By Sandra Sadek | Times Editorial Intern
The Waller County Commissioners Court opened proposals for engineering help ahead of applications for state flood funding, discussed road and bridge equipment needs for the 2020 and 2021 budgets, and heard a private citizen’s concern to rename a local road during their June 10 meeting.
The state legislature is opening applications for the Texas Flood Infrastructure Fund Program which provides assistance in the form of loans and grants for flood control, flood mitigation and drainage projects. County Judge Trey Duhon opened six proposals from engineering companies offering their services to help quantify projects to submit to the fund. Those proposals will be reviewed and applications for the fund are due next week.
The court also discussed road and bridge equipment needs to be included in the 2020 and 2021 budgets. Equipment needs could total between $615,000 and $1 million, which would be financed over seven years. There was no final vote.
A Coronavirus Relief Fund grant award amounting to $321,871, provided to the county via the CARES Act, was accepted by the court and will be used to reimburse PPE and implement testing sites. Money not used for COVID-19 response will be returned to the state.
The Waller County Criminal Justice Center was renamed to Waller County Justice Center. Duhon said that the name was unofficial given to the complex at the time of construction.
Siddarth Rajmohan was nominated for the June 2020-May 2023 term to the Houston Galveston Area Council Advisory Committee for the Area Emission Reduction Credit Organization to represent Waller County. John Kremmer and Harold Barthe were re-nominated for the June 2020-May 2022 term to the HGAC Advisory Committee for the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee to represent Waller County.
Dwayne Charleston, a Waller County resident, addressed the judge and commissioners during the public comment section to urge the court to rename Liendo Parkway to Sandra Bland Parkway or return the name to University Drive.
The parkway is currently named after Jose Justo Liendo, owner of a plantation in Waller County which also served as a camp of instruction for Confederate infantry recruits during the U.S. Civil War.
“None of you in your right mind can justify the maintaining of Liendo Parkway, named after a slave owner. I know that you are men of good conscience and goodwill,” Charleston said. “I would not be surprised if Waller County is not the last one to say you know what, we’re going to remove the names honoring Confederate soldiers. I would not be surprised if Waller county is the last but I want to encourage you today; why not be the first one out the gate.”
The Waller County Commissioners Court meets Wednesdays at 9 a.m. at the Waller County Courthouse in Hempstead. Meetings are currently being held virtually, including the public comments portion of the meeting.. Local callers should call 979-921-6212 and non-local callers should call 800-576-1131. User code is 14329937.
