Grant Money Pouring in – With Strings Attached

Fayette County elected officials recently attended the kickoff meeting for the General Land Office’s (GLO) Regional Mitigation Program in Bastrop. GLO presented on the method of distribution for the mitigation funds the County is slated to receive through the Hurricane Harvey funds.

Fayette County’s overall allocation is $25,125,000; the County itself will receive $4,810,100 with a 50 percent low-to-moderate income (LMI) component, which means $2,405,100 must be spent in an economically distressed area. Eligible activities include flood control and drainage improvements; natural or green infrastructure; public facilities such as a shelter; water and sewer infrastructure; communications infrastructure; generators; and streets and bridges. Each incorporated town in Fayette County was also allocated funds through this program. Those funds also have an 50 percent LMI component and must impact an economically distressed area within the city limits. Elected officials in attendance included Fayette County Judge Dan Mueller; Pct. 3 Commissioner Harvey Berckenhoff; Fayetteville Mayor Mike Stroup; Round Top Mayor Mark Massey and Alderman Owen Massey; Ellinger Mayor Matt Mikulenka; and Schulenburg Mayor Connie Koopmann. Other officials attending included Tami Walker, City of Schulenburg administrator; Sonia Bishop, Flatonia city manager; Fayette County Court Administrator Cassie Austin; Fayette County Auditors Cindy Havelka and Cindy Novak; Fayette County EMS Director Josh Vandever; and Fayette County Emergency Management Coordinator Angela Hahn.