[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6230506,"mediaKeyId","3442195-c8a53dcc8db560f4ce851ef92e687cd1","parentId",3442195,"title","Tomball staff report East Water Plant bid under budget by $2.3 million; contract to be placed on upcoming agenda","audioSeconds",105,"startMs",3183000,"endMs",3288000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442195-c8a53dcc8db560f4ce851ef92e687cd1&start=3183&end=3288","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442195-c8a53dcc8db560f4ce851ef92e687cd1/thumbnail_3183000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6230506/Tomball/Harris-County/Texas/Tomball-staff-report-East-Water-Plant-bid-under-budget-by-23-million-contract-to-be-placed-on-upcoming-agenda","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230506-b9899312f97c2f20c64cb6f3c7348b58/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445397&Signature=hH3IjoILqs3R-dYa5ydu3JdU7URtwddcwdTKe-9YnEz5U1tLWxA~4WwSqarFC3R0HDOTnTgBaLLO9bAf1jPs~HSYh8g0Xp853f~TqTR3I~VfU7Lf-eVkvXni~nQx6hi78eSNluFcwwg4WVytRGc7NYH0RkunINiy--PR4b-YiPk0mym1li4zxTpVdlJurzrJKdAY~Pm73G15-xDNifIaZlymchZubA5Ulg0NBBBdHqQpxuTMxf3EI8uJKyqWmQGqevrPUeW6VFtcY~kXsBHjrxdmDB6tfii~rb6U~Xeyd8DotG61KTgFXDDnlciR~Se0lofjr6H7PlCNvELKffPbXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Tomball, TX","date","2025-05-22T08:47:05.387Z","article","City staff told the Tomball City Council at its May 5 workshop that a turnkey construction contract for a new East Water Plant to be located on Lizzie Lane has been bid and that the project is approximately $2.3 million under the budgeted amount.

Drew Huffman, director of public works, presented the item and staff said the contract will be on the next regular council meeting agenda for action. Staff characterized the project as a turnkey water-plant construction contract to expand the city's water-production capacity on the east side of town.

No contract documents were executed at the workshop. Staff thanked the project team and asked that the item be scheduled for the next council meeting so members could consider the contract and award. Council did not debate technical details during the workshop, and no further funding questions were raised in the discussion recorded.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special City Council Meeting May 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff said a turnkey contract for a new East Water Plant on Lizzie Lane came in under budget by about $2.3 million; staff asked that the contract be placed on the next regular meeting agenda for council consideration.","taxTitle","Tomball, Harris County, Texas","taxId",64481,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6230509,"Tomball staff seek grant administrators and engineers as several drainage projects move toward contract stage",723,2276000,2999000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442195-c8a53dcc8db560f4ce851ef92e687cd1&start=2276&end=2999","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442195-c8a53dcc8db560f4ce851ef92e687cd1/thumbnail_2276000.jpg","/articles/6230509/Tomball/Harris-County/Texas/Tomball-staff-seek-grant-administrators-and-engineers-as-several-drainage-projects-move-toward-contract-stage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230509-e203a6776b1944d5d8333a9d153ee090/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445397&Signature=gGjJHIP3zIHvPmogQODytnHJB~fjou5xDw~b7tsyFdIXYu-M241Ax84oVvwn~iIk0pYTirvgRWw-QgzSFsGOVGvlW5ygYr8Ek-wV3zem9KH6fUTLYwCnHgEcRCdoyRn~ZWQTLge6~dwFJp-eHLdynAnjOuA9-Wyqf6ajHbJ5rNnnuh86J7bG22pn~X0-22ExDitSEky6cFvhd-bIPASnTyyTXLfPE2vWrN5JntrFD6Xn~-xzB5DWwoU4fG1C3Cjg9Pzj5SrHiSF0r~ialClbFQBV80wWgi2Q2G-z0fEG-zts9FDXCkuHYsUOkegFr6-J~~g2bxlxHkx3kFmf4HYQuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff asked the Tomball City Council at its May 5 workshop to approve or place on a future agenda several professional services and construction contracts tied to drainage projects across town, including a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) administration contract, a local drainage repair contract, and a design contract for a channel identified in the city's drainage master plan.

Megan (city staff) described a proposed professional services agreement with Langford Community Management to administer a Texas Community Development Block Grant application and, if the grant is awarded, to administer the grant for the Hampton Place storm sewer improvements. The proposed Langford contract would not exceed $75,000 and staff said the firm’s services would be reimbursed only if the grant is awarded; the grant application had a preliminary score and award notification was expected in June or July.

