Court approves technical correction to redirect EPA community project funds to McNeil drainage project
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Summary
Travis County approved submitting a technical correction to the U.S. EPA to change a previously designated Arroyo Doble stormwater project to the McNeil drainage improvement project for a $959,752 Community Project Funding grant, subject to a 25% local match.
Travis County Commissioners Court on Aug. 12 authorized county staff to submit a technical correction to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to retitle and redirect a previously designated congressional Community Project Funding award from the Arroyo Doble stormwater project to the McNeil drainage improvement project.
Dashiell Daniels of Grants Administration told the court that Arroyo Doble had advanced its engineering and design without the federal requirements that accompany the EPA-designated funding. "The McNeil drainage project is planned to comply with these federal requirements and so is a good candidate for the funding," Daniels said.
Nut graf: The grant is $959,752 with a required 25% local match (approximately $239,938); the county will return with a final scope and identify matching funds with the Planning & Budget Office before submission of the final application.
Additional context - Project purpose: Daniels said the McNeil drainage project would reduce flooding at the single access point to the Ashton Woods community and has a total estimated project cost of approximately $34 million. - Next steps: The county will submit the technical correction to EPA and coordinate with the Texas Water Development Board for additional funding applications.
Formal action - Motion to submit the technical correction to redirect the EPA Community Project Funding to the McNeil drainage project: moved by Commissioner Shea; second by Commissioner Trevillion; outcome: passed unanimously.
Ending: County staff said they will return to the court with a finalized scope and identification of matching funds before executing any grant agreement.