County Could Get Another $4.8 Million in Harvey Grant Funds

Fayette County will receive another round of Hurricane Harvey mitigation grant funding that could total more than $4.8 million. These are federal disaster dollars administered by the Texas General Land Office (GLO).

The GLO allocated $52,253,000 to the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG), a regional group comprising Fayette and nine other counties surrounding Austin. Commissioners accepted the award at their meeting on March 9.

CAPCOG budgeted $4,810,100 for Fayette County, but that number is subject to change because of an upcoming public participation process and the final method of distribution approval by GLO.

The funds could be used for a wide range of projects aimed at lessening the impact of future natural disasters. Terms of the grant stipulate that 50 percent of the funding must benefit low to moderate income residents. Fayette County has not yet decided how it will use the funds.

In other business at the March 9 meeting, Commissioners took the following action: • Signed proclamation proclaiming the month of April, 2023 as Autism Acceptance Month in Fayette County. Destiny Psencik, Executive Director Turtle Wing Foundation was on hand to accept the proclamation;

• Approved the final plat for Phase 2 of Compound Lane and acknowledged Certificate of Construction Completion dated February 10, 2023. This will begin the one year maintenance period until February 10, 2024, at which time the road may be accepted for county maintenance into the county road system;

• Approved the final plat of Tree Tops subdivision from Vineyard Vista, LLC and Round Top Operating, LLC and recognized the following private road, for mapping purposes only: Vineyard View Trail (Precinct 2);

• Approved the Application for Permit to Lay Temporary Water Line in Road Right-of-Way, submitted by Magnolia Oil & Gas Operating, LLC for said water line to be placed along Chappel St. and Webber St. (Precinct 2);

• Released the portion of Frank Road only of the Routing Agreement & Road Use Bond Agreement with INEOS USA Oil & Gas, LLC;

• Signed Lease Agreement between Fayette County, Lessor, owner of the Fayette Regional Air Center Airport, and Tim Kinsey, Lessee, for lease of airport hangar #25;

• Approved request from the Volunteer Fire Departments to use American Rescue Plan Funds for the VHF repeater & USB back-up in an amount not to exceed $30,000.00;

• Approved the purchase of a multi-purpose mapping and incident management board for use in the Emergency Operations Center using American Rescue Plan Funds and authorizing Angela Hahn and EMS to place the order;

• Approved the request from Fayette County Historical Commission to apply for a sign grant through the City of La Grange.