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Harlingen moves ahead on several storm‑sewer projects; opts to revise or withdraw larger FEMA‑funded scopes
Summary
The City awarded a contract for Fifth and Seventh Street storm sewer work, approved a scope‑reduction approach for Jefferson Street phase 2, and directed staff to appeal or withdraw aspects of a separate 20 First Street FEMA grant because updated cost estimates exceed available funding.
Harlingen’s commission approved multiple actions to advance stormwater infrastructure after staff warned some federally awarded grants no longer cover the full updated construction estimates.
Engineering presented a bid award for Fifth and Seventh Street storm sewer improvements — roughly 5,000 linear feet of underground storm pipe capturing drainage from about 80 acres between Van Buren and Polk — and the commission unanimously awarded the contract to Go Underground LLC under Bid No. 2025‑06. City Engineer Luis Vargas said the project is funded in part by external grant assistance secured by the city; commissioners thanked the mayor and Congressman Vicente Gonzalez for help securing funds.
Separately, Special Projects Director Anna Hernandez asked the commission to direct staff on Phase 2 of the Jefferson Street Storm Sewer Improvement Project. Phase 1 was funded by a 2021 hazard mitigation grant; Phase 2’s updated construction estimate now exceeds the grant amount. Hernandez proposed two options: revise the project scope to fit available funding while complying with FEMA rules, or withdraw Phase 2 and reapply for full funding. Staff recommended revising the scope where feasible; the commission approved option 1, directing staff and engineering to develop a FEMA‑compliant reduced scope and return with details.
For a separate 20 First Street storm sewer project, staff said the current grant award would not cover the updated construction estimate; commissioners authorized an appeal to FEMA for disallowed costs on Phase 1 and approved withdrawing Phase 2 from the current grant program and instead pursuing full funding through new applications. The commission also directed general improvements in grant oversight and recommended that finance and grants staff adopt clearer checks and written processes for reimbursement and reporting.
Commissioners said accelerating drainage improvements remains a high priority, and staff said phased construction and targeted scope reductions will allow some work to proceed while pursuing additional grant resources for remaining elements.
The Fifth & Seventh contract award and the Jefferson/20 First grant actions were taken by unanimous votes.
