Harris County Flood Control District Executive Director Russ Poppe spoke at the meeting and explained the various agenda items that pertain to flood prevention. On Aug. 25, voters approved a $2.5 billion bond package for HCFCD, including matching funds for various state and federal grant programs.
Tuesday's agenda included more than $200 million for flood control projects, Poppe said.
The projects include:
- Accepting an amendment to an agreement for $81.7 million from the Texas Department of Public Safety for Federal Emergency Management Agency Hurricane Harvey home buyouts with a $32.3 million county match
- An application for $62 million from Texas Department of Public Safety for Poor Farm Ditch and White Oak Bayou projects with a $21 million county match
- A total of $9.4 million in infrastructure repairs relating to HCFCD projects
According to a press release from FEMA, the $81.7 million will help the county acquire 502 flood-prone homes damaged by Harvey-relating flooding. The land will be maintained as open space in the future, according to the press release.
The funds are the latest in a series of funding awards from FEMA to HCFCD.
Law enforcement raises
Commissioners also approved a raise for constable and sheriff's office detention, communications and law enforcement officers effective Sept. 29.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, who spoke at the meeting, said the raises total nearly $18 million.
Harris County Budget Officer Bill Jackson said at the meeting that about 5,300 officers will be affected by the raise.
“We [should] consider this adopting [as] the first step,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Jack Morman said. “I don’t think we are competitive with surrounding law enforcement agencies.”
Precinct 1 Commissioner Randy Ellis agreed and said he believed all county employees should be better compensated in light of increasing poverty levels, which he said are increasing in Harris County at a greater rate than those nationally.
“It’s a first step, but it’s a big step,” Ellis said. “It ought to be a first step for Harris County employees in general.”
Ellis also said he would place an item on a future agenda for commissioners to consider a paid family leave policy for county employees.
Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said the raises will increase the annual salary for his starting deputies from $44,000 to $50,000, and it will provide for 3-to-5 percent raises for other deputies.
Herman said in a phone interview he appreciates the commissioners found space in the budget for law enforcement raises.
"After everything we’ve been through in the last year, I was amazed they were able to find the money for our first responders," Herman said.
