HSB city council discusses LCRA, FEMA, TCEQ

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Horseshoe Bay city administration is starting to see results in its battles with an alphabet soup of federal and state agencies, including the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), according to city council discussions Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 21.

FEMA

A city official declared “good news” in the FEMA Floodplain Study saga that began in 2012.

“We received written notification from FEMA that the new maps the city submitted will be effective Oct. 31,” said Eric Winter, development services manager.

Last year, HSB officials challenged the agency's 2012 floodplain maps with a letter of map revision (LOMR) after hydraulic engineers surveyed several creeks and “proved the city right,” said Mayor Steve Jordan at the Sept. 16 city council meeting.

The FEMA maps led to increased insurance costs for around 400 homeowners who were notified they were in the floodplain.

Residents with property that has been moved out of the floodplain can show their insurance companies a copy of the new map that will be available in city hall.

TCEQ

In another long-running battle, the city is seeing progress in its petition letter to TCEQ requesting a change in rules that would allow the city to start its water reuse project. Current TCEQ rules hamper graywater projects in the Highland Lakes.

“We have worked on the wording in the letter and it’s been submitted,” said Jeff Koska, Community Services Director. He added the HSB petition has been placed on the agenda for the TCEQ commissioners meeting in December. 

For the full story, see Friday's Highlander.