Comal County moves to apply for $30M Clean Water SRF loan to buy and protect recharge-zone lands; public debate highlights benefits and uncertainties

Comal County Commissioners on Oct. 23 authorized staff to submit an intent to apply to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) for a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan to support a proposed Comal County Water Quality Protection Lands Program. The court also approved contracting with Moriarty & Associates LLC to prepare the county’s full application and approved a line-item transfer to pay the consultant’s fee.

County staff told the court that the TWDB invited Comal County to submit a full application for a program previously advanced by the county and ranked No. 2 on the TWDB project priority list. The invitation cited a potential $30,000,000 loan with as much as $4,500,000 in principal forgiveness. Staff said the TWDB requires an intent to apply by Nov. 3 and the full application by Dec. 4. The county’s consulting proposal to prepare the full application was listed at $45,000; Moriarty previously prepared the initial program information form for a fee of $4,500 and has worked with the county since 2021.

The commissioners voted to: a) submit the intent to apply and authorize the county judge to sign, b) enter a letter agreement with Moriarty & Associates LLC for preparation of the full application, and…