County seeks technical change to repurpose $1.2M community project award for drinking‑water infrastructure at Tecolote Out Ranch

Jim Wells County Commissioners Court on July 14 authorized the county judge to submit a technical‑correction change of scope and an allocation request to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 to shift $1.2 million in community project funding from municipal utility district creation to drinking‑water infrastructure for the Tecolote Out Ranch project. "The original plan ... was a municipal utility district creation," the county judge said. "The first phase would be changing it from a municipal utility district creation to drinking water infrastructure," he added.

County officials described a three‑phase plan. Phase 1 would use the $1.2 million award to acquire a commercial water well, a freestanding storage tank and related pumps and equipment so water can be staged locally. Phases 2 and 3 would extend lateral lines and provide first‑time household connections; officials said those later phases would be funded through additional grants. The county stated it is pursuing a cost‑share waiver based on low‑to‑moderate income (LMI) criteria and working with an engineer and EPA staff on budget details.

Officials discussed cost uncertainty. The county judge said the awarded amount is $1.2 million and that an updated budget from the county engineer showed costs were "a little over," and staff was reviewing the figures to see if the phase can be completed with the $1.2 million. Commissioners asked whether the money would cover drilling and tank costs; staff said they were reviewing and would return to court with a more detailed plan and property‑acquisition steps before moving forward.

Decision type: the court authorized submission of the change‑of‑scope letter and allocation request; the transcript records a motion, a second and adoption by voice vote. The county emphasized the action permits the county to pursue property acquisition and engineering work needed to implement phase 1, but no contract awards or purchases were approved at the meeting.

Why it matters: repurposing awarded federal funds to water infrastructure could provide first‑time water or closer access to potable water resources for residents in the Tecolote area and create an emergency water source for the area, subject to later approvals and additional grant funding.

Implementation and next steps: staff will finalize updated budgets, seek property to site the well and tank, and return to commissioners with detailed cost estimates and any required purchase or acquisition requests.