The Houston Chronicle published an editorial about the leader of the Harris County Flood Control District, Tina Petersen, Ph.D., this morning. Harris County Commissioners will discuss her job performance tomorrow in executive session. The move was prompted by the detailed disclosure on May 1, 2026, of the status of Community Development Block Grant Projects (CDBG).
Petersen spread sunshine in the form of vague generalities about the projects at Commissioners Court until Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey started demanding detailed information. The results were shocking. Especially for 11 CDBG projects with a deadline of 2/28/27 – roughly nine months away. The projects usually take 1-2 years to complete. Recently, one took FOUR years!
Point/Counterpoint
Because the Chronicle is a copyrighted publication, I will quote only the passages that struck me as “off the wall,” then state why I disagree with them.
What Harris County Needs?
The Chronicle headline read: “Harris County needs stable leadership at Flood Control — not backroom politics.”
My headline would have read, “Harris County needs results, accountability and transparency from Flood Control – not excuses.”
Worse Time?
Their editorial board recommends keeping her and says that this discussion “couldn’t come at a worse time.” Actually, it could in my opinion. It could come when there’s no longer any hope of saving hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.
At the moment, there may still be time to turn some of the projects around. The editorial board seems to assume that if a project is in construction, the GLO will automatically grant an extension. But the GLO has repeatedly said that any extension(s) would depend on how close any given project is to completion.
The Chronicle also doesn’t consider what would happen if a project were started, but not completed in time – a nightmare scenario from a financial point of view.
All But Two Projects under Contract?
The Chronicle claims, “All but two [emphasis added] of those projects are under contract for construction, putting the flood control district in a good position to formally request an extension on the federal funds…”
HCFCD’s own spreadsheet shows that four construction contracts have not been awarded yet – Genoa Red Bluff, Kluge, Isom Street and Dinner Creek Stormwater Detention Basins.
Worse, nine of the 11 projects have not yet billed a penny. Only two have billed anything and one of those is seriously behind schedule,
The Chronicle should understand that “under contract” does not mean “under construction.” It can take contractors months to mobilize for construction.
Undermine Progress?
The Chronicle claims, “A leadership change at this juncture would likely undermine that progress.”
What progress are they referring to?
Responsible Governance?
The Chronicle believes that changing leadership “would be a return to the bad old days of Commissioners Court, defined by opaque maneuvering, where political relationships often took precedence over responsible governance.”
Do you mean like when they hired Petersen?
To my way of thinking, responsible governance is governance that delivers results. The Chronicle seems to defend the squandering of tax dollars. A change in leadership would show GLO and HUD that Harris County does not accept failure and misdirection.
Lost Confidence?
The Chronicle stated, “This turmoil is what we feared would happen after County Judge Lina Hidalgo stated she “lost confidence” in Petersen.
I believe Hidalgo had valid concerns. The flood control district was not being transparent enough in providing timely updates. It was not providing actionable data to commissioners and the public regarding projects that were in jeopardy of losing funding.
Scapegoating?
“We don’t think the current executive should be scapegoated,” says the Chronicle, “… and neither should any county resident who cares about keeping floodwater out of their living room.”
Huh? Since when is making a leader accountable for the performance of her team “scapegoating”? And how are county residents being scapegoated? They’re the victims here.
Productive Relationships?
The Chronicle also believes that Petersen “helped rebuild productive relationships with the General Land Office and Department of Housing and Urban Development…”
Name your sources, Chronicle! Put quotes around their praise so that other media can verify what they said. Vague generalities got us into this mess.
Reasons?
“If there’s a reason to fire Peterson, tell the public what it is,” said the Chronicle editorial.
What happened to transparency, accountability and results? Do those no longer count in the Chronicle’s world?
You might also want to check previous department head turnover, Chronicle. Four years ago, 16 of 20 department heads turned over with whole layers of management underneath them. Where were you then, Editorial Board?
Non Sequiturs?
The Chronicle editorial claims that if local leaders remove Petersen, it could lead to HCFCD “being put under state control.”
This may have something to do with legislation proposed in 2025 that died in committee. The Chronicle doesn’t give specifics. It just says, “The state Legislature has proposed a bill that would put the district under state control.” What does that have to do with Tina Petersen’s performance?
Here’s another non sequitur, Chronicle! Rep. Dennis Paul did introduce a bill (HB2068 in 2025) that would have created a river-basin-wide flood-control district. The Chronicle correctly stated that the bill would have had directors appointed by the governor. But the Houston Chronicle omitted the fact that it only would have been created after voters in individual counties approved it. Please explain how voter approval infringes on local control in your minds?
