Court agrees on legal consultants, grant writers for fed funds

By Marc Robertson - Editor | July 13, 2023

La Salle County commissioners voted Thursday, July 6, to begin a work agreement with a Laredo-based law firm for legal advice and to use a Washington, DC-based grant consultant for fund applications.
Representing Martinez, Franklin & Morales, PPLC, Cotulla native Keith Franklin addressed the court last week with a proposal that his company provide consulting services on an as-needed basis, rather than on a permanent retainer.
Franklin explained that advice may run the gamut from legal issues over roads and property ownership, oil and gas-related suits and projects, and consultation during closed-door sessions, to civil litigation, public information issues, and complaints regarding equal opportunity laws.
The attorney also noted that his firm may fill in for County Attorney Elizabeth Martinez in her absence or for additional resources in legal advice.
The firm’s fee for services to La Salle County government is $250 per hour.
La Salle County has used the services of Martinez, Franklin & Morales in the past as part of an investigation into road ownership and mapping.
“This is more open-ended,” Franklin said of his firm’s current service proposal to the county. “We can fire each other at any time. I’m not holding the public to any kind of contract for long-term engagement.
“It’s like being on retainer, but without paying me a retainer,” the attorney said of the firm’s availability.
The decision to use the firm was made on a motion by Commissioner Raul Ayala, seconded by Comm. Noel Niaves and supported by Comm. Erasmo Ramirez Jr. Comm. Jack Alba was absent from the July 6 meeting.
Commissioners also agreed to begin using Lone Star Consulting in its applications for federal grants and loans after learning that the company based in Washington has experience in seeking funds for major infrastructure projects.
Lone Star Consulting is presently engaged by a number of South Texas local governments, including municipal entities, and advertises a 100-percent success rate in its grant applications. Its board includes former US Congressman Ciro Rodriguez, who represented La Salle and other counties south and west of San Antonio in Districts 23 and 28 for separate terms over 14 years until 2011. He is also a former member of the Texas House of Representatives, serving in state government from 1987 to 1997.
Among the specialized grant applications with which Lone Star Consulting has assisted local governments are those made through the Federal Aviation Administration for airport improvements, and those for water and wastewater services, and road building.
Lone Star Consulting is contracted under a retainer of $3,500 per month with a six-month commitment, according to the proposal filed with La Salle County last week. The company also extracts a fee as a percentage of the grant funds that are awarded through applications it has filed.
The motion to contract Lone Star was made by Comm. Ayala and seconded by Comm. Ramirez.