Council designates Dunaway as floodplain administrator, approves grant applications and hears MDD plans

Josephine’s council continued several administrative steps at its June 8 meeting, approving grant applications and administrative designations intended to support infrastructure and public safety while the newly formed Municipal Development District (MDD) organizes.

Dunaway Associates LLC. The council approved a resolution naming Dunaway Associates LLC as the city’s floodplain administrator on a consulting basis after the city’s previous administrator retired. Staff said the city lacks an employee with the required floodplain qualifications and that Dunaway is already performing review work for local subdivisions and the wastewater plant. Council and staff discussed whether other firms had been solicited and noted Dunaway’s familiarity with existing projects would limit duplicate work and expense.

Park and water grants. Council authorized the city administrator to apply for a Colin County parks and open-space matching grant to make ADA and safety improvements at Josephine City Park (scope: playground resurfacing, inclusive play elements, walkway connections); the city’s committed match is $39,589.40. Separately, staff received approval to file an application with the Texas Water Development Board for water-system project funding under recently available state dollars (application window late July). The parks application focuses on a northern playground pad and connecting sidewalks; the full‑park scope was estimated at roughly $600,000, so staff proposed phasing.

SAFER firefighter grant. The council also approved submittal of a federal SAFER grant application seeking funding for three firefighters; staff noted the program’s multi‑year local match schedule and advised council this is a commonly used federal program to expand firefighting staffing.

MDD initial report. Kevin McKinnon, president of the Municipal Development District, presented the MDD’s inaugural report: the board has about $214,000 on deposit but cannot expend funds until the MDD budget is adopted in the next fiscal cycle. Early priorities include pre‑marketing, a web presence, and incentives to recruit a supermarket or neighborhood grocery as a development anchor. McKinnon said the MDD plans to reserve about 15% of funds for administration and 15% for reserves, with the remainder set aside for development projects and incentives.

Cemetery housekeeping. Council discussed Reed’s Chapel (Josephine) Cemetery maintenance and ownership. Staff said the site is outside city limits, listed in appraisal records in the city’s name, and has a historic‑cemetery designation. Annual labor‑equivalent maintenance was estimated at about $14,000; staff recommended formalizing ownership/maintenance responsibilities, creating clear rules for flowers/headstones to reduce mowing burdens and considering a cemetery board and bylaws. Council directed staff to return with a formal plan.

What’s next: Staff will coordinate grant applications, return with a recommended cemetery governance plan, and the MDD will continue organizing and advise council when it is authorized to expend funds under the next annual budget.