Elgin advances $12M TWDB funding request for shovel-ready water plant and storage projects

Elgin advances $12M TWDB funding request for shovel-ready water plant and storage projectsThe Texas city is targeting state financial assistance to expand its water treatment facility and rehabilitate a key storage tank, prioritizing construction-ready projects to secure competitive application scoring.

The Elgin City Council unanimously approved a resolution to request up to $12 million from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB).

Funds will target the expansion of the city's water treatment plant, building on initial work funded by a hazard mitigation grant.

The package also includes rehabilitating a concrete water storage tank at Pistol Hill to augment system capacity and resiliency.

In a separate action, the council approved an agreement to fund the relocation of 630 linear feet of an 18-inch Aqua Water Supply Corporation waterline to accommodate a roadway and flood mitigation project.

The City of Elgin, Texas, is pursuing up to $12 million in financial assistance from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to back a pair of construction-ready water infrastructure projects. The city council unanimously authorized the formal funding application during its June 16 meeting. Working with engineering firm Kimley-Horn, city staff narrowed the scope of the funding request to prioritize shovel-ready initiatives, which are expected to score competitively in the TWDB application process. According to Public Works Director Michael Gonzalez, the primary project is the expansion of Elgin's water treatment plant. Initial phases of this expansion were previously kickstarted using hazard mitigation grant funds. Gonzalez noted that securing TWDB assistance will provide the city with additional financial flexibility and reduce the need to draw from existing impact fees. The funding package also includes the rehabilitation of a concrete water storage tank located at Pistol Hill. The rehabilitation will augment a newly constructed tank at the same site, increasing overall system storage capacity and resiliency. In a separate water-related agenda item, the council approved a utility relocation agreement with Aqua Water Supply Corporation. The city will cover the costs to acquire a new private easement and relocate 630 linear feet of an existing 18-inch Aqua waterline. The relocation is required to clear the right-of-way for a roadway widening and flood mitigation project along County Line Road. Funding for the relocation has been built into the total cost of the County Line Road Phase II project, supported by developer fees.