10/22/26 – Dustin Burrows, Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, will visit Kingwood on 10/23/26 from 4:30 to 6PM to support Representative Charles Cunningham. Come meet them both, along with other local leaders.
Look for Burrows’ tour bus in the Metro Park and Ride lot adjacent to the Kingwood Community Center at 4102 Rustic Woods Drive, Kingwood TX 77345.
Burrows has the power to appoint Cunningham to the chairmanship of a committee. Imagine the good Cunningham could do leading a committee, such as Natural Resources. All bills affecting flood mitigation go through that committee. However, Cunningham has made it clear that he is willing to head any committee that Texas state leaders ask him to chair.
So please come out and show the Speaker that Cunningham has the support of the community.
Reportedly, other local leaders will also be there. This is your chance to meet your City Council Members, State Senator, and more.
The Texas Scorecard wrote this article about Burrows’ unprecedented 28-stop tour around the state to support key lawmakers. Reportedly, no other Speaker has ever done this. And Burrows, who resides in Lubbock has chosen Kingwood to visit on his tour. “Texas is a big state and Burrows chose Kingwood,” said Cynthia Calvert, Cunningham’s District Director and Director of Communications.
This is also an opportunity to communicate local priorities to the leader of the Texas House. Let Burrows know that we sure could use his help on local flood-mitigation issues, such as:
10/20/26 – Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) is behind schedule on projects involving Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that are administered by the Texas General Land Office (GLO). The grants fall into two categories: Disaster Recover (DR) and Flood Mitigation (MIT).
One month after receiving a one-year extension on DR projects, HCFCD now also finds itself needing a one-year extension on MIT grants. Altogether, HCFCD has spent only 7% of funds in both categories despite the fact that 66% of the currently available time, including the DR extension, has expired.
One-Year DR Extension Encouraging
Recent widespread publicity has focused on DR delays, which had an earlier deadline. But after a one-year deadline extension, HCFCD says it now has time to complete all DR projects. Any DR money HCFCD’s new management might have to give back to the GLO has to do with construction bids coming in under estimate – altogether $113 million under the estimates.
One-Year MIT Extension Needed, Too
However, without a similar one-year extension for the MIT projects, they too may encounter problems. HCFCD estimates “substantial completion” on 11 of the 19 projects in that category after its MIT contract with the GLO expires on 3/31/2028. GLO and HCFCD have already discussed a one-year MIT extension. However, it is not yet finalized at this time.
HCFCD’s 10/19/26 spreadsheet shows 11 MIT projects totaling $397.4 million have substantial completion dates AFTER the current MIT contract expires. And two of those 11 have estimated substantial completion dates beyond a one-year extension. Those two projects total $140.5 million.
To be clear, none of that money has been taken back yet. And it may not be. Seventeen months remain on the MIT contract (34% of the total 50 months), so time remains to work out an extension.
Woodridge Village detention basin excavation site in Kingwood. File photo from June 2026. It is part of the Taylor Gully project. This week, HCFCD estimated work was now 4% complete on the combined project.
The one-year extension on the DR contract means those funds now expire within a month of the MIT projects.
CDBG-DR funds expire on 2/29/28
CDBG-MIT funds expire on 3/31/28.
Looking at both MIT and DR categories, HCFCD has spent only about 7% of allocated funds in 66% of the available time. That’s concerning.
In fairness, though, I should also point out that money goes out the door much faster during construction than during upfront engineering and estimating work.
Different Definitions of “Complete”
But also understand that the GLO and HCFCD define “completion” differently. To GLO, completion means “all the billing has been submitted and verified.”
To HCFCD, “substantial completion” means the major work is over, but clean up and punch-list items remain.
A punch list is a written list of incomplete work, defects, deficiencies, or corrections that a contractor must address before a project is considered finished.
An owner, architect, engineer, or construction manager typically prepares punch lists near the end of construction, during a final inspection or walkthrough.
Net: it could take several more months beyond substantial completion to get all the billing submitted to GLO and approved.
Extension Will Benefit Everyone
That’s why finalizing an official MIT extension now is so critical. It will give both GLO and HCFCD confidence to move forward and deliver much needed flood-control projects that benefit the people of Harris County.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/21/2026
3340 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/2026/06/DJI_20260630091912_0132_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2026-10-21 21:11:042026-10-21 22:26:25Only 7% of CDBG Grants Spent in 66% of Currently Available Time
10/19/26 – The Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District held a board meeting this morning at the offices of Partnership Lake Houston in Humble.
Board members (L to R) Sarah Berkey, Bill Simpson, Derek St. John, Kathleen Jordan, and Ken Kirchhofer.
