Final hearing on 2007 flood grant held, state grant spent
BURNET — Burnet County is getting closer to closing the financial books on the 2007 flood. Officials held the final public hearing on state disaster recovery funds issued to the county for the disaster Wednesday in the courthouse.
Several months ago, the Texas Department of Rural Affairs approved a disaster relief grant of $350,000 for repair and reconstruction of several roads damaged by what’s been called a “rain bomb” that deluged the county with 19 inches June 26 and June 27, 2007.
The grant also provided the county with the 25 percent cost share required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to secure federal disaster relief funds, Assistant County Auditor Karen Lester said.
“We have expended the entire grant,” Lester added.
About $73,500 of the state grant was used to improve the culvert on CR 125 at Dry Creek in Highland Haven.
The remainder of state funding was spent on major repairs to CR 328 at Cow Creek; CR 340 at Hamilton Creek; CR 343 at Camp Creek; and CR 404, as well as minor repairs to 72 smaller areas in the county damaged during the flood, Lester said.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management is expected to complete its financial audit of the Highland Haven culvert repairs next week, she added.
Meanwhile, the division has completed the audit for repairs at the respective creeks and CR 404.
“The audit is favorable,” Lester said.
It may take state officials several weeks before they complete their financial review of the 72 smaller projects in the county related to flood recovery, Lester added.
“We are not at the top of their list because they are still working on Hurricane Ike,” Lester said, referring to the major storm that hit Galveston, Houston and much of the Gulf Coast in 2008.