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Council awards $5.96 million bid for Graeber Road storm-sewer work amid residents27 concerns about tree removal and detention pond
Summary
City awarded a CDBG-MIT-funded contract to construct a storm sewer trunk system for Graeber Road to reduce flooding, while nearby homeowners raised concerns about removal of trees, mosquito risk and property values; staff said some portions will be dry basins and a detailed public briefing is scheduled next week.
The Rosenberg City Council on Sept. 12 approved Resolution No. 3946 awarding bid number 2025-39B for the CDBG-MIT Graeber Road storm-sewer improvements to C.E. Baker Ltd. for $5,964,040.50. The contract calls for approximately 170 calendar days for completion; staff recommended the award after tabulating bids and receiving an engineering recommendation.
Residents who live adjacent to the project told the council they were surprised and concerned about the planned work. Joe Boswell, who lives at 316 Pecan Park Drive, said residents were told 22a 100% of the trees on the 24 acre property would be ripped out22 and that the forested parcel would be converted to a large basin bounded by a berm and fence. Boswell said the trees currently provide noise buffering and asked whether the city had explored alternatives.
Kathy Cross, who said she is a real-estate agent and owns property next to the site, asked for the drainage study the city relied on and said she had not yet seen evidence the neighborhood floods; she also cited research she said shows a mature tree can store roughly 100 gallons of water and questioned whether removing trees might reduce the site27s natural storage.
City staff and consulting engineers advised the council the project is one activity (Activity 5) under a CDBG-MIT (Community Development Block Grant 2d Mitigation) award the city has pursued for several years. Staff said the Graeber Road phase would construct a new storm trunk system south to Dry Creek to alleviate flooding near Graeber Road and Avenue N; the bid tabulation and a recommendation from the city27s engineer were included in the meeting packet. Staff noted the city submitted plans, environmental reviews and other documentation to the Texas General Land Office and other grant reviewers during grant approval.
Rigo (city staff) told residents the Graeber Road basin would be designed as a dry pond with perforated channels at the bottom 22to make sure it doesn27t hold water,22 and staff said plantings or landscaping could be considered after construction if budget and grant terms allow. Councilmembers said the project must follow grant restrictions and environmental permits, but several elected officials said the city will work with residents on mitigation and appearance and that staff would hold a more comprehensive public briefing next week.
After discussion the council moved to approve the resolution and award the contract; the voice vote was recorded as unanimous. The city manager and engineering staff will coordinate a follow-up meeting and provide requested study materials to residents. The project is included in the FY 2024 capital improvement plan and its construction and environmental permitting are subject to grant terms and state and federal reviews.
