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Engineers outline six CDBG‑MIT drainage projects totaling $23.9 million and give construction schedule
Summary
Levins Engineering briefed the commissioners on six CDBG‑MIT flood‑mitigation projects across Hardin County, allocating roughly $23.9 million to drainage and roadway improvements with tentative construction windows beginning this winter and spring.
Levins Engineering and Design on Aug. 26 presented the status of six Hardin County mitigation projects funded by the Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG‑MIT) program, summarizing scopes, allocations and an anticipated construction schedule.
Jeff Levins told the court the county’s total allocation for the selected projects tied to Hurricane Harvey mitigation is $23,894,500. The six projects the county selected for funding and their allocations (as presented) are: Voorstor Road channel and roadway improvements ($3,950,000); Silsbee roadside-ditch and channel improvements ($3,902,000); El Pinto Fletcher channel and detention improvements in Lumberton ($4,177,000); Woodcrest Subdivision roadside-ditch improvements in Lumberton ($4,049,000); Dorshow roadside-ditch and channel improvements ($3,342,500); and Adler Ditch channel improvements in Lumberton ($4,474,000).
Levins described typical scopes: roadway elevation and channel work on Voorstor Road (about 9,300 linear feet), culvert replacements and ditch regrading in Woodcrest, concrete-lined channel sections and an approximate 6‑acre detention pond for El Pinto, and channel widening and bank stabilization for Adler Ditch (about 3,760 linear feet). Silsbee’s project scope included roughly 87,372 linear feet of roadside-ditch work and nearly 2,000 linear feet of storm-sewer rehabilitation.
On schedule, Levins said Gorestore Road (spelled in materials as Voorstor/Gorestore) and Silsbee were the near-term projects, with construction anticipated in the November–December window if outstanding environmental approvals come through; other projects including Coontz, Woodcrest and El Pinto were tentatively shown for a March–April start but could move sooner if approvals arrive. Levins emphasized the county is coordinating environmental clearances, right-of-way and acquisition work — noting one Lumberton property owner has offered to sell the parcel identified for the El Pinto detention pond and the county’s acquisition team will proceed with appraisal and offer work once authorized.
The presentation was informational; the court had previously authorized certain administrative amendments tied to acquisition services and the public-management contract that support the project development. No construction contracts were awarded at the meeting; Levins said each of the six projects will be bid as standalone contracts when the county advertises for bids.
Discussion vs. action: the presentation was a briefing (discussion); the court previously approved administrative steps (acquisition services amendment) but did not take construction-award actions at this meeting.
Levins answered questions from commissioners and city officials about beneficiary areas, overlapping municipal projects and contractor interest; he said bidding will use an online plan distribution system and that interest can range from local contractors to firms in Houston and beyond.
