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City accepts TDEM hazard-mitigation grant for Renwick well generator; budget amended
Summary
The Bel Air City Council accepted a Texas Division of Emergency Management hazard-mitigation grant to fund a backup generator for the Renwick groundwater well and amended the FY2025 budget to record the grant revenue and appropriations.
Bel Air — The City Council on Sept. 8 voted to accept a hazard mitigation subgrant from the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to fund a backup generator at the Renwick Drive groundwater well and approved a companion budget amendment to record the grant and adjust appropriations.
City engineer Beth Jones told council the award covers most of the generator cost and that the city had already appropriated the required local match. Jones said engineering design is not included in the grant and the city will need to procure engineering services separately before ordering equipment.
The grant acceptance ordinance was moved, seconded and approved by council. Council members discussed the possibility of escalation due to inflation; Councilmember Gordon asked whether the award would cover future price increases and Jones said the city would ask TDEM for an increase if costs rose, but currently the award and the city’s 10% local match made the project financially favorable.
Council also approved a budget amendment to record the grant funding and appropriate it to the capital and enterprise funds. The council chair called the votes by hand; both the grant-acceptance ordinance and the budget amendment passed on voice votes with no recorded no votes.
Why it matters: The Renwick well had been out of service for structural reasons and was recently returned to service after repairs; a dedicated generator will keep the well pumping during power outages or emergencies and is being funded largely through the TDEM mitigation program.
What happens next: Jones said the city still needs to procure preliminary or final engineering services, and because of procurement timelines and grant administration the city does not expect to place a generator order immediately; staff estimated it may be several months before ordering.
Votes and formal actions: The council approved the ordinance authorizing the city manager to accept the TDEM subgrant and the ordinance amending the FY2025 budget to recognize and appropriate the grant funds. Both measures passed by the council vote called at the meeting.
