The Woodlands Edition | November 2024

Government

BY ANGELA BONILLA, NICHAELA SHAHEEN & JESSICA SHORTEN

Montgomery County to review current library policies During an Oct. 22 regular meeting, in a 3-0 vote, Montgomery County commissioners moved to form a new committee that will review and revise the current county library policies and bring back new policies to a future court for approval. Precinct 2 Com- missioner Charlie Riley was absent. The gist The committee will be made up of representatives from County Judge Mark Keough’s office and Precinct 1 Commissioner Robert Walker’s office, alongside Precinct 3 Chief of Staff Evan Besong. The committee will be advised by the county’s attorney’s office. The court also approved a stay against all actions of the book reconsideration com- mittee, which includes placing any future actions of the committee on hold until revised policies are in place.

No funds slated for Grogans Mill widening The Woodlands Township board of directors took no action on a proposed future widening of Grogans Mill Road between Woodlands Parkway and Research Forest Drive at the Oct. 21 meeting. What you need to know Director of Intergovernmental Relations Todd Stephens presented to the board a timeline of the project being discussed by the Houston-Galves- ton Area Council, a regional planning organiza- tion. The project was first proposed in H-GAC’s 2035 Regional Transportation Plan in 2007. In 2015, Montgomery County Precinct 3 officials conducted a South Montgomery County mobility study, where the project was also identi- fied as a future need. The 2045 Regional Trans- portation Plan, adopted in April 2023, continued the project recommendation with an estimated fiscal year of 2025, according to the agenda. The board voted 6-1 to not take action on a proposed resolution opposing the expansion or to request the project’s removal from H-GAC’s list of planned transportation projects. Board member Shelley Sekula-Gibbs casting the lone Oak Ridge North eyes grant for drainage Oak Ridge North City Council members on Oct. 28 approved $25,000 to apply for a federal grant for drainage projects. What you need to know City Manager Heather Neeley said the grant could help address issues around the Spring Oaks Channel.

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opposed vote. Board members suggested an updated traffic study on the area be done, but no action was taken regarding a possible study. How we got here The H-GAC released the 2025-28 Transporta- tion Improvement Plan on April 3 including the proposed widening of Grogans Mill Road from four lanes to six lanes. Township officials said there was no funding allocated for the project. “Right now, there’s no money. There’s a cost associated with the potential project, but there is no funding currently that is obligated or tied to this project directly,” Stephens said at the Oct. 21 meeting. Alden Bridge Sports Park renovations planned The Woodlands Township board members on Oct. 21 approved funding for the first phase of its planned Alden Bridge Sports Park renovations. The overview The renovations at Alden Bridge Sports Park are estimated to cost $17.8 million, with Phase 1 set to cost $9.8 million. The following enhancements are proposed for Phase 1 include: • 224 additional parking spaces • Restroom for the multipurpose field • Converting Field 3 to Championship Field • Two new grass fields Phase 1 also includes a traffic light through the Texas Department of Transportation, officials said. What else? A $1.2 million “First Fifty” anniversary sculpture

Sports park plans advance

Oct. 21, 2024: Board review of construction administration proposal

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February 2025: Engineering/ construction document development March 2025: Board review/approval of bid posting May 2025: Board review/approval of bid award July 2025-March 2026: Construction

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April 2026: Substantial completion

Funds from the Flood Mitigation Assistance program can be used to: • Finalize project lists • Conduct environmental studies • Obtain Federal Emergency Management Agency and Texas Water Development Board approvals • Create maps and graphics for project review

SOURCE: THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP/COMMUNITY IMPACT

has been proposed to be placed in the roadway median at the intersection of Woodlands Parkway and Grogans Mill Road, of which $350,000 would be funded by the township’s Cultural Projects Reserve, officials said.

SOURCE: CITY OF OAK RIDGE NORTH/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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THE WOODLANDS EDITION

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