And by the way, “legislatures” don’t introduce bills; “legislators” do. Just FYI.
Rash Decisions?
“We urge Commissioners Court to table any rash decisions on flood control leadership on Thursday,” says the editorial.
News flash, Chronicle! This train has been coming down the tracks for years.
Open Discussion of Personnel Matters?
The editorial concludes with the admonition that any discussion of Petersen’s future “should be discussed openly…”
Such public discussions can result in people becoming virtually unemployable for the rest of their careers, which is why state law allows and county policy encourages such discussions in Executive Session.
But you’re entitled to your opinions. And I respect your right to voice them. Please just make sure they’re based on facts.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/13/26
3179 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Tina-Petersen.jpg?fit=1100%2C608&ssl=16081100adminadmin2026-05-13 20:41:412026-05-14 07:27:05Houston Chronicle Misses Many Points on HCFCD Leadership Discussion
5/11/2026 – Since my last update in April on the Northpark Drive expansion project, the most visible changes have occurred at the south entry pond on US59 and at the approach for the eastern ramp for the bridge over the UnionPacific Railroad Tracks.
Contractors have excavated the south pond deeper and paved up to the start of the ramp. Compare the photos below taken today with those taken on 4/24/26.
Photos Taken on 5/11/2026
Let’s start at 59. The south pond is still under construction. This morning, contractors were pumping it out. The Harris County Flood Warning System gage at 59 and the West Fork received 1.2 inches of rain overnight.
Looking S at southern entry pond.Note pump in upper right.Reverse angle. The north entry pond looks further along.Looking E toward 494 from over 59 shows comparative progress of both ponds.The western ramp for the bridge will go in unpaved area in the middle of the frame. However, they have not yet started on that.Intersection of Loop 494 and Northpark, looking E. When the inbound and outbound surface lanes are complete the bridge itself will go up where traffic now pinches down to the center lanes.However, before completion of the surface lanes, traffic and crossing signals must be moved out of the way.The last few feet on each side of the tracks remain unpaved for now.Father E, contractors have not yet paved the eastern ramp.Walls for the ramp appear virtually complete. Note fresh cement at base of ramp in upper right.That fresh cement is the second major change since the last update.The rest of the way to the eastern terminus of the project just past Russell-Palmer has not changed much since the last update. Looking E at Russell Palmer intersection
You can also search ReduceFlooding.com using the keyword “Northpark.”
Finally, Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ10 will hold a board meeting on 5/14/2026 starting at 8 AM at the Kingwood Community Center, 4102 Rustic Woods Drive, Kingwood, TX 77345. Here is the Agenda. They will discuss not only the current phase of the project, but a regional detention basin and the next phase of the road expansion as well. This board packet gives you a sense of what they will review.
The public will have a chance to ask question and make comments at the start of the meeting.
When complete, Northpark will be the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood for approximately 80,000 people.
5/9/2026 – During the 5/14/2026 Harris County Commissioner’s Court Meeting, Commissioners will discuss Harris County Flood Control District Executive Director Dr. Tina Petersen in Executive Session with an eye to taking possible action.
Request by the Commissioner of Precinct 3 for an Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.074(a) for discussion and possible action regarding the Executive Director of the Harris County Flood Control District.
Section 551.074 allows commissioners to conduct sessions in private when deliberating the employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee.
Performance Issues
Petersen’s performance has come under increasing scrutiny in the last few years as HCFCD projects have bogged down. For instance:
Construction of the Mercer Basin in Rodney Ellis’ Precinct One was started in 2022 on an expedited basis. But what should have taken one year took four. The project just finished. (See Item 389).
Funding for the reconstruction of Poor Farm Ditch in West U and South Side Place was announced in June 2023. But bid approval is on the May 14, 2026 agenda. (See Item 275).
The construction contract for the Woodridge/Taylor Gully project was awarded in March 2026. Seven weeks later, Item 124 on the agenda shows that HCFCD is just now requesting access to the site. As of yesterday, no construction equipment was onsite yet…not even a construction trailer.
Item 390 shows thathundreds of millions of dollars of CDBG-MIT and CDBG-DR projects have slipped so badly, they likely won’t meet state and federal deadlines. Of the 11 projects in the DR category only two are in construction and one of those is already seriously behind schedule. Construction bids have not yet been awarded on four others totaling approximately $90 million. Less than 9.5 months remain before deadlines kick in on projects that typically take one to two years.
Despite all that, Item 473 on the agenda shows that Petersen is requesting renewal of a $12 million contract to provide “program management, project management, construction management and inspection services for the development and implementation of CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT projects.”
