Surveyor and drainage officials present Mohi Dam engineering plan; commissioners note funding and task order

Paul, from the surveyor's office, briefed the commissioners on the Mohi Dam project, describing proposed engineering work, interim financing options and a related drainage plan update.

Paul said the total Mohi Dam project over the next four years is expected to be about $4 million and that interim financing to pay early engineering work could be handled internally and then repaid with grant funds when available. He said the homeowners association had agreed to transfer the land necessary for project work and that a survey by McKinney had been completed.

Commissioners discussed project priorities and funding. Paul noted rural development funding ranked this project lower because there are “no houses below the dam,” which affects financing priority. Commissioners discussed engineering task orders that would cover test borings, engineering, and design work; one commissioner cited initial engineering costs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars (transcript references to approximately $500,000 for initial engineering and larger total engineering estimates were given in discussion but specific line-item figures varied in the record).

Separately, the county presented a required stormwater/drainage five-year review that would update prior plans and address local ditches and rail crossings; staff recommended noting a professional engineering services proposal for the drainage work. A commissioner moved and the board voted to note the engineering services proposal for drainage and stormwater (recorded as unanimous in the transcript: “All in favor? 3 0.”).

No final construction contract or long-term financing was approved during the meeting; commissioners authorized tasking staff to proceed with engineering proposals and noted funding would come from project-specific sources and later bond or grant financing as applicable.