Commissioners reject Hagerty Consulting invoices citing scope and timing concerns

Nueces County staff and the ARPA fund manager recommended denying two invoices submitted by Hagerty Consulting Inc., saying one invoice sought fees for grant work that appeared aimed at school districts and water districts rather than county priorities, and a second $600 invoice billed for documentation that staff said was a county deliverable.

The ARPA manager noted the contract in question had ended in late February and that the invoices and supporting documentation arrived in March, after the contract expiration. Commissioners expressed concern about lack of departmental outreach and previous unresponsiveness to county questions by the firm. On the county-attorney and ARPA manager’s advice, the court voted to deny payment.

Why it matters: The decision halts payment for consulting work the county considers out of scope or unsupported by departmental staff, and underscores the court’s role in vetting post-contract invoices for compliance with procurement and grant rules.

What’s next: Staff will notify Hagerty Consulting of the denial and document the reasons in the procurement and ARPA files; if the vendor disputes the denial, the county may follow up under contract-dispute procedures.