The Cameron County Commissioners Court on May 6, 2025 approved routine consent items, voted to award a consulting services contract, accepted an alley closure, rejected a donated parcel and moved several items to future meetings after additional review.

Highlights include: approval to add evaluation committee members for Beach Access No. 3 RFP, a unanimous award of consulting services for the county’s self-funded employee health plan to Valley Risk Consulting, approval to submit an intent-to-apply to the Texas Water Development Board for a regional master drainage plan, and the court’s rejection of an offered 8.87-acre donation in Brownsville. The court also tabled three items for more information: a contract for arts-and-crafts therapy at the juvenile detention center, a proposed personnel-policy amendment regarding background checks, and the one-year renewal of an interlocal agreement to provide school law enforcement for Harlingen CISD.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: Remaining consent items approved (motion: Commissioner Reese; second: Commissioner Benavides). Outcome: approved.

- Travel items A–N: Approved (motion: Commissioner Benavides). Outcome: approved.

- RFP 250501 (Cameron County Beach Access No. 3, Improvement Phase 2): Added committee members Joshua Schall (assistant parks director), Rowan Gomez (GMS Architects), Joe Vega (parks director liaison) and Danny Villareal (construction manager). Motion to approve by Commissioner Lopez; second Commissioner Reese. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution honoring UTRGV Vaquero chess team: Court presented and adopted a congratulatory resolution; presentation by coach Bartek Maseja and program manager Colt Smith Muñoz. Outcome: adopted.

- Proclamation honoring Deputy Reynaldo Gonzalez on his retirement after 29 years: Adopted and signed by the court. Outcome: adopted.

- Budget amendments (Veterans Court grant; Beach Access No. 3 Accessibility Grant): Approved (motion noted in packet; second by Commissioner Benavides). Outcome: approved.

- Approval of claims: General claims totaling $10,146,596.60 (as presented), medical claims $675,877.88, debt claims $75,521.79, payroll estimated gross pay $5,282,993, net pay $2,792,592. Auditor recommended approval; motion by Commissioner Benavides; second by Commissioner Reese. Commissioner Benavides recorded an abstention on warrant number 578035. Outcome: approved.

- Alley closure — 20-foot alley in Olmito original townsite (Precinct 2): Public hearing opened and closed; court adopted order accepting closure. Motion to accept closure by Commissioner Lopez; second by Commissioner Reese. Outcome: approved (order adopted).

- Evaluation committee tabulation acknowledgment (RFP 1459A — consulting services for self-funded employee health plan): Acknowledged. Motion to acknowledge by Commissioner Lopez; second Commissioner Garza. Outcome: acknowledged.

- Award — RFP 1459A: County awarded consulting services for preparation and administration of the self-funded employee health care plan to Valley Risk Consulting (subject to contract negotiations). Motion by Commissioner Lopez; second Commissioner Reese. Outcome: approved. County discussion noted that Valley Risk scored third on technical but was lowest cost and has many local Valley clients.

- Texas General Land Office presentation (state veterans cemeteries and veterans home options): Presentation acknowledged by motion of Commissioner Benavides; second Commissioner Reese. Outcome: acknowledged; GLO agreed to send timeline and legislative bill numbers referenced.

- Executive session: Court recessed into executive session under Texas Government Code sections cited by the court and returned to open session; court then moved to acknowledge and proceed per executive-session discussions (motion by Commissioner Reese; second Commissioner Lopez). Outcome: acknowledged.

- Intent to apply to Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) — project 16159: Court authorized submission of an intent-to-apply form for a regional master drainage plan for Cameron and Hidalgo counties. Motion by Commissioner Reese; second Commissioner Lopez. Outcome: approved.

- Personnel policy amendment regarding background checks (prospective and existing employees): Motion to table by Commissioner Reyes (second Commissioner Benavides). Outcome: tabled.

- Donation of 8.87 acres (Lot 26, Barreta Gardens, Brownsville): Staff recommended rejection; court rejected the donation (motion to reject by Commissioner Benavides; second by Commissioner Lopez). Outcome: rejected.

- Renewal of interlocal with Harlingen Consolidated ISD to provide law enforcement for schools (one-year renewal): Motion to table by Commissioner Reese; second Commissioner Benavides. Outcome: tabled.

- Adjournment: Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Benavides; second Commissioner Lopez. Outcome: approved. Court adjourned at 1:44 p.m.

Where recorded votes or tallies were not specified in the transcript, the article reports the motion, mover and seconder as stated during the meeting. Several items were tabled for additional documentation and legal review.