Discussion on Hidalgo County Drainage District No.1 projects, maintenance and operations:
A.) Pct. 1 East Lateral

Project in the eastern part of the county, will connect to the main drain and channel. Scheduled for completion for August, but there was a delayed due to petitions from farmers. It has been delayed for 60 days to allow farming to continue. New completion day, October 10, for phases 1 and 3. 

B.) Pct. 4 J-08 Drain

Central part of the county running from Ware Rd. running east to McColl Rd. this will allow for expansion of Mile 17 1/2 Rd. The ditch was expanded and the system was extended as well. Part of the bond issuance, with an investment amount of $1.2 million dollars for regional drainage. 

C.) Pct. 4 Hoehn Sanitary Sewer Improvements

Partnership project to provide first time sewer to Hoehn subdivision. Precinct 4 took the lead on this project, and the district worked on the design. The project was completed in February 2017.

D.) Pct. 4 Hoehn Rural Drainage Development

Board Member Eduardo "Eddie" Cantu joined the meeting.

Also part of the partnership project that brought much needed sewer to the area; they have first time sewer. 

E.) Pct. 3 Melba Carter Drain

Precinct 3, City of Mission reached out to the drainage to assist to work in the inlet area. Completed in 2016.

Approval and concurrence of Plans of Proposed Roadway Improvement  from TxDOT, CSJ 0921-02-300 "10th Street".

Board Member Joseph Palacios stated that they are hopeful to start the project soon. 

On motion by BOARD MEMBER PCT. 4, JOSEPH PALACIOS, seconded by BOARD MEMBER PCT. 1, DAVID FUENTES, the Board made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval.

Vote: 5 - 0 - Unanimously

Requesting authority to advertise and approval of procurement packet (i.e., legal notice,specifications, draft contract etc.,) as attached hereto for: Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 -RFB No. HCDD1-17-049-10-04 "Sale and Removal of Fill Dirt -Raymondville Drain (from North Main Drain, Station 4+50, to FM 2812 (County Road), Station 22+50)", including the re-advertisement of project in the event bids are rejected or no bids are received & project is still required.

On motion by BOARD MEMBER PCT. 3, JOE M. FLORES, seconded by BOARD MEMBER PCT. 4, JOSEPH PALACIOS, the Board made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval.

Vote: 5 - 0 - Unanimously

A.) Requesting exemption from competitive bidding requirements under the Texas Local Government Code 262.024 (a)(4) for Professional Engineering Services.

On motion by BOARD MEMBER PCT. 3, JOE M. FLORES, seconded by BOARD MEMBER PCT. 4, JOSEPH PALACIOS, the Board made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval.

Vote: 5 - 0 - Unanimously

B.) Presentation of scoring grid of the firms evaluated and graded through the District's "Pool" of pre-qualified Professional Engineers for the purpose of ranking by the HCDD1 Board of Directors in connection with "On Call Professional Engineering Services" for Hidalgo County Drainage District No.1 Projects (on as needed basis). 
 

FIRM NAME:	SCORE:	RANK:
B2Z Engineering, LLC	94	1
International Consulting Engineers (ICE)	91	2
Guzman & Munoz Engineering & Surveying, Inc.	89	3

On motion by BOARD MEMBER PCT. 3, JOE M. FLORES, seconded by BOARD MEMBER PCT. 4, JOSEPH PALACIOS, the Board made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval.

Vote: 5 - 0 - Unanimously

C.) Pursuant to the Boards approval requesting authority for the Hidalgo County Drainage District No.1 to negotiate a Professional Engineering Services Agreement with the number one ranked firm, B2Z Engineering, LLC, for the provision of "On Call Professional Engineering Services" for Hidalgo County Drainage District No.1 Projects (on as needed basis). 

On motion by BOARD MEMBER PCT. 3, JOE M. FLORES, seconded by BOARD MEMBER PCT. 2, EDUARDO “EDDIE” CANTU, the Board made a UNANIMOUS vote of approval.

Vote: 5 - 0 - Unanimously

Discussion of Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 Budget for 2018 calendar year.

Sesin summarized the draft for the propose budget, with an increase principal interest for 2018 of $500,000.

The projected fund balance is $17.5 million 

Lora Briones explained that the grant is generally recorded when it is received, what is budgeted to that grant carries over to next years until it ends. Once they receive the $4.5 million grant, they'll come back to propose a budget with that amount. They also projected new assets for new equipment, this is just a projection, as well as expansions for the building. 

As per Sesin, the bulk of the operation is going to maintenance and operation. In the general fund administration there is a slight increase having to do with computer equipment and software. They have $600,000 in salaries, $100,000 gasoline, $181,000 for pipes, drainage structures $438,000, heavy equipment $678,000 and shredders $350,000 from last year. 

Sesin stated that they look at the past budget and also project what they're going to need to keep up. He reminded the board that right now they have 92 ongoing projects, 51 are bond projects, and 41 projects are maintenance and operation. They will however, continue to partner with precincts and cities to continue the projects. 

The drainage director underlined that they have maintain the same tax rate since 2014.

Sesin emphasized on the need for heavy equipment with an estimated amount of $1.6 million. They are considering about $710,000 for tractors and about $345,000 for vehicles, plus the administration building. 

More staff has been hired, including engineers and inspectors because the district has taken on a lot more in-house projects.

For this year, they are proposing to reclassify some positions and look to create an additional 8 positions. 

Board Member Joe M. Flores stepped away from the meeting.

Drainage District recessed at 9:55 a.m.

Drainage District reconvene at 9:59 a.m.