Megan also presented a contract with Topwater Construction Services (through Tipps USA) to repair drainage and sidewalk erosion behind homes between Polaris Boulevard and Wickford Drive where sand and undermining had damaged the sidewalk near a Tomball ISD frontage. Staff described the work as removing unstable soil, repacking and stabilizing the area and repairing drainage outlets; council described the work as maintenance to prevent further sidewalk collapse. The transcript did not specify a contract dollar amount for that repair.

Finally, staff proposed a professional services agreement with AIG Technical Services to design improvements for the M‑121 West Channel Segment C — a channel that begins north of Medical Complex Drive and extends to the Harden Ditch behind the public works building on James Street. The AIG design contract amount is $74,985; staff said the design would be funded from drainage impact fees collected over the last 10 years and described the fees as available for projects in the approved ten‑year list.

Council members asked how consultants are selected, whether efficiencies could be gained with a master agreement for recurring design work, and whether services would be coordinated with the EDC. Staff said RFPs are required for grant‑eligible vendors and that consultant selection considers prior project context; staff agreed to explore consolidated agreements or annual packages where practical.

No contracts were executed at the workshop. Megan said the Langford contract would only take effect if the CDBG grant is awarded and that engineering and consultant work for awarded grants would be reimbursed through grant funds.

","Council reviewed proposed professional-service agreements and construction contracts for multiple drainage projects including a CDBG-administered Hampton Place storm sewer, local sidewalk/drainage repairs, and an M-121 channel design; staff said agreements would only be executed if grants are awarded or funds are available.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6230514,"Tomball workshop splits over $75,000-per-year traffic preemption system for emergency vehicles",486,1780000,2266000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442195-c8a53dcc8db560f4ce851ef92e687cd1&start=1780&end=2266","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442195-c8a53dcc8db560f4ce851ef92e687cd1/thumbnail_1780000.jpg","/articles/6230514/Tomball/Harris-County/Texas/Tomball-workshop-splits-over-75000-per-year-traffic-preemption-system-for-emergency-vehicles","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230514-6d6238802704637e4597be6e6285b66b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445397&Signature=UwEmPP~VXyWbn~P31ptZXyhrDAepODIfJ6lr1WhPzON7JqpJsFLZk7u1D5mEvmgo4F5egc40smAB3jUacNDZDNw6JVlYsWD3nyMazs5WN7ENylNMqZIeGe~6k3VxScqXkybwJr3tUtxjKj1uFdk7yKLm0yn--13j8x5heqIM07JAb~5s4XNWFZvdvQvIBSRSovflHtJqb6izszkvlpvHabWyZr~TEadFHjLCCOiXGE9zA8lK3iYwL1XVyI~bhArnDpC1chUkdhHm7GAbaoirUhCfnsAT1qJRrNF-EKviw2MyvgT9TFBmGoLvTBX1MS4LHDy3gu70Z~AD5mWq6p64xw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tomball City Council discussed a proposal to adopt a consolidated traffic preemption system that would allow emergency vehicles to change signal timing as they approach intersections, a system city staff characterized as delivered by GPS and leased for about $75,000 per year.

Fire Chief Joe told the council the system could improve response times at congested intersections and reduce delays on critical emergency calls. Chief Joe said published studies vary, with signal preemption producing response-time reductions that range from about 5% to as much as 50% in other jurisdictions; he told the council an 8-minute response could be reduced by several minutes under some conditions.

Supporters said signal preemption can be critical when heavy traffic forces emergency vehicles into oncoming lanes or requires crews to stop and wait at multiple signals. One council member described observing a six-minute trip to a location near 2978 and argued that a minute-and-a-half or two minutes of reduced delay could be life‑critical on certain calls.

Opponents cited cost, potential safety risks and uncertainty about effectiveness in Tomball. Several council members questioned whether a multi-year lease was a large commitment for an unproven local benefit; one suggested a one-year trial period to assess whether the system measurably improves response times before entering a longer lease. Concerns were also raised about motorist behavior when signals change for approaching emergency vehicles and about whether drivers would know to move through an intersection when a light unexpectedly shifts.

The proposal would be administratively absorbed into the fire department and the city discussed partnering with Harris County ESD 8. Staff said the $75,000-per-year lease would cover equipment in the truck and the traffic-control function; presenters also said the system vendor would relocate preemption equipment as signal configurations change along corridors.

