The water and sewer lines have been installed between David Memorial Drive to a point just west of Johnson Road on Tamina Road, according to the release, and the design plans for a future water plant have been submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
The city has stated the project will be completed in 2026.
Next steps
Now that the lines have been installed, the project will proceed to extend the utilities north and south of Tamina Road, according to the release. A final phase includes extending the utilities to parts of the community east of Johnson Road. The system will connect to the existing infrastructure in the city of Shenandoah.
The project is funded by up to $21 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds and must be completed by the end of 2026 according to ARPA requirements, the news release states. ARPA funds, which were part of a federal COVID-19 recovery program, can be used for infrastructure projects, officials have previously stated. Funds were provided by the city of Shenandoah and Montgomery County, according to the release.
The background
The unincorporated community of Tamina was founded in 1871 by formerly enslaved people after the end of the Civil War, Community Impact has previously reported. Previously, the community purchased wholesale water through the Old Tamina Water Supply Corporation from the neighboring community of Lake Chateau Woods and used septic tanks. Residents have sought sewer service for the community for more than a decade and hit several obstacles along the way in attempts to partner with neighboring entities, delaying the process.
According to the news release from Shenandoah, the community did not have fire suppression capabilities under the system previously used. The system will also provide fire hydrants, and some have already been installed, according to the release.
Designs for the remainder of the project are being developed by Bleyl Engineering.
What they’re saying
“We’re proud to partner with Montgomery County and the Tamina community on this important project,” Shenandpah Mayor John Escoto said in the release. “People at all levels of government have invested a lot of time and energy into making the request from Tamina a reality. We’re grateful that the necessary funding became available. Shenandoah’s mission is to complete the utility project by the end of 2026, and we look forward to making that happen.”
