admin posted: " The Community Services Department (CSD) recently held five public meetings to seek input for the development of a Method of Distribution (MOD) for $750 million in mitigation funding allocated to Harris County by the Texas General Land Office (GLO) and U." Reduce Flooding
The Community Services Department (CSD) recently held five public meetings to seek input for the development of a Method of Distribution (MOD) for $750 million in mitigation funding allocated to Harris County by the Texas General Land Office (GLO) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Early last year, the GLO allocated the money to Harris County along with another $450 million to the Houston-Galveston Area Council.
A MOD lists projects and amounts. It shows how Harris County wants to distribute the money, i.e., who will get how much for what from the $750 million.
US 59 at Townsen Boulevard during Hurricane Harvey
MOD Developed After Public Input
Harris County CSD held two online and two physical meetings to share information with the public. Meetings were held on August 17th, 25th, and 31st. CSD held a Spanish meeting on September 1st. They also gathered written and oral comments from the public.
CSD spent the rest of September developing a draft Method of Distribution (MOD) for the $750 million. The department will now submit it to the GLO for review and preliminary approval.
Publish Draft MOD by October 30
Nov 15-Dec 2 - 15-day public comment Period and hearing
Contract entities included in the MOD with funding level and gain confirmation of participation via Funding Acknowledgement Letter from entity
Dec 5-7 - Document Responses to Public Comment, add to Draft MOD document
December or January- Draft MOD document approved at Commissioners Court
January 2023 - Final MOD document submitted to GLO
GLO approval of final MOD and MOD allocated entities complete project information package process
March/April 2023 - MOD Entity project information packets submitted to GLO for review and approval
Kick-off contract development for projects.
So, at this point, CSD should have developed a first draft of the MOD. The GLO has until the end of the month to review and approve it. Once approved, CSD can publish it.
Then CSD will hold more public meetings and submit any revisions to Commissioners Court and the GLO for final approval.
Pressure On to Develop Projects Quickly
Expect projects to begin sometime in the second quarter of 2023. But keep in mind that all dates are subject to change.
Starting to develop projects almost six years after Harvey will put some pressure on Harris County Flood Control and any other entities designated as recipients.
50% of the grant must be expended by Jan. 12, 2027.
100% must be expended by January 12, 2032 – 15 years after Harvey
Half of the $750 million must be spent within four years. To put that in perspective, Flood Control estimates it's only 23.5% done with a 10-year flood-bond package four years after it was approved by voters.
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