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Local adjuster urges Rio Grande City to use emergency procurement code for storm recovery
Summary
At the March 24 meeting, Revive Restoration representatives urged the city to consider Texas Local Government Code §252.022(a)(2) to bypass formal RFPs for urgent storm‑recovery insurance claims and offered public-adjuster services to maximize claim recovery while limiting fees to about 10% of proceeds.
Mark Wilson and Tom Simmons of Revive Restoration urged Rio Grande City commissioners at the public‑forum segment to speed storm recovery by using an emergency procurement option in state law.
"My name is Mark Wilson," Wilson said, framing his firm as "faith‑based and service driven" and offering the company’s resources to help repair storm‑damaged properties. His partner, Tom Simmons, who identified himself as a public insurance adjuster, told the commission that municipal claim recovery often falls short and suggested a lower‑cost alternative to attorney representation.
"Insurance companies by and large only pay out 10 to 25% of what is actually needed in funds to restore properties," Simmons said, arguing that a public adjuster can often secure a larger recovery for a fee of up to 10% of claim proceeds and that "if there's no recovery, there is no fee." He urged the commission to consider Texas Local Government Code §252.022(a)(2), which permits noncompetitive procurement when public health and safety require immediate action, so the city could engage consultants quickly after a storm.
Simmons also summarized typical fee structures: attorneys commonly charge 20–40% of settlements, while public adjusters commonly charge up to 10%, with the option of bringing in counsel only for the last portion of a negotiation.
Commission staff asked the presenters to leave contact information with the secretary for follow‑up. No formal action was taken during the public comment period; commissioners directed staff to accept the contact and consider next steps.
The presentation is part of ongoing storm‑recovery conversations; any formal contracting by the city would require staff review to confirm legal compliance, funding availability and whether the emergency procurement criteria in state code apply.
