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Weslaco hears engineering update and holds public hearing on Paisano drainage project
Summary
City engineers told commissioners excavation of a regional detention facility for the Kansas and Los Ritos drainage project is about 20% complete; the commission opened and closed a public hearing on the Paisano Drainage Improvement Project to support a Texas General Land Office disaster-recovery grant application with no public testimony.
City engineers told the Weslaco City Commission on Aug. 5 that excavation has begun on a regional detention facility tied to the Kansas and Los Ritos drainage improvements and that work is roughly 20% complete.
The update came during a presentation from the city’s engineering team, which said the detention facility—located at the Mayor Palupinha Park site—aims to remove roughly 600 to 800 homes from flood‑plain limits for a range of storm events and to increase detention capacity. The engineering presentation outlined precast storm box installation on Agostadero Street, traffic-control measures and coordination with Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 9; roadway excavation for a first installation phase is scheduled to begin later in the month.
The commission also opened a public hearing to solicit comments on a proposed application to the Texas General Land Office Community Development and Revitalization Disaster Recovery/Relocation Program for the Paisano Drainage Improvement Project. No members of the public offered testimony; the commission closed the hearing by unanimous voice vote.
Why it matters: The detention facility and associated stormwater work are intended to reduce local flooding and remove hundreds of homes from at‑risk designations, which is a prerequisite for many state and federal funding opportunities. Staff told commissioners the design and benefit‑cost analyses performed in 2019 remain the baseline for the projects while new BCAs are prepared for later, separate applications.
What they said: "Excavation began early June and is currently about 20% complete," the project engineer said, describing the work and a phased schedule for street‑side improvements. On grant readiness, staff said individual benefit‑cost analyses will be prepared for additional projects as they are packaged for funding agencies.
Next steps: Staff will continue coordination with irrigation districts and school officials where work may affect fiber and access. Commissioners said they expect continued updates as the first phase of construction gets underway and as follow‑up benefit‑cost analyses are completed.
The commission took no regulatory action at the hearing beyond opening and closing the public comment period for the GLO grant application.
