Hidalgo County court hears $15 million state rider and approves contracts for Delta water and flood‑channel work

Hidalgo County Commissioner's Court on Tuesday heard that a state bill expanding financial assistance for flood and water projects has been signed and moved to approve multiple contracts and change orders tied to the county’s Delta Regional Water Management and main flood‑channel projects.

The court was told that Senate Bill 16 19 67 — described to the court as legislation relating to eligible financial assistance from the Texas Water Development Board to the Flood Infrastructure Fund — “was signed by the governor last week,” and that separate budget action could provide $15,000,000 as a rider to start the county’s reclamation project. Court members approved professional service agreements, a supplemental engineering agreement and a series of change orders on main flood‑channel expansion contracts during the meeting.

County leaders said the newly authorized state assistance and the proposed rider would help advance the Delta Regional Water Management project, which they described as a priority for the district and region. Staff presented contract items for professional drilling, feasibility and engineering services that the court approved, including a professional drilling services agreement (CACD1180360814) and a supplemental agreement to Hazardous Ventures Inc. to extend a feasibility study term by 24 months and revise certain contract rates. The supplemental agreement included an increase described in the agenda as $982.08; the court approved the item subject to final legal review and House Bill 1295 compliance.

During the same series of agenda items the court approved change orders to main flood‑channel construction contracts funded under General Land Office (GLO) grant awards. Staff told the court the original GLO projects were value‑engineered and bid under estimate; excess grant funds were reallocated to perform additional riprap and channel‑stabilization work. The court approved change order No. 3 on multiple flood‑channel contracts: one change order reflected an increased contract amount of $831,379.20 and 173 calendar days (Reno Works, Phase 1 segment), another an increase of $562,480 and 227 days (Science Brothers Construction, Phase 2, segment D), and a third an increase of $315,780 and 240 days for a related segment. Court members voted to approve each change order; the minutes record motions and “motion carries” on those items.

Why it matters: County officials said the rider and the reallocated grant funds create a financing pathway to begin a major reclamation project and to shore up flood channels that county staff say will reduce erosion and improve stormwater conveyance across parts of Hidalgo County. The projects are tied to the county’s 2018 bond drainage program and to GLO grant awards the county previously received.

What the court approved (high‑level): - Professional drilling services agreement and supplemental engineering agreement tied to the Delta Regional Water Management project (approval subject to final legal review and HB 1295 compliance). - Supplemental agreement to Hazardous Ventures Inc. (feasibility study) with a 24‑month extension and an agenda‑listed increase in contract rates. - Change orders (numbered in the agenda as Change Order No. 3) on multiple GLO‑funded main flood‑channel expansion contracts with the amounts and added calendar days recorded on the agenda: $831,379.20 (+173 days); $562,480 (+227 days); $315,780 (+240 days). Each was approved by motion.

Court members who spoke about the items thanked staff and consultants by name for assistance in securing funding and in project preparation; several commissioners and the county judge recorded abstentions on specific drainage district consent items elsewhere on the agenda. The court also recorded that $15,000,000 in state rider funding was on the budget calendar: staff said the House was scheduled to vote the following day and the Senate later in the week, with the county awaiting final signature and appropriation timing.

The county’s next steps include final legal review of the agreements approved subject to compliance with House Bill 1295, executing grant‑funded change orders, and tracking the state budget rider vote and signature before the county can obligate the $15,000,000 rider funds.