Confirm what authority let one director approve and sign contracts between meetings, and whether the Board will adopt a written policy for urgent approvals.

Good practice: a written delegation resolution instead of after-the-fact ratification (two ratifications this meeting, p.6-7).

The board action behind it

2026-01-06: Ratified Director Knabe's approval of the TraceAir flyover proposal as of January 1, 2026, authorized the District's share of the cost, and approved a letter agreement to share costs with the other Bridgeland water districts

What else happened at that meeting

At a special meeting, the Board adopted a resolution imposing an additional penalty on delinquent personal property taxes, chose not to grant homestead, over-65 or disability exemptions for 2026, and amended its Rate Order to add a $120.00 monthly fee for temporary meters. It approved six operator items, including maintenance of Well No. 3 at Water Plant No. 2 for $168,510.00 and an H2S study for $38,494.00. The Board called a directors election for May 2, 2026 and ratified actions taken by Directors Parr and Knabe after the December meeting was cancelled. After an executive session on proposals for operations services, the Board voted, with Directors Gilbert, McClary, Parr and Cobb in favor and Director Knabe abstaining, to negotiate an operations agreement with Municipal District Services, LLC and to give notice of termination to Inframark, the current operator.

Source: the meeting record › The approved minutes, p. 7 ›

The law and guidance in force on 2026-01-06

Payments and contracts approved by the board acting as a body Water Code §49.151 §49.151: Same text in force then and now	Question	Director Knabe approved and signed the TraceAir proposal before any Board vote; the Board ratified it (p.7).
Joint contracts among districts Water Code §49.213(a); Gov't Code §791.011(d) §49.213(a): Same text in force then and now §791.011(d): Same text in force then and now	Shown	Cost-sharing letter agreement approved (Exhibit J, p.7).

Who's involved

TraceAir (aerial flyover vendor)

Steven P. Knabe (director who approved and signed the proposal between meetings)

Other Bridgeland water districts (cost-sharing parties under a letter agreement (MUDs 419, 489, 490, WCID 157 approved it in January 2026))

Cost to the district

MUD 418's share not stated. MUD 490 estimated its own share at $1,613 (MUD 490 minutes Jan 22, 2026). MUD 418's FY2026 budget had $0 for this line (FY2026 budget, hcid14-site/hcmud418-records/website/2026_Budget.pdf). · Annual flyover (FY2027 GOF budget line 'FlyOver Expense - TraceAir' $2,000; FY2026 line $0)

Money or costs moved

MUDs 419, 489, 490 and WCID 157 (other Bridgeland water districts) → HC MUD 418 Shares of the TraceAir flyover cost under letter agreements with MUD 418 (MUD 419 minutes Jan 12, 2026, hcid14-site/bridgeland-records/hcmud419/website/Minutes_Approved_January_12_2026_HCMUD_419.pdf; MUD 489 Jan 19, 2026, hcid14-site/bridgeland-records/hcmud489/website/Minutes_January_19_2026_Approved_HCMUD_489.pdf; MUD 490 Jan 22, 2026, hcid14-site/bridgeland-records/hcmud490/website/January_22_2026_Minutes_Approved_HC_MUD_490.pdf; WCID 157 Jan 9, 2026, hcid14-site/bridgeland-records/hcwcid157/website/Minutes-2026_01_09-Approved-HCWCID157.pdf).

Why the board approved it

Recorded: “SPH said the flyover gathers data to help evaluate the appraisal district's land values as of January 1, 2026, and that Director Knabe acted because the December meeting was cancelled (p.7).”

A purpose is recorded and the cost-sharing parties' own minutes confirm the arrangement. The total cost and MUD 418's share are not stated, and a contract was signed by one director before Board approval.