Community Development Block Grant

By Lew K. Cohn
Managing Editor

Burnet County commissioners will hold a public hearing at 5:05 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, about applying for a $350,000 Community Development Block Grant for removal of October 2018 flood debris.

Commissioners voted Tuesday, Jan. 15, to contract with Langford Community Management Services, a Leander-based firm, to administer and provide project-related management services for the county's grant application. Langford has provided grant administration services to a number of local entities, including several block grants for the City of Marble Falls.

The Jan. 22 public hearing will allow citizens the opportunity to discuss all aspects of the Texas Community Development Block Grant program, which is part of the Texas Department of Agriculture. Discussion topics include citizen participation, past CDBG fund use, eligible CDBG activities and amount of funding available.

By Glynis Crawford Smith
Contributor
Although the Granite Shoals City Council made several important decisions Tuesday night (Dec. 11), it was a non-action item on the agenda that piqued as much interest as professional contracts.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

November has been bustling in the City of Marble Falls with the groundbreaking for the Avenue N Public Safety Facility on Nov. 14 and city council meetings Nov. 15 to set sewer repairs in motion and Nov. 21 to canvass the record charter amendment vote.

On Nov. 15

The $275,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) announced last month and another proposed for $300,000 in 2017-18 will be administered by Langford Community Management Services of Leander, following the decision by the Marble Falls City Council Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Langford was the only company of seven qualified service companies contacted by the city to bid for the $30,000 contracts, but it came with staff recommendation.

“I have been working with the city since 1997,” said Langford's Margaret Hardin.

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) on Thursday, Nov. 17, approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of $1,395,000 from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to the city of Cottonwood Shores.

The city will use the assistance to finance the rehabilitation and expansion of a water treatment plant. Cottonwood Shores could save approximately $212,000 over the life of the loan by using the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

The financial assistance will allow the city to finance the planning, design, and construction costs of the project. When complete, the water treatment plant will be able to treat 1 million gallons per day. The plant to provide water through 547 connections to more than 1,158 citizens is proposed to take the city far into the future with safe drinking water from Lake LBJ.