$90,000 Raise Last Year
Despite her department’s less-than-stellar performance, Commissioners awarded Petersen a $90,000 raise last year. That brought her salary to approximately $434,000 per year.
The big question at this point is…
“Will commissioners start projects they may not have money to finish?”
The $868 million in CDBG-DR and -MIT projects is on a reimbursement basis only when the job is done. Commissioners could spend a lot of money and if the projects don’t get done, they might not get reimbursed.
Will 5/14/26 be Dr. Tina Petersen’s “Day of Reckoning” that Commissioner Ellis warned about last month?
The irony here is that we had management at flood control that was doing an excellent job…until Democrats on Commissioners Court pushed them out. You can see on the graph below what has happened since.
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2018-Bond-Spending-by-WS-Incremental.png?fit=2060%2C778&ssl=17782060adminadmin2026-05-09 21:55:412026-05-11 11:08:09Harris County Commissioners Will Discuss HCFCD Executive Director in Executive Session
Houston Chronicle Misses Many Points on HCFCD Leadership Discussion
The Houston Chronicle published an editorial about the leader of the Harris County Flood Control District, Tina Petersen, Ph.D., this morning. Harris County Commissioners will discuss her job performance tomorrow in executive session. The move was prompted by the detailed disclosure on May 1, 2026, of the status of Community Development Block Grant Projects (CDBG).
Petersen spread sunshine in the form of vague generalities about the projects at Commissioners Court until Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey started demanding detailed information. The results were shocking. Especially for 11 CDBG projects with a deadline of 2/28/27 – roughly nine months away. The projects usually take 1-2 years to complete. Recently, one took FOUR years!
Point/Counterpoint
Because the Chronicle is a copyrighted publication, I will quote only the passages that struck me as “off the wall,” then state why I disagree with them.
What Harris County Needs?
The Chronicle headline read: “Harris County needs stable leadership at Flood Control — not backroom politics.”
My headline would have read, “Harris County needs results, accountability and transparency from Flood Control – not excuses.”
Worse Time?
Their editorial board recommends keeping her and says that this discussion “couldn’t come at a worse time.” Actually, it could in my opinion. It could come when there’s no longer any hope of saving hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.
At the moment, there may still be time to turn some of the projects around. The editorial board seems to assume that if a project is in construction, the GLO will automatically grant an extension. But the GLO has repeatedly said that any extension(s) would depend on how close any given project is to completion.
The Chronicle also doesn’t consider what would happen if a project were started, but not completed in time – a nightmare scenario from a financial point of view.
All But Two Projects under Contract?
The Chronicle claims, “All but two [emphasis added] of those projects are under contract for construction, putting the flood control district in a good position to formally request an extension on the federal funds…”
HCFCD’s own spreadsheet shows that four construction contracts have not been awarded yet – Genoa Red Bluff, Kluge, Isom Street and Dinner Creek Stormwater Detention Basins.
Worse, nine of the 11 projects have not yet billed a penny. Only two have billed anything and one of those is seriously behind schedule,
The Chronicle should understand that “under contract” does not mean “under construction.” It can take contractors months to mobilize for construction.
Undermine Progress?
The Chronicle claims, “A leadership change at this juncture would likely undermine that progress.”
What progress are they referring to?
Responsible Governance?
The Chronicle believes that changing leadership “would be a return to the bad old days of Commissioners Court, defined by opaque maneuvering, where political relationships often took precedence over responsible governance.”
Do you mean like when they hired Petersen?
To my way of thinking, responsible governance is governance that delivers results. The Chronicle seems to defend the squandering of tax dollars. A change in leadership would show GLO and HUD that Harris County does not accept failure and misdirection.
Lost Confidence?
The Chronicle stated, “This turmoil is what we feared would happen after County Judge Lina Hidalgo stated she “lost confidence” in Petersen.
I believe Hidalgo had valid concerns. The flood control district was not being transparent enough in providing timely updates. It was not providing actionable data to commissioners and the public regarding projects that were in jeopardy of losing funding.
Scapegoating?
“We don’t think the current executive should be scapegoated,” says the Chronicle, “… and neither should any county resident who cares about keeping floodwater out of their living room.”
Huh? Since when is making a leader accountable for the performance of her team “scapegoating”? And how are county residents being scapegoated? They’re the victims here.
Productive Relationships?
The Chronicle also believes that Petersen “helped rebuild productive relationships with the General Land Office and Department of Housing and Urban Development…”
Name your sources, Chronicle! Put quotes around their praise so that other media can verify what they said. Vague generalities got us into this mess.
Reasons?
“If there’s a reason to fire Peterson, tell the public what it is,” said the Chronicle editorial.
