With an eye toward improving water lines and storm drainage in District 2, the Edna City Council approved a resolution during Thursday night’s meeting to hire Traylor and Associates for grant administration services as the city pursues state grant funding available from the Texas General Land Office.
If successful, the funding would come from the GLO’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Local Communities Program under the 2024 funding set aside for DR-4781 Texas Severe Storms and DR-4798 Hurricane Beryl.
“Back in 2024 we filled out an application for water line improvements in District 2 through the CDBG program,” Broz said. “We didn’t score the first round, and now this is the second half of that grant. It’s a two-year cycle.”
While the first cycle was a short application, this second one is a full, 50-page application, Broz said.
The council also approved submission of a different grant application to the Texas Water Development Board under House Bill 500 Water Supply and Infrastructure Grant Program for Water System Improvements, in the hopes for being awarded state monies for replacing some of the water main lines in the city.
Broz told Mayor Lance Smiga and council that HB 500 set aside $800 million for one-time awards for infrastructure approvements for water, with $71 million earmarked for small cities. The maximum request is capped at $5 million, with cities not required to contribute matching funds, he said, explaining the city will seek between $2.5 million and $3 million.
“The idea of the $2.5-$3 million is if there’s somebody with some odd number and they (TWDB) need to plug someone in, hey, Edna’s got one ready that will fit this category,” Broz said. “That’s kind of the thought process behind it. It’s worked in the past. Yes, we could say $5 million, but if there’s a little extra here and there it’s easier to get that with a lower number than with the maximum.”
The council also approved a Certification of Unopposed Candidates and the first reading of Ordinance #2026-03 to cancel the May 2 city election, since no one filed to run against District 3 councilman Chris Jackson, District 4 councilman and Mayor Pro-Tem Mike Dodds, and District 5 councilwoman Amanda Friedrich. (This does not affect the Edna ISD board of trustees election.)
Councilmembers also approved the closure of Ed Linn St. between Main St. and Houston St. at 6 p.m. on Sat., April 18 for the Jackson County Cares organization’s Walking With You cancer walk and butterfly release. According to the group’s Facebook page, the benefit event will take place on the Jackson County Courthouse square to raise funds for local cancer patients and their families and will include food trucks and entertainment.
In addition, the Council:
· Approved the minutes of the Feb. 19, 2026 meeting;
· Heard the details of and accepted the annual Racial Profiling Report from Edna Police Chief Kenneth Pyle;
· Approved payment of current city bills; and
· Heard city staff reports.
During the City Manager’s Report, Broz said that 25 new banners purchased for the city by Friends of Edna were being installed around town by the Parks Department. The city is continuing to keep the mitigation grant moving, with a survey crew working and paperwork being done. Staff is also working on the contract for the Kleas generator and have not received any additional information on the requested funds from the Texas Department of Emergency Management. The CO project is ongoing with crews installing new water lines on Brackenridge St. Planning and Zoning will meet on Tuesday to discuss the Comprehensive Planning and Zoning update, which will then be on the next city council agenda. Staff also is working on improving parking at Shelby Park for baseball and softball games.
Planning for the city’s 100th Birthday Party continues with the next meeting set for 5:30 p.m. on Tue., March 17 at City Hall. Plans currently include an antique car show, food, games, history, and entertainment. Staff is working on getting committees together and plugging people in who want to help.
City Finance Director Valerie Callaway said that the auditors were working on the 2024-2025 city audit and that it was progressing in a timely manner. Sales tax for the month of February has been paid and the city opened 29 new accounts, closed 16 accounts, and transferred two accounts.
City Streets Supervisor Andy Brzozowski said that street crews had patched potholes all over town; installed a new driveway on East Cedar St.; replaced a pipe on Erie St.; cut down a couple of trees at the corner of Cora and Cottonwood Streets and removed a bunch of overgrown yaupons from Cora St.; cut down a dead post oak tree and another that was leaning toward the street on Laura St.; cut down some dead trees on Gayle St. close to the intersection with Gilbert St.; cleaned the ditch between Guadalupe St. and Pumphrey St., where they still need to replace a culvert pipe at the corner and finish cleaning out the ditch; mowed and trimmed sidewalks; trimmed grass in different areas around town; and started cleaning a ditch on CR 118 off of Buffalo St.
Public Works Director Brad Ryan said that his crews have repaired a two-inch water leak on Sunset; mowed and sprayed weeds at the sewer plant and lift stations; located valves on Brackenridge and Division Streets for the contractor; made sludge boxes at the sewer plant; did water taps on Progress St. and on Erie St.; jetted the main sewer line on Live Oak St.; changed two bearing at the orbital and pressure washed the paddle wheels; changed out a cutoff on Richard Browning St.; and repaired a six-inch water leak on Williams St.
Police Chief Kenneth Pyle said that the police department has conducted 86 traffic stops, issued 31 citations, 101 warnings, and two arrests over the last two weeks. They also have had 352 calls for service, 35 reportable offenses, and worked five crashes for the month of February. In addition, the department conducted a review of motor vehicle reports; met with interim superintendent Bill Boyd of Edna ISD for the state-required School Safety and Security Meeting; purchased a chest freezer for Animal Control to replace the old one; outfitted an officer with body armor and a duty holster, and purchased additional rifle plates for another officer; participated in Operation Lone Star Task Force in Wilson County; and replaced two body worn cameras.