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Alice leaders present three-project grant package — water, fire station, police remodel
Summary
City staff presented a three-project grant package to the office of Congresswoman Monica de la Cruz that would prioritize a $5 million water plan, a roughly $4 million replacement/upgrade for Station Three and a police facility renovation estimated at about $572,000.
Mayor Pro Tim Robert Molina convened the Alice City Council on March 17 to discuss a bundled grant strategy staff is preparing for submission to contacts in the office of Congresswoman Monica de la Cruz.
City staff told the council the package is being ranked with the water project first, a replacement or upgrade of Station Three second and police facility renovations third to reflect funding likelihood and community priorities. "We're ranking the three projects in order with the water project being ranked number one," a staff presenter said.
The water plan described by a city infrastructure official would include three investments — resizing and deepening Lake Finley, developing Type 1 reclaimed irrigation water from the south wastewater plant and drilling a third freshwater well on city property — and was estimated at about $5 million. The presenter said the third well would provide a freshwater pumping option that could support the lake, distribution or a holding pond during droughts.
The Alice Police Department representative said the department has applied for a renovation grant and is seeking approximately "$572,000, I believe" to renovate the remainder of the police building, including a new patrol room, conference space, kitchen upgrades and a dedicated booking/intoxilizer room.
Patrick, speaking for the fire side, described a $4 million request to replace or upgrade Station Three (a makeshift station near the stadium) and said the scope includes an emergency operations and training component; final siting would depend on the award and available property. Staff emphasized that funding levels will dictate final design and location.
A representative from the office of Congresswoman Monica de la Cruz said the congresswoman has previously helped secure funding for water projects and signaled continued support: the office noted prior federal assistance and ongoing outreach to funding contacts.
Why it matters: the three proposals aim to address infrastructure needs that leaders said affect daily services — potable and storage capacity for water; modern facilities for public-safety response; and a police facility upgrade to improve operations — and to position the city competitively for limited grant dollars.
Next steps: staff will submit the applications to the congresswoman's office contacts and the applicable grant programs; council discussion indicated the city will rank and transmit the three projects in priority order and follow up as award decisions move forward.
