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City manager outlines capital projects, $5M DIAG grant sponsorship and steps to prepare for federal shutdown impacts
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Summary
City Manager Ryan Haverlaw told the council the city is sponsor for a $5 million DIAG grant connected to a $10 million Fort Hood energy resiliency project and detailed ongoing capital projects and preparedness actions as a federal shutdown affects certain grants and residents.
City Manager Ryan Haverlaw used his Nov. 4 report to update the council on capital projects, regional grants and emergency-preparedness concerns.
Haverlaw said the city remains close to finishing several projects: emergency generators (final coordination and equipment replacement), the animal control facility (likely year-end completion), senior center improvements, municipal court renovation (awaiting materials and furniture) and Fire Station No. 3 expansion (expected in late November or early December). He also said city park irrigation and landscaping work is nearly complete.
On grant activity, Haverlaw described the Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant (DIAG) process in which the city is serving as sponsor for a $5,000,000 grant to work with Fort Hood on energy resiliency; Fort Hood will contribute an additional $5,000,000 for a $10,000,000 project. The citys role is primarily sponsorship and pass-through for the DIAG funds, and the city is coordinating with the vendor selected by Fort Hood.
Haverlaw also reported that the Bell County regional habitat conservation plan (RHCP) has been paused after steering and coordinating committees concluded the consultant was not meeting expectations. He said Bell County and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have agreed to pause further development of the plan until consulting performance and scope can be resolved.
Haverlaw warned that the CodeRED/unsolved emergency notification service has had issues and that funding for that service comes through the Central Texas Council of Governments (CITCOG); state or federal funding changes may affect eligibility and the city is monitoring alternatives for resident emergency notifications.
The manager raised the federal government shutdown as an immediate concern: the pause in some federal operations and grant communications is slowing EDA and other federal activity, and the city is reviewing flexible utility payment plans for residents affected by furloughs, contractors and those losing federal benefits. Haverlaw said local programs such as Meals on Wheels will continue because some funding had already been received; he recommended continued coordination with Fort Hood and regional partners.
Haverlaw said the TxDOT award of a $10,300,000 grant for ramps on State Highway 9 (to Tank Destroyer / Old Georgetown Road) had a pre-construction meeting and may come in under budget; the city is also preparing to score consultant responses for a railroad crossing elimination grant.
Councilmembers asked questions and offered local resource information (food bank distributions and mobile pantries). Haverlaw closed by encouraging staff coordination on the federal shutdown response and offering to call a special meeting if council action on utility fees or cutoffs becomes necessary.
The report concluded with no immediate council direction recorded beyond standard project follow-up and monitoring of grants and emergency-notification funding eligibility.
