City of Eagle Pass receives $350,000 Grant to repair Eagle Pass Creek

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu announced that the City of Eagle Pass was awarded a $350,000 grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Community Block Grant Development Program to be used for repairing the City’s main drainage canal, Eagle Pass Creek, at a press conference held on December 24, 2014 at City Hall.

Eagle Pass’ primary water drainage canal sustained significant damages during the severe flood of June 14-15, 2013, which poured more than 16inches of rain in a 24 hour time period.

Mayor Cantu stated these funds would be combined with $800,000 of City funds from the issuance of $8.5 Million of City of Eagle Pass, Texas Combination Tax and Limited Pledge of Revenue Certificate of Obligations, Series 2013. The Certificates of Obligation bonds were approved by the Eagle Pass City Council on November 19, 2013.

The City of Eagle Pass approved the Certificate of Obligation bonds to be used for improvement of certain public infrastructure, real properties, buildings, and other city projects to provide better services and quality of life programs in the city. Among the projects are the repair of city drainage projects, streets, and detention ponds damaged by the June 14-15, 2013 flood, the renovations to the Eagle Pass Public Library, the acquisition and/or renovations to the National Guard building for use as the new Eagle Pass Police Department headquarters, and other city projects.

Mayor Cantu stated that the estimated time of completion of repairs to the City’s main water drainage system could be up to 9 to 10 months.

Mayor Cantu was accompanied by Public Works Director Hector Chavez, City Councilwoman Gloria E. Hernandez, and many city employees at the important press conference announcement.

The Eagle Pass Creek water drainage system which traverses the city from east to west and eventually discharges its flood waters into the Rio Grande River near the Eagle Pass Municipal Golf Course is a life saver to Eagle Passans from being flooded. The City has invested millions of dollars in developing this water drainage system during the past 30 years to avoid serious flooding among local neighborhoods and subdivisions. The June 14-15, 2013 flood caused over $1.1 Million in damages to the water drainage system, streets, and infrastructure. The $350,000 TDA CDBG grant will offset some of the repair expenses.