Rio Grande City approves contract for wastewater‑treatment‑plant expansion funded by state program

The Rio Grande City Commission voted unanimously Feb. 27 to authorize the city to execute construction contracts with RP Constructors Inc. for an expansion of the city’s wastewater treatment plant, a project listed with the Texas Water Development Board as project number 73874.

City staff and the project engineer told commissioners that all contractor bonding and insurance documentation are in place and that executing the contracts is a required administrative step before TWDB performs its final review and issues a notice to proceed. Mike Agnazos of Miller, Haire & Hunt Engineers told the commission the documents before the board are fully executed and ready for council sign‑off so the city can forward them to TWDB for final authorization.

Mayor Gilberto Falcon moved the item through the consent process and the commission approved the motion without dissent. The contract execution does not start construction until TWDB completes its final review and issues authorization, staff said.

The item was presented as part of the commission’s effort to advance infrastructure projects that are funded through state programs. City staff did not provide a construction start date at the meeting; commissioners said they expect TWDB review and a notice to proceed before construction begins. The commission’s approval authorizes the mayor and city staff to sign and submit the required documents to the TWDB.

Next steps: City staff will submit the executed contract package to the Texas Water Development Board for final review and will notify the commission when TWDB issues a notice to proceed.