GEORGETOWN — County commissioners Tuesday approved applying for more than $1 million in federal grant money that — if authorized — would fund additional juvenile and child-welfare services.
Judge Ryan Larson of the 395th state District Court; Scott Matthew, executive director of juvenile services; and August Alvarado, director of district administration, gave an overview of the grant to Williamson County commissioners during a meeting that also included a recovery update following the disastrous July 5 flood.
“We are at the front line of seeing some of the major societal issues like domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health disorders, and we’re doing our best to address those issues so that we can remediate the problems before they come to us,” Larson said.
The state district judge acknowledged the county has other fiscal obligations, but grants can help offset further expenditures from local coffers.
The grant focuses on prevention, Matthew said.
He wants to partner with school districts and law enforcement to identify societal problems and arrive at solutions, he told Commissioners Court.
“I’m trying to focus on those things that may make a difference to keep youth from being in Judge Larson’s court or in the juvenile justice system,” Matthew said.
Alvarado noted the turnaround on the federal grants is swift.
Applications are due by Oct. 31, notification of the award is in December and funding is in January.
In other court business, Bruce Clements, director of emergency management, presented an update on debris removal stemming from the July 5 flood.
Cleanup efforts are still underway three months after a wall of water prompted by heavy rains in the Hill Country caused the San Gabriel River to overflow its banks, destroying property and claiming three lives.
The county is accepting applications until the end of the month from residents who may need help removing flood wreckage from their property.
Applications are available at wilcotx.gov.
“Look up the July 5 flood recovery and there’s a link to click for debris removal,” Clements said.
He noted that by Oct. 10, crews using grapple trucks had carried away 121 loads of debris.
“(These trucks) are running seven days a week,” Clements said.
Without removal, the debris poses hazards to the environment and public safety, Clements said, with Precinct 1 Commissioner Terry Cook adding there also exists a potential fire hazard.
Other risks include increased rodent and pest infestations or hidden dangers such as sharp logs or entanglement zones if the debris is underwater, Clements said.
However, cleared areas can add to problems with erosion, so organizations such as the Scouts and others are considering mitigation projects including planting native grasses to slow land deterioration.
“We need to complete this by Christmas,” Clements said, citing guidelines from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Commissioners meet 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays at 710 S. Main St.
Sessions can also be viewed online at wilcotx. gov/331/Commissioners-Court.
