The Woodlands Edition | February 2022

QUOTEOFNOTE “WE’RE LOOKING AT THE RIGHT SITE AT THE RIGHT PRICE IN THE RIGHT TIME FRAME FORA FIRE STATION SITE.” PALMER BUCK, CHIEF, THE WOODLANDS FIRE DEPARTMENT a 2020 study analyzing the cost to replace The Woodlands’ Fire Station No. 5 and make needed improvements to three other facilities. Station No. 5, while operating safely, is sustaining ongoing structural damage due to soil conditions, according to township ocials. $14.7M NUMBER TOKNOW CITY HIGHLIGHTS THEWOODLANDS Board elections for The Woodlands Township’s village associations will be held Feb. 14-19. All voting for the residential design review committees and village associations will take place at The Woodlands Township Town Hall, located at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. Residents and property owners can vote early from Feb. 14-18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On election day, Feb. 19, polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to information on the township election website. MEETINGSWE COVER The Woodlands Township board of directors will meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 17 and 23 at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands. 281-210-3800. www.thewoodlands-tx.gov OAKRIDGENORTH On Jan. 24, Oak Ridge North City Council completed the rst of two required readings of a resolution that authorizes a $4 million loan from the Oak Ridge North Economic Development Corp. According to city ocials, once both readings are completed, council will approve the resolution, and the loan will be used to build public facilities. was the amount projected in Shenandoah City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at 29955 I-45 N., Shenandoah. 281-298-5522. www.shenandoahtx.us Oak Ridge North City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 14 and 28 at 27424 Robinson Road, Oak Ridge North. 281-292-4648. www.oakridgenorth.com

Fire StationNo. 5 replacement eyed

Increased demand

The Woodlands Fire Department saw its highest number of calls for service in 2021, although the total includes calls due to Winter Storm Uri in February.

BY VANESSA HOLT

THEWOODLANDS A replacement for The Woodlands Fire Department’s Station No. 5 is needed due to underlying soil issues, but the station is being maintained to ensure its safe function, township ocials said at a Jan. 20 board of directors meeting. Fire Chief Palmer Buck said the building on West Branch Crossing Drive is “moving apart” because of underlying soil issues, but can be safely occupied for now. Board Chair Gordy Bunch said at the meeting one of the sites being examined for a new station, located on Ashlane Way near a park and ride loca- tion, will not be available until 2023. Bunch said the township has worked with the The Woodlands Fire Department to develop a site plan, noting developer The Howard Hughes Corp. has the right of rst refusal on the site the township wants to build on, and that right expires in 2023. Bunch said at the meeting the town- ship is waiting until that right expires to ensure its plans can move forward. The right of rst refusal is only triggered if the township moves forward on the property before that right expires, Bunch said. Jim Carman, president of Howard Hughes’ Houston region, subse- quently said in a statement the

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SOURCE: THE WOODLANDS FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

company would support a new station at the site and that no waiting period is needed. In addition to Station No. 5, Station Nos. 3 and 4 and an emergency training center are due for upgrades. A 2020 study indicated improvements at all facilities, including a rebuilt Station No. 5, would cost $14.7 million. Vice Chair Bruce Rieser said at the meeting a new station is in the budget, and movement on the project can be expected this year. “We’re looking at the right site at the right price in the right time frame,” Buck said. The department is also applying for a federal Stang for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant to pay for 12 reghters for their rst three years to add to the station, according to township ocials.

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Directors to determine future of task force

BY VANESSA HOLT

valued by other entities that engage with water issues. Several individuals spoke in the public comment section of the meet- ing on the topic, indicating support to keep the task force. Neil Gaynor, the upper watershed representative to the Region 6 San Jacinto Regional Flood Planning Group, spoke in support of maintain- ing the task force. “Extending the task force will send messages The Woodlands wants to clearly engage in the challenges of ooding and subsidence. ... If the board doesn’t send it, the opposite message will be sent,” he said. Township board members decided to table the matter to do more research before extending the term.

THEWOODLANDS The next steps for The Woodlands Township’s One Water Task Force, which was formed by the board of directors as a drainage task force in 2016, is uncertain after discussion on extending its term was tabled at a Jan. 26 meeting. The task force has focused on working with various other agencies to facilitate discussions on water and drainage issues in the community. Bruce Rieser, vice chair of the board of directors and chair of the task force, said it had served its purpose and did not necessarily need to be extended. Director Ann Snyder disagreed, saying she felt the task force should continue and that it was important to residents of the community and

THE WOODLANDS EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022