The Starr County Commissioners Court approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Roma on Reinvestment Zone No. 1 and voted to begin negotiations with the highest-ranked engineering firm to conduct a drainage study, the court said at a public meeting. The court also approved the sheriffs Chapter 59 budget submission and an order of salaries; a set of budget amendments (items 1334) was listed for consideration and the transcript does not specify further details on final action for those amendments.

County officials said the interlocal agreement with the City of Roma provides for a 50% reinvestment arrangement for the reinvestment zone. "I just want to thank the commission for approving this agenda item," a City of Roma representative said after the vote, adding the arrangement should support industrial and other economic development in the area.

A selection committee reported that four engineering firms submitted proposals for the countys drainage study and that SAMES was ranked highest. The court voted to begin negotiations with the top-ranked firm. A selection committee member told the commissioners that the General Land Office (GLO) has been conducting a flood study and that GLO officials said they are ready to share that flood-study information with whichever firm the county hires; the committee member said that should speed and reduce portions of the drainage-study work.

The court approved the sheriffs Chapter 59 budget submission required by statute; staff told the court the sheriffs office had submitted the document and county staff had received it. The transcript records the motion, a second and an "aye" vote but does not list individual vote names.

Items 13 through 34 were presented as budget amendments and the court recorded a motion and second and then recessed into an executive session to discuss the order of salaries. The transcript records the court returning to open session and later approving the order of salaries "as presented," but it does not specify line-item outcomes or dollar amounts for items 1334.

The court also approved a proclamation declaring this month Eye Donation Month; the proclamation was included in the meeting packet and commissioners voted "aye" to adopt it.

No contract values, firm negotiation terms, dates for when a selected firm will begin work, or dollar amounts for the budget amendments were stated in the transcript. The General Land Office flood-study data and the selection committees scoring were described as available to the county and the selected firm, but the transcript does not include timelines for that data transfer or for completion of the drainage study.