No formal action was taken; council members asked for the item to appear on a future agenda so they could consider a lease, a one-year pilot or additional information about termination costs and safety protocols.

","City staff and the fire chief outlined a proposed traffic preemption system to shorten emergency response times; council members raised cost and safety concerns and asked for the item to be placed on a future agenda for action or trial.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6230517,"Tomball, TxDOT present proposed 35-mph posting and extended 20-mph school zone for 2920",1079,684000,1763000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442195-c8a53dcc8db560f4ce851ef92e687cd1&start=684&end=1763","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442195-c8a53dcc8db560f4ce851ef92e687cd1/thumbnail_684000.jpg","/articles/6230517/Tomball/Harris-County/Texas/Tomball-TxDOT-present-proposed-35-mph-posting-and-extended-20-mph-school-zone-for-2920","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230517-916b629ed562222a9be05ad60ccd41ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445397&Signature=Z99QIOayRhQLrs8c7EP6VEtNXvKR9jdr6MrBlXWFeWuXCptvzIyclD9RhSBWb-CpOgFT0nWGzhpLKgkAYNtnKqVfCdAZmHk8znVFvyFvqalOr9OVvaRChErrVurqXXyHyFEDsclcoFcRHglGWgHCthhudRTMa93UUN8g9mhXlw7U9sjEu~w4OejNkBJY9quDfnkwVxK5zWkmXtJegRRZK51dLK5NI4XUv3p7xM824xKI9DmNOrYkYJWCwC8X-zZdb8zxnVEFbBqPw~Hg-QYCq5zCsi6eWtP~4m8cP3Ts95G46NDloX7QFKWWwkSVaY8IFhD6TjguCDXHDHQpK8ySMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","TxDOT representatives and Tomball staff presented a proposed change to posted speeds and school-zone limits on 2920 during the May 5 Tomball City Council workshop, recommending a uniform posted speed of 35 mph along a stretch of the road and a school-zone speed of 20 mph in front of nearby schools.

The change was described by Drew Huffman, director of public works for the city of Tomball, and TxDOT representatives who said the revised proposal reduced a previously proposed 40-mph segment to 35 mph and tightened the school-zone limit from 25 mph to 20 mph for the segment that runs past the new signal near Star Academy. TxDOT traffic engineer Gorang Pandit and TxDOT representative Roberto Lewis presented study findings and the strip map showing proposed limits.

Why it matters: council members said they opposed the 40-mph jump from a 30-mph zone in earlier proposals and supported a smaller, consistent posting. Huffman and TxDOT staff told the council that multiple speed studies were done over recent weeks to confirm the data used to set the proposed 35-mph posting and the 20-mph school-zone limit.

Key details presented at the workshop included: the proposal to post 35 mph from Chestnut to the 2978 intersection (described in the presentation as a consistent 35-mph segment), and a school zone reduced to 20 mph from Howard to the new signal in front of Star Academy. TxDOT said the school-zone posting would apply during school-zone hours and the posted speed would revert outside those hours.

Council members asked whether local schools had been notified; TxDOT staff said the city wanted to discuss the ordinance change with council before bringing it to affected schools. Council members also noted there is currently no school at some adjacent streets (a concern raised in earlier discussions), and the city and TxDOT said they would coordinate outreach as the ordinance and signage process moves forward.

Other council questions focused on driver behavior and network effects: several council members asked whether through-traffic would divert to parallel east–west corridors such as Medical Complex Drive if an extended school zone caused delays. TxDOT said its studies set speeds based on measured 85th-percentile speeds, crash rates, driveway density and development pattern; the department and city staff agreed to use radar trailers and traffic counters to monitor nearby routes if needed.

No ordinance or vote was taken at the workshop. TxDOT staff said signage could be installed quickly after city council approval and after the city completes the required ordinance change; presenters said the item could be placed on a future council agenda for formal action.

","TxDOT representatives presented a revised speed-zone proposal for 2920 at a Tomball City Council workshop, recommending a uniform 35-mph posted speed in built areas and a 20-mph school zone in front of school sites; council members asked for follow-up and the item may appear on a future agenda.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Tomball staff report East Water Plant bid under budget by $2.3 million; contract to be placed on upcoming agenda

Tomball staff seek grant administrators and engineers as several drainage projects move toward contract stage

Tomball workshop splits over $75,000-per-year traffic preemption system for emergency vehicles

Tomball, TxDOT present proposed 35-mph posting and extended 20-mph school zone for 2920