[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6579165,"mediaKeyId","3098229-628c7d5ad8ab0d6511b986c97593485c","parentId",3098229,"title","Crockett Council awards sewer-repair contract for East Houston and South Grace to Crockett Construction","audioSeconds",377,"startMs",1094000,"endMs",1471000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3098229-628c7d5ad8ab0d6511b986c97593485c&start=1094&end=1471","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3098229-628c7d5ad8ab0d6511b986c97593485c/thumbnail_1094000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6579165/Crockett/Houston-County/Texas/Crockett-Council-awards-sewer-repair-contract-for-East-Houston-and-South-Grace-to-Crockett-Construction","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579165-44c887007eda090861f6d0271762d151/orig.mp4?Expires=1775226561&Signature=VRQpwT-n~yJubSQmcV7TRE2oDtrC~tqOTQH5sRiRclzPDiSvAlZVZuxqvo4RZ~wJ77JdwVtc66yV1VsCF5N5v~NuSqMrzF23-AVTlbNMPlCss8YlI4SNn4g2mpAPxjXWRfuI3CCwHD1BrolwzdNg-Sks~pLtB-fTr99YXGyTBYCA4EVXb9P5a7eunD-PGQJqusss0Hn0NTNFcyMsomfDeLG9ibcxNb4dXp6uKExyIkEjxehbbF1IuTIZJjPzTwd0hz8Llyc~4qOB1EshnLksOwpy5o9ZA-QS-tQA4M3j5mjYQMhYyssLeRRx058u11EVNJX7AMYZ8gN~j4B8~sGEmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-23T18:42:57.417Z","article","The Crockett City Council voted to award a sewer-repair contract to local firm Crockett Construction to rebuild a collapsed sewer segment and install two new manholes at East Houston Avenue and South Grace Street.

City staff told the council crews found a collapsed line that had allowed dirt and mud into the sewer, and that one existing manhole is brick and another \"has no bottom.\" A staff presenter said crews attempted internal cleaning and camera inspection but the magnitude of the damage requires a full replacement of that line segment and two new manholes.

\"We went down into the manholes, and ran our jet rotters, and we found, basically, when you start pulling back, a lot of dirt and mud, the line has collapsed,\" the staff presenter said. The presenter said the city identified four contractors able to respond quickly and that Crockett Construction submitted the lowest bid and was already on-site for related road work.

Council moved and seconded a motion to award the work to Crockett Construction. \"It's been moved and second all in favor. Motion carries,\" the mayor announced.

Staff said the work can be funded from utility fund reserves if necessary and that the city does not require additional funds at this time. The presenter told council Crockett Construction was more competitive in part because the company already has crews and materials on nearby road work and can begin promptly; the contractor doing the water-line work at the site will finish the water tie-ins before sewer reconstruction begins.

The presenter said the city had sought an opinion and determined the repair met procurement-exemption criteria because the work was necessary to preserve or protect public health and was required by unforeseen damage to city infrastructure.

Procedural business at the meeting also included approval of April 7 meeting minutes; the council approved the minutes by motion before the department reports were presented.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Crockett City Council Meeting - 04/21/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council voted to award a contract to Crockett Construction to rebuild a collapsed sewer segment and install two new manholes at East Houston Avenue and South Grace Street; work will be funded from utility reserves if needed.","taxTitle","Crockett, Houston County, Texas","taxId",69526,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6579170,"Crockett police outline status of CEIDC investigation; Attorney General declined grand jury presentation",390,316000,706000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3098229-628c7d5ad8ab0d6511b986c97593485c&start=316&end=706","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3098229-628c7d5ad8ab0d6511b986c97593485c/thumbnail_316000.jpg","/articles/6579170/Crockett/Houston-County/Texas/Crockett-police-outline-status-of-CEIDC-investigation-Attorney-General-declined-grand-jury-presentation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579170-90760fdd0b7db12a0a7a6f4203425498/orig.mp4?Expires=1775226561&Signature=jel77qOVQyQDNoqwJSc-J~aN~FkZ901ZEM7D~5oQU2wgwnQnUFlIpx191Tu8fQBWF4-Sve6HCOtRy9Tzt1~fzU0RbYOM0MtCq706pukr1nXFy0YrqIe13TVI-IQUffq3bxP6eGeDlYkHnJ21gLe46A9nvMLyg9bIeMn7PB6kACoCMWrIxKnfQ-G9MQuzRtll8DI5vhiYVH~wxIxc9A9xaQi-omj-BhVW8ft1Qpe-Q6LWtWBdjGPxBqSDwrwk0khb-sIb2HCsQgQHlaFMLbz2xBeHgmvJCHHnZWXuBhLEBUZZHaI7izXw4VgchTJmnSB38V6kgVD4P~G4abiZ7rEx-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Police Chief delivered an update to the Crockett City Council on an investigation stemming from forensic-audit findings about the Crockett Economic and Industrial Development Corporation (CEIDC), saying the city\u0000\u0000referred the matter to higher authorities and no local prosecution is proceeding.

\"In April of 2021, the Crockett Police Department received a criminal complaint from a member of the Crockett City Council,\" the chief said, describing an initial referral after a forensic audit and subsequent contacts with the Texas Rangers and the Texas Attorney General's office. \"In my formal request to the Attorney General's office, I specifically asked that they assume primary responsibility for the investigation.\"

The chief said the Attorney General\u0000\u0000opened an investigation after the department's request and later turned findings over to the Houston County District Attorney's office. He said the city separately retained Weaver and Tidwell to perform a forensic audit, which was completed and delivered to the city on Jan. 5, 2023. The council moved on Jan. 9, 2023, to temporarily suspend CEIDC activities and directed the police department to investigate the audit findings.

\"Several months later upon completion of their investigation, the attorney general's office turned their findings over to the Houston County District Attorney's office for presentation to a grand jury,\" the chief said. He added, however, that the assigned prosecutor ultimately \"declined to present the case to a grand jury.\" The chief said he was informed in May 2024 that the Attorney General's Office had concluded its investigation but that, to his knowledge, the AG had not formally closed the file.

The chief said the department sought the Attorney General's resources because \"the financial nature and skill of the allegation require resources and expertise beyond the capabilities of our department.\" He described providing documents to the FBI for its review; he said the FBI chose not to open a federal case and referred potential federal issues to the Attorney General's Office.

Council members thanked the chief for pursuing outside review and for maintaining transparency. The mayor noted the council lacked the technical expertise to handle a complex financial probe and that referral to state authorities reduced concerns about local bias.

The chief characterized the department's role as having ended for the local agency once the Attorney General assumed responsibility. \"My involvement in that particular investigation ended once I sent it to the attorney general's office,\" he said. He urged residents to use his open-door policy for questions and said the department would provide additional information as allowed.

The update followed the police department's March manpower and activity report presented to the council. The chief reported the department had 16 officers who worked 2,905 hours in March, responded to 412 calls for service, answered 24 alarm calls, handled 11 traffic accidents, made 50 arrests, issued 372 traffic citations and completed 80 reports.

No formal council action was taken on the investigation update during the meeting.

","Police Chief told the Crockett City Council the city referred a forensic-audit-based complaint about the Crockett Economic and Industrial Development Corporation to the Texas Attorney General; the AG\u0000\u0000declined to present the matter to a grand jury and the Crockett Police Department ended local active involvement.","actionData","errors"]

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Crockett Council awards sewer-repair contract for East Houston and South Grace to Crockett Construction

Crockett police outline status of CEIDC investigation; Attorney General declined grand jury presentation