Hope Hill Annexation No Longer a Controversial Issue –Apparently

The La Grange City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance on the annexation of the Hope Hill neighborhood, which was built for local victims of the 2017 Hurricane Harvey Flood.

The Council held a public hearing on the annexation. Two residents of the neighborhood attended the hearing, but no one spoke either in favor of or against the proposal. Back when plans for the neighborhood were first announced, the discussions at City Council regularly attracted big crowds of supporters and opponents.

The City serves the neighborhood on Horton Street with City electric, water and sewer utilities, but residents pay higher rates since the neighborhood currently lies outside the city limits. If annexed, the residents would begin paying City property taxes. However, City Manager Shawn Raborn said most residents would see a net decrease in costs because their utility rates would go down to regular city rates.

Also at Monday’s meeting, Council authorized staff to develop and submit an application for a Hazard Mitigation Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Raborn said the new grant opportunity would allow the City to undertake some much-needed drainage improvements. He said the grant amount could be in the $1.5 to $2 million range. The City would have to match 25 percent of the award amount.

He proposed a drainage project that would relieve flooding in the area around North Washington Street, which Raborn described as a “bowl” that collects water during heavy rains. The project would divert that water through a new drainage ditch around the old bowling alley.

The deadline for the grant application is April 29. Raborn said awards would not be announced until late this year or early next year. If awarded, he said project completion could take up to three years. Council voted unanimously begin the application process.