Court eyeing creek modeling, disaster funds

Work on floodplain regulations and modeling for Purgatory and Willow Springs creeks are the subjects of two agenda items for the Hays County Commissioners Court this morning.

As part of its consent agenda, the court will consider authorizing the extension of an amendment to the professional services agreement with Halff Associates, which is requesting more time to complete the Hays County Drainage Criteria Manual, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Community Rating System and the county’s floodplain regulations. The original contract ended in August, but Halff Associates is still working on the project, particularly the FEMA Community Rating System task. According to Halff Associates, FEMA has not scheduled a site visit yet for Hays County regarding the Community Rating System application but the county is on a waiting list. No additional fees are needed for the extension, according to the company, which is requesting an extension to March 31, 2019. 

Halff is also requesting an extension for its professional services agreement with the county regarding work on two-dimensional modeling of Purgatory Creek and Willow Springs Creek. 

The commissioners are also set to receive the county’s 2015 Housing Guidelines for the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR). The guidelines are meant to help in the replenishment of housing stock lost during the floods in 2015 and to assist in moving eligible homeowners “out of harm’s way through fair market value buyouts or acquisitions,” according to the agenda.

In other business, the commissioners are slated to accept the resignation of County Fire Marshal Clint Browning, effective Oct. 5, and authorize the Office of Emergency Services to perform the fire marshal’s duties until a replacement is appointed.

The Hays County Commissioners Court will meet at 9 a.m. on the third floor of the Hays County Courthouse. Meetings are also streamed live.