Hurricane Harvey Buyouts Close to Completion

Fayette County Year-End Reports

The Hurricane Harvey buyout program edged closer to finally coming to an end in 2023. Fayette County Commissioners worked diligently with grant consultants and the General Land Office to purchase the final three pieces of property on Country Club Drive as well as get reimbursed for the closing costs and demolition work. The County was successful in obtaining two pieces of property and are anticipating receiving bids for the demolition worked needed at the end of the year. The final piece of property has a lien on it which is preventing the County from purchasing it, although work to remove the lien is ongoing.

A project that started in late 2022 was completed in December when the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) formally accepted the County’s multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan. The plan, which is mandated by FEMA as well as the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM), was allowed to expire in 2021. The hazard mitigation plan assess the risks and gaps in the county and develops plans to mitigate any natural disasters that might occur. Without the plan being active, the County wouldn’t be eligible for funding if a disaster occurred and federal or state funding was made available.

The Schulenburg EMS station was completed at the end of 2022 and an open house was held this year. This was truly a project supported by the County and the community. The new station was funded using American Rescue Plan monies provided to the County. A local resident donated the land for the station and another donated funds for the furniture. The Sons of Hermann of Schulenburg donated the flagpole.

Fayette County, along with Bluebonnet Trails Community Services, was chosen to participate in the Texas Pre-Arrest Diversion Learning Collaborative. The program is sponsored by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Office of Forensic Coordination and implemented by Rulo Strategies, in partnership with the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health, University of Texas at Austin. The purpose is to bring together local teams of at least two people, one representing local law enforcement and one representing the local mental health or behavioral health authority, to participate in a planning process to develop prearrest diversion opportunities in their communities. Fayette County Sheriff Deputy Jeremy Castleberry spearheaded the team for the county.

With the passing of Senate Bill 22, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, Fayette County constables and the Fayette County Attorney’s office all became eligible for grants for salary increases covered by the State of Texas. The grant application opens in January with the FCSO eligible to receive $350,000. Grant allotments for constables and the county attorney are set at different levels.

After several years of waiting, the General Land Office finally approved the Method of Distribution for the regional mitigation monies reserved for those counties most impacted by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The Capital Area Council of Governments was mandated to develop the MOD; this region, which includes Fayette County, was allotted $52,523,000. Of that, Fayette County is to receive $4,810,100; 50% or $2,405,100 must be used for projects in low to moderate incomes areas. The Commissioners Court met in two separate workshops to prioritize the projects which will be included in the application that is submitted in February.