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Engineers outline plan to deploy $7 million in drainage projects, city staff to begin pre‑construction work
Summary
City engineer presented a multi‑phase plan for a previously approved $7 million drainage program covering corporate park, Cash Road/Keegan’s drainage and Techniplex areas; staff and engineer said surveys and geotechnical work are needed before construction and some work could begin within months.
The city’s contracted engineer briefed the Stafford Economic Development Corporation on the status of a $7 million drainage program the board previously approved; staff said preconstruction work is underway and some early projects could start within months.
Bob Jones, the city engineer, reviewed four primary geographic components of the approved drainage program: the corporate business park area (including detention capacity improvements at the Fountain detention facility), a ditch and storm‑sewer corridor running north from Cash Road toward Keegan’s drainage system, work in the Southwest Techniplex area that would require additional railroad and TxDOT coordination, and an expansion related to the TXI detention pond behind a nearby warehouse area.
Jones said the corporate park / fountain detention work is relatively straightforward because existing easements and property control are in place; that package represents an early target and he estimated it might be under contract and underway in roughly 3–6 months after survey and geotechnical borings. He described the need for survey and soils work to verify pipe elevations, slopes and subsurface conditions before design and earthwork.
The Cash Road corridor work is larger and requires careful coordination with private property owners, existing storm lines and some constrained right‑of‑way. The Techniplex crossing requires negotiations with Union Pacific and TxDOT because of an existing undersized 24‑inch crossing; Jones warned that railroad approvals are logistically difficult and will extend timelines. Jones said that improved detention capacity in the commercial corridor will provide some indirect relief to nearby residential areas but that the projects are focused largely on commercial drainage and roadway flooding relief.
Staff and the board discussed funding mechanics: Jones said about $2 million of the $7 million would address the corporate park phase; board members noted that some private developers undertaking adjacent site improvements might be able to coordinate to reduce city costs. City staff said Pike Road and other projects with committed SEDC funding would not prevent moving forward on drainage if council and staff proceed with design and contracting.
No formal vote was taken; city staff and the engineer asked the board to endorse moving to the next steps (surveying, geotechnical, scope and bidding) so work can begin. Board members and the mayor present expressed support for beginning front‑end work promptly. Jones said construction on the first, high‑impact pieces could be completed within the same calendar year, subject to weather, right‑of‑way needs and railroad negotiations.
