The City of Edna will be pursuing up to $10 million in state grant funding to replace aging water lines.
City Manager Gary Broz told city council members during Thursday’s council meeting that a Texas Water Development Board grant that city staff had already been in the process of applying for has doubled the amount that cities may apply for, and that the City of Edna now will be applying for the max amount of $10 million.
“Talking to other cities, this is (like) a poker game,” Broz said. “Every city in Texas is going to apply for this. We’re asking you for a resolution to raise our (application amount) and put our name in the hat.”
Previously, the city had planned to apply for less than $5 million, but with the Texas Legislature providing more funding for the TWDB grant than expected, Broz said the city should ask for more and see what happens. However, he cautioned, whether the city will be awarded anything at all remains to be seen, with a large volume of applications expected to be filed.
“If we don’t try, we don’t get,” Broz said.
Also, the council saw a presentation by Richard Gibbens of E3 regarding an upgrade of the orbital at the wastewater treatment plant. No action was taken, as it was only a presentation of a possible way to address future issues as the wastewater treatment plant ages.
In other business, the council:
· Approved the minutes of the executive session held June 15 and the city council meeting held June 18;
· Heard public comments from Bobby Horecka; Elaine Newkirk; and Edna Police Chief Kenny Pyle, who introduced new officer Michael Ferrel, who spent 14 years with the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office, attained his Master Peace Officer license, attended the Wharton County Junior College Police Academy, and served in the U.S. Army as an animal care specialist;
· Accepted the annual District Water Quality Report, which came in with a good rating;
· Approved Resolution #2026-15 to authorize Broz to act on behalf of the city on the TWDB/FEMA Post Oak Branch improvement plan, Phase 2. The city is awaiting paperwork on Phase 1.
· Approved a request from Pamela Hughes with the Patriot Warriors of Valor to block off a portion of Main Street and Wells Street for a Veterans Day parade on Sat., Nov. 7. The 10:30 a.m. parade will be followed by a luncheon for veterans, their spouses, and local law enforcement and first responders, and others.
· Approved budget amendments;
· Paid the current bills; and
· Heard city staff reports.
During the staff reports section, Broz gave updates on various projects. He said that the 2024 C.O. Project is moving along, with drainage work continuing and three crews working, but that the rain had delayed work until Mon., July 20. The city received a Texas Department of Emergency Management grant for a generator at the Police Station and will be filing the necessary paperwork to finalize it, and the installation of the new backup generator at the Kleas Well is moving along. The Texas Department of Agriculture grant for water line replacement is moving slowly, and the General Land Office Reallocation Project is in the bid stage.
The animal shelter has moved to the top of the to-do list, Broz said, noting that staff is working on what to do. Project Rehab is moving slowly forward as everyone works through the communication barrier. Broz also said that he’s working with City Finance Director Valerie Callaway and the city department heads on the 2026-2027 budget and would like to hold a budget workshop with council members on Aug. 5 and finish up at the Aug. 6 council meeting.
Callaway said that the city has opened 22 new water customer accounts, closed 14 accounts, and had three transfers. She’s been working on the 2026-2027 budget. The city received $5,560.14 in ad valorem tax revenue from the county in June and received $100,671.74 in city sales and use tax allocation from the Texas State Comptroller’s Office. The city paid monthly sales tax of $6,982.94 on sales of $87,316 for solid waste sales. In addition, hotel and motel tax reports have been issued; 941 tax reports, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, and Texas Workforce Commission-Federal Unemployment Taxes have been processed; and Operation Lone Star paperwork filed. So far, this fiscal year, the city has received $55,860.34 in hotel-motel revenues.
City Streets Supervisor Andy Brzozowski said that crews have completed this year’s stop sign project. They also have cleaned the ditches behind Pizza Hut and the south-facing ditch on E. Simons Street between S. Wells and St. Charles; replaced a driveway on W. Houston Street behind Pizza Hut and installed a new driveway on E. Simons Street; cleared some trees off S. Guadalupe Street; trimmed grass; and patched potholes. The city hired Badger Daylighting and they cleaned the drainage structures from Jackson Street to Apollo Drive, W. Gayle to Brodie, and the north side of Gayle from Miracle to Dennis. During Wed., July 15’s rain event, five trees fell on different streets, which city street crews cleared from the roads but need to cut into pieces and haul off. Crews also cleared drains all over town and had started shredding and trimming prior to the rain but had to wait for the ground to dry out to be able to continue. They also built and installed a new drain cover for the drain at the intersection of Allen and W. Elm Streets and are removing trees blown down in the storm.
Public Works Director Brad Ryan said that workers sprayed weeds around the sewer plant and lift stations; removed sewer stoppages at 512 W. Bois d’Arc and 801 Fulton; repaired water leaks at 505 Jackson, 802 S. East, and 302 N. Kleas; replaced a water meter at 708 W. Brackenridge; repaired a meter leak at 610 W. Division; repaired an 8-inch water line leak on W. Main; repaired a sewer tap at 214 Sandra; and repaired a broken water meter at 102 E. Brackenridge.
City Police Chief Kenneth Pyle said that the Edna Police Department has conducted 47 traffic stops; written 22 citations and 47 warnings; made seven arrests; and responded to 149 calls for service, with 308 frequent or extra patrols. There were 48 reportable offenses and four crash reports in June. The 44 case incidents were one simple assault; one counterfeiting/forgery; one wire fraud; one weapon law violation; three drug/narcotics violations; one nonviolent family offense; two trespasses of real property; and 14 other offenses.
The four June crash reports included one at approximately 9:25 a.m. on June 2 at E. Houston Hwy. and N. Wells Street; one at approximately 12:30 p.m. on June 2 at E. Houston St. and W. Houston St.; one at approximately 8:55 a.m. on June 24 at E. Main St. and Peabody St. when a passenger car attempted to pass in a no-passing zone while a city employee was trying to turn left in a backhoe; and one at approximately 12:40 p.m. on June 30 at 920 W. Main St. when a bucket truck struck the roof at a parking stall at Sonic.
In addition, officers attended an Operation Lone Star task force meeting in Goliad on June 25 and assisted in an OLS operation on June 26 in Jackson and Lavaca Counties. Officers also assisted Department of Homeland Security and ICE with an operation in Jackson County on July 1 and trained with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office on July 7-8 at the gun range and at the Edna ISD campuses.
City Code Enforcement Officer Jaime Liepe reported that demolitions at 702 W. Cedar and 705 Third Street have been completed. The Buildings and Standards Commission will meet on July 28 for two properties. There are currently 24 open Code Violations cases. Two have been sent invoices for completed demos; three are going to be demoed by the property owners, beginning in about a week; one has been brought to court and was fined for ongoing violation and is currently almost finished with cleanup; six have been sent letters to appear in court on Aug. 4 for non-compliance; and two are part of the July 28 meeting. The remaining 10 are communicating with Liepe and working to get into compliance.
The next city council meeting is scheduled for Thur., Aug. 6 at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 126 W. Main St.