Coldspring discusses GLO grant appeals, next steps for capital projects

COLDSPRING — After several rounds of discussions and appeals, the Coldspring City Council will have to move forward without a Texas General Land Office grant to help rebuild the fire station.

At the Sept. 14 meeting, Mayor John Benestante gave the disappointing news.

“As you know, we've been appealing back and forth on the firehouse with GLO, and at the third stage, they said no,” Benestante said.

Benestante reported that their grant from GLO was denied due to Coldspring not appealing their FEMA response.

“There is no mechanism to appealing FEMA,” Benestante said.

Benestante said that after a conversation with Coldspring’s grant administrator, Coldspring plans to apply for a $2.5 million grant instead of the $5 million that originally was proposed.

“(The grant administrator) came back to me and they said, well, now there's $92 million available and it's specifically for reconstruction for what you want to do,” Benestante said.

After receiving a second grant, Benestante intends to temporarily move the fire department to the community center, which is also slated to begin reconstruction in 2027.

“We’re starting all over. That’s life in the grant arena,” Benestante said.

Benestante also provided the board with updates regarding the Texas Park and Wildlife City Park project, a TxDOT project, and the FM 2025 sewer project.

In other business:

• the board approved amending Ordinances 87-4, 94-3, 2021-1, 2024-02 with regard to certain policies set forth for the operation of the sanitary sewer system to replace section 1 in Ordinance 2024-02.
• the board approved the first amendment to the interlocal agreement between the City of Coldspring and San Jacinto County regarding development administration, 911 addressing, and floodplain administration amending the interlocal agreement dated June 2024.
• the board approved the interlocal agreement for animal control between the City of Coldspring and San Jacinto County.
• the board approved a budget amendment for the purchase of property at 51 Slade Street by taking $250,000 from the city savings account and adding it to the investment income of the capital project fund and adding an expense line item for the purchase of 51 Slade Street and other capital projects.
• the board granted the mayor authority to buy the property at 51 Slade Street for $250,000.
• the board adopted a resolution establishing a professional review escrow requirement for certain subdivision and plat applications; establishing initial escrow amounts; providing for replenishment, accounting, refund, and payment of costs.
• the board denied Sam Houston Electric's request to have a new ordinance issued related to granting Sam Houston Electric the non-exclusive right, privilege and franchise to erect, construct, maintain, operate, use, extend, remove, replace, and repair electric transmission and distribution system to supply electricity to the city and exempting churches, hospitals and schools. The board did renew the previous ordinance that does not include exemptions of churches, hospitals, and schools.