTRGV stadium corridor and several precinct road crossings. The motions carried with voices saying "aye," and items were noted as subject to final legal review.

The court also approved routine procurement steps, including change-order authority consistent with the Water Code and an RFP advertising packet for multiple drainage projects; each item was presented as vetted by the district's project engineer and staff.