Aransas County authorizes Stantec work to preserve permit for Lamar Beach shoreline project

Aransas County Commissioners Court on an August 2025 agenda authorized Stantec Consulting Services to continue permitting work tied to the Lamar Beach shoreline and Lamar Beach Road drainage project, approving a hiring resolution, a notice of award and a professional services contract intended to preserve an expiring U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit.

The court approved a hiring resolution (R-32-2025) to engage Stantec for permit extension services and authorized the county judge to execute a notice of award and the contract. County staff told commissioners the immediate work covers permit and permitting-extension tasks that must be completed before the Corps permit expires in December. County staff also said the $5,429 charging for the initial permit-extension work may be covered by pending Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) funding or included in an application for Federal Emergency Management Agency/Texas Division of Emergency Management (FEMA/TDEM) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program subaward DR-4332-0015.

Why it matters: the actions keep the county’s permit and contract position active while county staff proceed with design and property access for the larger Lamar drainage/shoreline project. County staff noted the current phase is survey and permitting; separate drainage work is ongoing but the Stantec actions specifically address shoreline permitting and the Corps permit extension.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the hiring resolution, notice of award and contract. The court’s discussion clarified that the Stantec engagement is intended to preserve the permit and allow further design work, not to begin final construction. County staff said if FEMA/TDEM grant funds are awarded in time they will be used to cover the cost; otherwise the county will use other available funding sources, including the possibility of GOMESA funds.

Court record and next steps: staff reported Stantec will begin permitting work promptly to meet the Corps’ December permit-expiration deadline. Commissioners also heard separately that the county’s broader Lamar drainage project is currently in the survey phase and that staff are working with property owners to gain access to existing drainage easements.

Votes: Each motion to authorize the hiring resolution, to approve the notice of award, and to execute the contract passed by recorded voice roll calls in open session with all commissioners voting “aye.”

Supporting details from the meeting: a staff member explained the hiring resolution cost as $5,429 and said the work “may get paid by GOMESA funding” or be included in a FEMA/TDEM grant application. Commissioners asked for clarification to distinguish this shoreline permitting work from separate drainage-project work.