Multi-county workshop outlines legislative priorities, flood management

Today, 06:00 AM

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

SAN ANTONIO — Floodplain management and legislative priorities took center stage when leaders including those from Kendall County gathered for a recent County-to-County Workshop in San Antonio.

See WORKSHOP, page 9 The event brought together more than 90 officials from 11 counties — including county commissioners and nonprofit representatives — to strengthen coordination involving rapid growth, limited county authority and water issues, officials said.

Kendall County Court Precinct 2 Commissioner Andra Wisian joined Ben Eldredge, executive director of The Cibolo Conservancy, and Milan Michalec, retired director of the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District, at the day-long workshop.

The Nov. 7 County-to-County Workshop was hosted by a coalition of nonprofit partners, including the Hill Country Alliance, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, National Wildlife Federation, Comal Conservation and the Heart of Texas Conservancy.

Wisian, Comal County commissioners Jen Crownover and Kevin Webb, Guadalupe County’s Stephen Germann and former Hays County Commissioner Lon Shell serve as the coalition’s founding hosts and facilitators.

The Hill Country took center stage following the catastrophic July Fourth flooding that cost more than 130 lives and caused $18 billion to $22 billion in damages.

In addition to floodplain management, attendees outlined priorities for the 90th Texas Legislative Session, set for Jan. 12, 2027.

Participants in different working sessions drafted a joint letter to the lawmakers outlining five shared regional priorities:

• Authority for counties to deny inadequate groundwater availability studies during platting.

• Increased funding for the Flood Infrastructure Fund to implement the State Flood Plan.

• Clarifying county vs. city roles in corridors and thoroughfares following Senate Bill 2038, which allows disannexation.

• Strengthening county storm-water management tools, particularly in flood- prone areas.

• Improving aggregate-production permitting by protecting contested-case rights and requiring water availability and air-quality safeguards.

“Together we’re building partnerships and momentum that can make a real difference,” Wisian said. “These conversations strengthen our counties’ ability to work with state leaders and one another to find practical, lasting solutions.”

Grace Gilker, Hill Country Alliance communities program manager, said representatives at the workshop shared “a common vision.”

“This coalition has become a powerful network for tracking legislation, supporting one another and coordinating on shared issues to make sure local voices are heard in Austin,” Gilker said.

Speakers included Kimberly Meitzen, vice chairwoman of the Region 11 Flood Planning Group, and Gillespie County Engineer Melissa Eckert.

Meitzen outlined opportunities to improve county floodplain management based on Region 11’s localized recommendations, and Eckert spoke about Gillespie County updating floodplain management practices and updated mapping and development patterns.