Aransas County Commissioners on July 28 approved an amendment extending G&W Engineers’ contract time through Sept. 3, 2025, for three FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program generator projects, county staff told the court.
County staff reported that while the airport field-lighting generator and the road-and-bridge office generator are installed, the transfer-station generator is on site but not fully functional because a critical connection awaits a favorable response from the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and FEMA. Staff said delays trace back to 2017, multiple budget realignments and a lengthy federal review process.
A staff member summarizing the projects said the county and consultants are working through a roughly 19-step review between TDEM and FEMA and that the projects are effectively at step 9 of 19. The county has previously requested budget realignments (August 20, 2024 and January 26, 2025) and has submitted cost-overrun letters prepared by GrantWorks. Staff said TDEM has already granted an extension through May 22, 2026, for all three generator projects.
The staff member told the court the amendment is requested so G&W Engineers can continue work required by grant conditions and to preserve eligibility for outstanding reimbursements. Asked whether a September extension would be enough, the staff member said it “may not be, but we’re hoping that we may receive some information within the next couple of months,” adding that the county is largely dependent on movement from TDEM and FEMA.
The court approved the amendment; the staff presentation stressed that outstanding reimbursements remain pending federal responses and that final closeout will likely extend into 2026 unless the federal review accelerates.
No new costs for the county were reported at the meeting; staff said the amendment provides additional contract time to complete required work and process outstanding federal requirements.