The members discussed a number of items including:
Establishing a banking relationship
Organizing tasks
Budgeting
Planning
Dredging operations
Contractors
Funding
Partnerships
Developing a business plan.
If the meeting had a theme, it was “Preparation.” The District is still months away from dredging. Board members described dozens of meetings they held with various entities to prepare for dredging. It was a fascinating look at what it will take to make the District a viable, long-term entity. At the moment, it’s little more than a start-up staffed by volunteers and powered by a dream to make their community safer. Today, they covered a wide range of topics.
Establishing a Banking Relationship
In the only official vote of the day, the group decided to establish a banking relationship with Third Coast Bank. This will be necessary to pay vendors such as a lawyer, a bookkeeper, etc.
Budgeting
The group reviewed two budgets that they characterized as “constrained” and “unconstrained.”
Constrained is what they could do based on limited, available funding.
Unconstrained is what they could do if they had all the money they needed to spin up operations as quickly as possible.
Working only with pledges from Council Members Fred Flickinger and Twila Carter so far, it will take longer for the board to spin up operations.
However, the constrained budget will help them achieve critical mass needed to apply for grants and justify funding requests from the next legislature and the Texas Water Development Board.
Among the immediate tasks they outlined:
Hiring an attorney, auditor, bookkeeper, engineer and dredger.
Performing:
A dredging survey to identify the areas with the greatest need
Coring survey to determine the depth of sand
A planning study to determine dredging frequency, locations, equipment, etc.
Legal
The Board has published a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a lawyer who specializes in supporting districts such as theirs. They have posted the job on the City of Houston Beacon website. They have also researched and reached out to several candidates on the basis of online research. Responses are due by 10/21/26.
Their goal: recommend/approve the most qualified candidate at the November board meeting.
Dredging Operations
The Board’s Dredging Operations Committee has been busy with due diligence. They have reviewed multiple studies and/or met with:
Gulf Coast Protection District re: material specifications for construction of the Ike Dike, and where they might come from, i.e., the areas south of the FM1960 Bridge, or from certain depths in the lake.
SJRA re: its drainage master plan, sand trap study, sedimentation study and more.
The District’s Funding Plan Committee has begun working on a series of marketing materials that it could use when approaching potential partners or applying for grants. The materials would describe the District’s mission, operations, goals, etc.
Stakeholders
The Board also has a Stakeholder Committee, which is organizing a series of Lake Houston tours by boat.
Next Steps
Once the Board nails down all these issues, it should be able to start developing a business plan and looking at dredging contractors. They hope to be working on their “unconstrained budget” by then.
Mark your calendar. The Board set its next meeting for:
TX House Speaker Dustin Burrows Coming to Kingwood Friday Afternoon
10/22/26 – Dustin Burrows, Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, will visit Kingwood on 10/23/26 from 4:30 to 6PM to support Representative Charles Cunningham. Come meet them both, along with other local leaders.
Look for Burrows’ tour bus in the Metro Park and Ride lot adjacent to the Kingwood Community Center at 4102 Rustic Woods Drive, Kingwood TX 77345.
Burrows has the power to appoint Cunningham to the chairmanship of a committee. Imagine the good Cunningham could do leading a committee, such as Natural Resources. All bills affecting flood mitigation go through that committee. However, Cunningham has made it clear that he is willing to head any committee that Texas state leaders ask him to chair.
So please come out and show the Speaker that Cunningham has the support of the community.
Reportedly, other local leaders will also be there. This is your chance to meet your City Council Members, State Senator, and more.
The Texas Scorecard wrote this article about Burrows’ unprecedented 28-stop tour around the state to support key lawmakers. Reportedly, no other Speaker has ever done this. And Burrows, who resides in Lubbock has chosen Kingwood to visit on his tour. “Texas is a big state and Burrows chose Kingwood,” said Cynthia Calvert, Cunningham’s District Director and Director of Communications.
This is also an opportunity to communicate local priorities to the leader of the Texas House. Let Burrows know that we sure could use his help on local flood-mitigation issues, such as:
So please come. And vote while you’re there!
I wholeheartedly support Charles Cunningham. He has done a great job for our community. And with your support, he can do even more.
Remember: Friday. 4:30-6PM, Kingwood Community Center.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/22/26
3341 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Only 7% of CDBG Grants Spent in 66% of Currently Available Time
10/20/26 – Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) is behind schedule on projects involving Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that are administered by the Texas General Land Office (GLO). The grants fall into two categories: Disaster Recover (DR) and Flood Mitigation (MIT).
