KOLKHORST PRAISES STATE FUNDS FOR HURRICANE DEBRIS REMOVAL
State Senator Lois Kolkhorst is praising the Legislative Budget Board, which has approved $90 million for local communities to help them pay the required 10% local match for debris removal from Hurricane Harvey.
Kolkhorst, a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, said she traveled over 4,000 miles to see first-hand the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey. And says it is clear that even with 90% federal assistance, cities and counties hit by Hurricane Harvey are still shouldering incredible costs.
Kolkhorst adds that this new funding from the State of Texas will alleviate that burden on these communities as they continue to rebuild."
The new state dollars announced for debris removal will be overseen by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, in coordination with the Texas Department of Emergency Management.
There are at least 2 bridges in Austin County on county roads that are closed because the state can’t get around to repairing them until next summer, maybe summer 2019. This is forcing residents, taxpayers, voters to drive miles out of their way to get to and from home and doubling police, fire, and EMS response times. Supposedly the bridges were damaged by Harvey flooding. They need to be repaired and reopened immediately. This is a life safety issue. The elected officials are all claiming they can’t do anything. They’ve already started turning roads that have been paved for 20 years back to dirt instead of repaving. This is only going to get worse. It may be a bridge or culvert near your house next.