Huntsville City Council unanimously approved Tuesday to authorize City Manager Matt Benoit to accept $17, 647.50 from the Emergency Management Performance Grant to help the city continue its emergency preparedness program.
The funds are coming from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help compensate the city for 50 percent of John Waldo’s, Walker County’s emergency management coordinator, salary and benefits for the position.
The city has received funds from the EMPG since 2004.
Huntsville was approved to receive the funds Sept. 4 by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Benoit has 45 days to accept the funds. According to FEMA, the purpose of the EMPG program is to “assist state, local, territorial and tribal governments in preparing for all hazards.”
City council also fast tracked awarding a bid for the Smith Hill Road 12” Waterline Replacement and Extension Project Construction between Old Madisonville Road and FM 2821 in north Huntsville.
5-T Utilities, a Huntsville-based company, was awarded the project after receiving a staff recommendation for posting the lowest bid, according to city documents.
The project in its entirety is slated to total approximately $350,000, according to city documents. Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, Notice to Bidders were posted on the City of Huntsville web site and the Huntsville Item. Two bids were received from McClure and Brown Engineering & Surveying, who has already designed the project, and 5-T Utilities.
The project will replace existing 2-inch and 6-inch waterlines with a new 12-inch waterline. The overall length of the new 12-inch waterline to be installed is approximately 4,300 feet.