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Commissioners authorize ARPA and TDA options to keep St. Paul water‑tower project moving after high bids
Summary
Facing bids above the TDA award, the court agreed Nov. 17 to permit use of ARPA interest and other regional funds so staff can move forward with the St. Paul elevated storage tank and generators RFP, and instructed staff to return with formal award recommendations before the TDA contract deadline.
San Patricio County staff told the Commissioners Court on Nov. 17 that the low bids to build the St. Paul elevated storage tank and associated generators exceeded the project’s TDA construction allocation of $855,000. Melanie Cooper, the county’s grants ("grama") manager, explained options staff had developed: remove generators from the TDA scope, use ARPA interest funds to cover the shortfall, or reallocate regional CogMod funds to cover generator costs while preserving the TDA construction scope.
Cooper said an alternative tower design would reduce cost and that generator bids had come in at roughly $310,000 for the low bid. She told commissioners that using ARPA interest funds or regional CogMod funds would allow the county to proceed and still meet the TDA funding conditions for the construction contract.
Commissioners debated funding sources and transparency; after an amendment to authorize use of ARPA interest funds and available TDA/CogMod options for generators, the court approved the direction to staff unanimously. The court’s action authorized staff to proceed with award recommendations using the approved mix of funding, with the caveat that any final award must meet TDA environmental and contract conditions. Cooper advised the court that the TDA contract requires a contractor in place by Feb. 1 and that awarding without confirmed funding would risk the TDA obligation.
Why it matters: The St. Paul project provides water infrastructure for the St. Paul service area; allowing flexible funding now is intended to prevent delays that would jeopardize the TDA grant. Staff will return with the formal award recommendation and contract package to finalize procurement and funding.
