Commissioner George P. Bush announces more than $1.7 million for wastewater, street and public facility improvements in City of Kountze

Today Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced the Texas General Land Office (GLO) approved $1,728,304 in Hurricane Harvey disaster recovery funds for the City of Kountze to make wastewater, street and public facility improvements.   "Hurricane Harvey devastated communities across the Texas Coast," said Commissioner Bush. "These recovery funds are critical to improving local infrastructure that will protect lives, homes and businesses from future storms. We continue to work with our partners in communities across the region to leverage these resources efficiently and effectively to benefit Texans affected by Hurricane Harvey." With these funds, Kountze will demolish the existing lift station and build a new lift station with submersible sewage pumps, piping, a wet well extension top, a steel access platform with stairs and railings, electrical systems, and a chain link fence and gate. Kountze will also rehabilitate sewer lines in the following locations:

• From SH 69 N. to Ash Street
• From SH 69 N. to Sweet Gum
• From S. Cherry Street to W. Walnut Street
• From E. Bear Street to Mill Street
• From SH 69 N. to S. Ash Street

  Additionally, the City of Kountze will repair and reconstruct 2,250 linear feet along Walter Lane (north of E. Wilford) with sediment control fence, lime-fly ash treatment, two-inch HMAC, reinforced concrete pipe, a box culvert and headwalls. Texas GLO Hurricane Harvey Recovery Funds: Commissioner George P. Bush and the Texas General Land Office was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to lead the historic Hurricane Harvey housing recovery efforts funded by $5.676 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.   The GLO allocated $413 million of the allocation for infrastructure projects to protect communities affected by the storm. The GLO allocated the funds to regional Council of Governments’ (COGs) based on a HUD approved needs assessment. The locally-led COGs then conducted methods of distribution (MODs) for determining infrastructure and buyout and acquisition amounts for cities and counties within each jurisdiction. COG boards are comprised of officials from the impacted communities elected in part to prioritize funds allocated for recovery programs. The MOD process requires public engagement and the GLO reviewed each MOD for compliance with federal rules and requirements before approving each plan.   To review the approved MODs, please visit  https://recovery.texas.gov/action-plans/hurricane-harvey/index.html .