County eyes flood mitigation funding
Flood mitigation funds are prominent in this morning’s Hays County Commissioners Court meeting agenda.
Three items in the commissioners’ consent agenda have to do with flood mitigation projects in the county. First, commissioners will vote on the submission of a grant application to the Texas Water Development Board for flood mitigation assistance grant funding. The grant program provides funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for states and communities to implement cost-effective measures to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to structures that are eligible for insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program. The county had submitted this project ot FEMA for consideration in 2017 but did not receive funding.
Next, commissioners will vote on a grant application to the Texas Department of Emergency Management for Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant funding for the county’s Community Flood Mitigation Project. Pre-disaster mitigation grants are meant to reduce the overall risk to structures and people posed by future hazards while reducing reliance on federal funding.
Commissioners then will vote on the submission of a grant application to the Texas Department of Emergency Management for Pre-Disaster Mitigation funding for the expansion of the county’s existing flood system infrastructure including inundation mapping, models and discharge rating work.
In other business this morning, the commissioners will consider an engagement letter with the firm of Davis Kaufman for $84,996. The firm will monitor activity in the 86th Texas Legislature, especially activity of interest to Hays County; provide periodic reports ot Hays County on any legislation of interest to the county; provide legal advice to the county regarding lobbying and advocacy; and engage in direct advocacy for the county with the legislative and executive branches of the state government as the county directs.
The Hays County Commissioners Court will meet at 9 a.m. on the third floor of the Hays County Courthouse, 111 San Antonio St. Meetings are also streamed live.