Duh again! She is failing and jeopardizing hundreds of millions of dollars. Here’s the link to her own spreadsheet again. If the Chronicle leadership missed deadlines and financial projections by years, how long do you think it would be before Hearst pulled the plug?
What happened to transparency, accountability and results? Do those no longer count in the Chronicle’s world?
You might also want to check previous department head turnover, Chronicle. Four years ago, 16 of 20 department heads turned over with whole layers of management underneath them. Where were you then, Editorial Board?
Non Sequiturs?
The Chronicle editorial claims that if local leaders remove Petersen, it could lead to HCFCD “being put under state control.”
This may have something to do with legislation proposed in 2025 that died in committee. The Chronicle doesn’t give specifics. It just says, “The state Legislature has proposed a bill that would put the district under state control.” What does that have to do with Tina Petersen’s performance?
Here’s another non sequitur, Chronicle! Rep. Dennis Paul did introduce a bill (HB2068 in 2025) that would have created a river-basin-wide flood-control district. The Chronicle correctly stated that the bill would have had directors appointed by the governor. But the Houston Chronicle omitted the fact that it only would have been created after voters in individual counties approved it. Please explain how voter approval infringes on local control in your minds?
And by the way, “legislatures” don’t introduce bills; “legislators” do. Just FYI.
Rash Decisions?
“We urge Commissioners Court to table any rash decisions on flood control leadership on Thursday,” says the editorial.
News flash, Chronicle! This train has been coming down the tracks for years.
Open Discussion of Personnel Matters?
The editorial concludes with the admonition that any discussion of Petersen’s future “should be discussed openly…”
Such public discussions can result in people becoming virtually unemployable for the rest of their careers, which is why state law allows and county policy encourages such discussions in Executive Session.
But you’re entitled to your opinions. And I respect your right to voice them. Please just make sure they’re based on facts.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/13/26
3179 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
May 2026 Northpark Expansion Update
5/11/2026 – Since my last update in April on the Northpark Drive expansion project, the most visible changes have occurred at the south entry pond on US59 and at the approach for the eastern ramp for the bridge over the UnionPacific Railroad Tracks.
Contractors have excavated the south pond deeper and paved up to the start of the ramp. Compare the photos below taken today with those taken on 4/24/26.
Photos Taken on 5/11/2026
Let’s start at 59. The south pond is still under construction. This morning, contractors were pumping it out. The Harris County Flood Warning System gage at 59 and the West Fork received 1.2 inches of rain overnight.
For More Information
See the project page of the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website, including a three-week look-ahead schedule.
You can also search ReduceFlooding.com using the keyword “Northpark.”
Finally, Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ10 will hold a board meeting on 5/14/2026 starting at 8 AM at the Kingwood Community Center, 4102 Rustic Woods Drive, Kingwood, TX 77345. Here is the Agenda. They will discuss not only the current phase of the project, but a regional detention basin and the next phase of the road expansion as well. This board packet gives you a sense of what they will review.
The public will have a chance to ask question and make comments at the start of the meeting.
When complete, Northpark will be the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood for approximately 80,000 people.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/11/2026
3177 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Harris County Commissioners Will Discuss HCFCD Executive Director in Executive Session
5/9/2026 – During the 5/14/2026 Harris County Commissioner’s Court Meeting, Commissioners will discuss Harris County Flood Control District Executive Director Dr. Tina Petersen in Executive Session with an eye to taking possible action.
Item #490 on the Agenda reads:
Request by the Commissioner of Precinct 3 for an Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.074(a) for discussion and possible action regarding the Executive Director of the Harris County Flood Control District.
Section 551.074 allows commissioners to conduct sessions in private when deliberating the employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee.
Performance Issues
Petersen’s performance has come under increasing scrutiny in the last few years as HCFCD projects have bogged down. For instance:
Despite all that, Item 473 on the agenda shows that Petersen is requesting renewal of a $12 million contract to provide “program management, project management, construction management and inspection services for the development and implementation of CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT projects.”
$90,000 Raise Last Year
Despite her department’s less-than-stellar performance, Commissioners awarded Petersen a $90,000 raise last year. That brought her salary to approximately $434,000 per year.
The big question at this point is…
The $868 million in CDBG-DR and -MIT projects is on a reimbursement basis only when the job is done. Commissioners could spend a lot of money and if the projects don’t get done, they might not get reimbursed.
Will 5/14/26 be Dr. Tina Petersen’s “Day of Reckoning” that Commissioner Ellis warned about last month?
The irony here is that we had management at flood control that was doing an excellent job…until Democrats on Commissioners Court pushed them out. You can see on the graph below what has happened since.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/9/2026
3175 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.