Fort Bend County commissioners met April 3 for the commissioners court regular session. Here are the top takeaways from the meeting.
Hazard mitigation grants accepted
After more than two years of waiting, Fort Bend County Commissioners officially accepted two grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to demolish homes destroyed by Tax Day and Memorial Day flooding events in 2016. Combined, the grants total just over $10 million and will be used to potentially demolish over 30 homes located in the floodway across the Fort Bend County area. The grants were administered through the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
The first grant commissioners accepted has a total project amount of $8,639,132 with a local match of $2,159,783 and will be used through Feb. 20, 2020. This grant will be used to potentially demolish 33 properties in Fort Bend County.
The second grant has a total project amount of $1,818,752 with a local match of $454,688 to be used through Feb. 20, 2020, and is for an additional nine properties located in the county's floodway.
Fort Bend County Judge Robert Hebert clarified during the meeting that these funds were initially sought following the Tax Day flood and Memorial Day flood in 2016 and are unrelated to Hurricane Harvey.
"This is pretty typical of federal money, it takes a great deal of time to flow through the political process," Hebert said. "That's why I wanted to point [that] out because, since it's 2016, people see this and think 'Oh we are getting [Hurricane] Harvey money.' Well we are not, we haven't seen any Harvey money."
Hebert said the grants are part of a voluntary program that allows homeowners to take money offered by the county in exchange for having their homes demolished. The property then becomes public land.
"Now that we have approved it, [the TDEM] will contact those eligible homeowners and offer them the buyout option," Hebert said. "If they take it, we will cut them a check, and then we will arrange to have the property demolished and the land cleared. I would say it's just a matter of a few weeks before they will be taken down."
Exception to travel policy authorized
Commissioners authorized an exception to the county's travel policy, waiving a requirement related to the advance purchase of airfare to allow Hebert to travel to Washington D.C. to meet with the congressional delegation and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. Hebert said he is not sure if he will make the trip yet, but plans on meeting with representatives to implement the
Fort Bend County watershed study and confirm local funding for the project.
"If we have an opportunity to close that deal then I will go there and talk to the folks that make that decision," Hebert said.
Fort Bend County, University of Houston, Access Health and Fort Bend Regional Council grant proposal request approved
Commissioners went on to approve a request for the county to submit an application for grant funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The funding would be used to conduct a study into the expansion of treatment and recovery services for adolescents, transitional youth and their families that struggle with substance abuse disorders.
The project would partner the county's Behavioral Health Services Department with the University of Houston, Access Health and Fort Bend Regional Council. It aims to enhance and expand comprehensive treatment, early intervention and recovery support services in Fort Bend County.
According to the memorandum, the study would also identify barriers and treatment engagement of racial and ethnic minorities across the county. The grant does not seek matching funds from the county, and the total cost will not exceed $541,350 per year for five years.
The grant is still subject to legal review.
Order to create reinvestment Zone No. 20 approved
After holding several public hearings, commissioners approved an order to create a reinvestment zone No. 20 in Precinct 1. The zone encompasses approximately 92 acres of land in an unincorporated area of Fort Bend County along Hwy. 90A and the intersection of FM 1875, according to meeting documents.
Hebert said although commissioners approved the creation of the zone, it still has to be reviewed by the county attorney before he can sign the documents to officially create it.
Early voting schedule approved
Commissioners approved the
early voting schedule for the May 22 primary runoff election. Early voting in Fort Bend County will take place 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May 14-18 at various locations across the county, including locations in Katy, Sugar Land and Fulshear.