One month after receiving a one-year extension on DR projects, HCFCD now also finds itself needing a one-year extension on MIT grants. Altogether, HCFCD has spent only 7% of funds in both categories despite the fact that 66% of the currently available time, including the DR extension, has expired.
One-Year DR Extension Encouraging
Recent widespread publicity has focused on DR delays, which had an earlier deadline. But after a one-year deadline extension, HCFCD says it now has time to complete all DR projects. Any DR money HCFCD’s new management might have to give back to the GLO has to do with construction bids coming in under estimate – altogether $113 million under the estimates.
One-Year MIT Extension Needed, Too
However, without a similar one-year extension for the MIT projects, they too may encounter problems. HCFCD estimates “substantial completion” on 11 of the 19 projects in that category after its MIT contract with the GLO expires on 3/31/2028. GLO and HCFCD have already discussed a one-year MIT extension. However, it is not yet finalized at this time.
I calculated the numbers in this article from an HCFCD spreadsheet dated 10/19/26. They agree substantially with a GLO report dated 10/15/26. The slight differences can be explained easily by timing and nomenclature.
To be clear, none of that money has been taken back yet. And it may not be. Seventeen months remain on the MIT contract (34% of the total 50 months), so time remains to work out an extension.
The one-year extension on the DR contract means those funds now expire within a month of the MIT projects.
Looking at both MIT and DR categories, HCFCD has spent only about 7% of allocated funds in 66% of the available time. That’s concerning.
In fairness, though, I should also point out that money goes out the door much faster during construction than during upfront engineering and estimating work.
Different Definitions of “Complete”
But also understand that the GLO and HCFCD define “completion” differently. To GLO, completion means “all the billing has been submitted and verified.”
To HCFCD, “substantial completion” means the major work is over, but clean up and punch-list items remain.
A punch list is a written list of incomplete work, defects, deficiencies, or corrections that a contractor must address before a project is considered finished.
An owner, architect, engineer, or construction manager typically prepares punch lists near the end of construction, during a final inspection or walkthrough.
Net: it could take several more months beyond substantial completion to get all the billing submitted to GLO and approved.
Extension Will Benefit Everyone
That’s why finalizing an official MIT extension now is so critical. It will give both GLO and HCFCD confidence to move forward and deliver much needed flood-control projects that benefit the people of Harris County.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/21/2026
3340 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.
Lake Houston Dredging District Update
10/19/26 – The Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District held a board meeting this morning at the offices of Partnership Lake Houston in Humble.
The members discussed a number of items including:
If the meeting had a theme, it was “Preparation.” The District is still months away from dredging. Board members described dozens of meetings they held with various entities to prepare for dredging. It was a fascinating look at what it will take to make the District a viable, long-term entity. At the moment, it’s little more than a start-up staffed by volunteers and powered by a dream to make their community safer. Today, they covered a wide range of topics.
Establishing a Banking Relationship
In the only official vote of the day, the group decided to establish a banking relationship with Third Coast Bank. This will be necessary to pay vendors such as a lawyer, a bookkeeper, etc.
Budgeting
The group reviewed two budgets that they characterized as “constrained” and “unconstrained.”
Working only with pledges from Council Members Fred Flickinger and Twila Carter so far, it will take longer for the board to spin up operations.
However, the constrained budget will help them achieve critical mass needed to apply for grants and justify funding requests from the next legislature and the Texas Water Development Board.
Among the immediate tasks they outlined:
Legal
The Board has published a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a lawyer who specializes in supporting districts such as theirs. They have posted the job on the City of Houston Beacon website. They have also researched and reached out to several candidates on the basis of online research. Responses are due by 10/21/26.
Their goal: recommend/approve the most qualified candidate at the November board meeting.
Dredging Operations
The Board’s Dredging Operations Committee has been busy with due diligence. They have reviewed multiple studies and/or met with:
They also will meet with Harris County Flood Control District re: dredging contracts later this week.
Funding
The District’s Funding Plan Committee has begun working on a series of marketing materials that it could use when approaching potential partners or applying for grants. The materials would describe the District’s mission, operations, goals, etc.
Stakeholders
The Board also has a Stakeholder Committee, which is organizing a series of Lake Houston tours by boat.
Next Steps
Once the Board nails down all these issues, it should be able to start developing a business plan and looking at dredging contractors. They hope to be working on their “unconstrained budget” by then.
Mark your calendar. The Board set its next meeting for:
November 16, 2026
Partnership Lake Houston
110 West Main Street
Humble, TX 77338
Meetings are open to the public. Please attend. The Board will not meet in December due to holiday conflicts and travel schedules.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/19/2026
3338 Days since Hurricane Harvey