Two-minute impact
Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Todd Stephens presented the letter to the board, which requests $5 million in Community Project Funding through the office of U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Kingwood.
Previously, Crenshaw was able to allocate $3.6 million from the federal budget in community project funding in February 2024 to begin a rehabilitation project for the Bear Branch Dam and spillway. According to prior Community Impact reporting, the project was estimated to cost $5 million to repair in total with $1.4 million coming from local municipal utility districts, and construction was projected to be completed in 2026. Officials said late 2026 is still the projected timeline for completion.
However, Stephens said several additional issues were discovered by contractors during the repair process including new water leaks and lifted infrastructure which will require an additional $5 million in funding to complete.
“It's lifted, there's water intrusion underneath the facilities to also be rehabbed,” Stephens said. “So, they're asking again for federal appropriations for Crenshaw to handle the additional cost associated with that spillway repair.”
Also of note
Board members also approved a second appropriation request to U.S. Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Magnolia, for equipment for the Texas A&M Forest Service to continue forest management efforts in the W.G. Jones State Forest.
The $1.25 million request would help purchase equipment for prescribed burns and other forest maintenance requests.
“We all feel that this is outstanding. We need to have our tax dollars come home. It’s good to have our tax dollars come home and do local projects,” board member Shelley Sekula-Gibbs said.
