The Hidalgo County Drainage District board on Nov. 10 approved multiple contract awards, change orders and budget adjustments tied to ongoing drainage projects, and discussed use of a state disaster‑recovery grant to fund a new drainage line.

District staff told the board they had applied for and been awarded funding administered through the Urban County program and the Texas General Land Office’s disaster recovery program (DRRP) totaling about $2.2 million—$2,000,000 in grant funds with $200,000 in local participation—for the Alternate Rado Drain project, which runs from Business 83 toward I‑2 and affects parts of Precincts 2 and 3. “We did apply and it’s a $2.2 million grant…2,000,000 is a grant and 200,000 is our participation,” the general manager said, adding staff will follow required procedures to develop the project.

Separately, the board accepted the project engineer’s recommendation and awarded a construction contract for the Mayberry Road to Glasgow Road Drainage Improvement Phase 1 to Vincent Constructors LLC (RFP ACDD1250500813ESZ). The board also approved change order number 2 for a lateral extension monitoring project and authorized the general manager to approve change orders up to $50,000, subject to statutory limits under the Texas Water Code. Several payment requests tied to Synergy Development and related contracts were approved during the meeting.

Board votes were by voice; several members recorded abstentions when conflicts were noted. The board’s actions include standard ‘‘subject to final review’’ language for contract compliance and legal review. Staff said final amounts and contract documents will be returned for posting once the administrative and legal checks are complete.

Next steps: staff will continue procurement compliance and move forward with executing awards after final reviews; the Alternate Rado Drain project will proceed through Urban County channels if the grant agreement is finalized.