Guadalupe County urges swift start on ARPA‑funded EOC warehouse, emergency response centers

Guadalupe County commissioners told staff to accelerate work on ARPA‑funded projects including an emergency operations center (EOC) warehouse, a separate emergency response center (ERC), and site work for property the county recently acquired on Huber Road.

At the April 15 budget workshop the court emphasized timing: "These ARPA projects must be completed by December 31, 2026," the County Judge said, and commissioners urged staff to push forward now because permitting, weather delays and construction timelines can quickly eat into the available window.

Key project updates - EOC warehouse and ERC: County staff said design and ground work should begin soon; the court discussed North Guadalupe Street funding tied to the EOC warehouse site and asked staff to prioritize engineering tasks so projects can begin this year. - Hubert property: County staff confirmed the acquisition of roughly 3.5 acres on Huber Road; survey and final plat work are complete and the county has closed on the lot. Staff said construction will start soon but must meet the ARPA completion deadline. - JP Precinct 4 building: Commissioners revisited past discussion of moving Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 and the precinct constable into the renovated Marion Building; the existing JP4 facility at 725 could then be repurposed as an emergency response center or volunteer fire station because of its location and access to State Highway 78 and I‑10.

Volunteer partnerships and operations Commissioners discussed informal agreements and potential partnerships with volunteer fire departments for housing county staff, apparatus, or ambulances at volunteer facilities. Court members said such partnerships could extend resources for both the county and volunteer organizations, but specific agreements and preliminary designs were not finalized at the workshop.

Why it matters ARPA funding carries a federal completion deadline and funds not spent in time could be jeopardized. County leaders told staff the combination of procurement lead times, permitting and potential weather delays means projects must be initiated now to avoid missing the end‑of‑2026 deadline.

Next steps Staff was asked to provide updated engineering estimates, scheduling and procurement plans at upcoming budget meetings and to coordinate site work and road funding that enable construction access for the EOC warehouse and related projects.