More Delays in the Sargent Beach Stabilization project - 6 more months to go??

So apparently the real problem is that the way the project was designed was not entirely feasible.  So it has now gone out for bid twice without success and now have to modify the project again to get it done.  The GLO commissioner says that they will get started in the next six months.  I have been the most positive cheerleader on this project but this is so discouraging.  I know that Mike Estlinbaum has been all over it and pushing hard but he can't control the GLO and their glacial pace. 

So I guess we just have to expect more of this - 

From Bay City Tribune if you subscribe - 

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham visited Matagorda County with an $8M check in hand to bolster the county’s drainage and sewer systems in response to Hurricane Beryl damage.

The Texas General Land Office awarded over $66M to regional mitigation projects across 10 cities and three counties Thursday.

“The GLO is proud to work with Texas communities to strengthen and build infrastructure to protect and improve lives for local residents,” Buckingham said. “Many of these communities were recently impacted by Hurricane Beryl’s devastating winds and flood waters. Getting and using federal grant funds can be very complicated, but the GLO works side by side with local leaders to push past the federal paperwork and get funds moving forward. Every day, the GLO works on behalf of our fellow Texans to make communities more resilient against future disasters.”

The commissioner also briefed concerned citizens on the progress of Sargent’s Beach Breakwater and Jetty project. The project has been underway for years, but with no successful procurement of bids, the project has stalled.

“We had planned to visit before the hurricane basically because I was getting feedback my office wasn’t as responsive as it needed to be and transparent with things happening around Sargent Beach,” Buckingham said. “I want to be sure you know we care about you and we’re bringing resources to this county.”

As a former ocular reconstructive doctor, Buckingham said she was drawn to politics after seeing the role it played in healthcare and most other things it touches.

“I’m a small government kind of girl, I think we should stick to the basic precepts,” she said.

Buckingham said she’s known there’s an issue at Sargent Beach and understands the frustration, but the process has been slow.

“It’s a really big project, comprised of five breakwaters and then about a million square yards of sand,” she said. “$30 million was the budgeted amount for the breakwater part and another $30 million for the sand part with another dredging project.”

Buckingham said procurements went out in the fall, and three bidders came back but were not financially sound to go forward with the project or were priced over budget.

“We went out for a second and third time for procurement and got the same answer and said this is not going to work how we’re doing it and what is our path forward.”

Buckingham said her office is officially partnering with the Army Corps of Engineers, Texas Department of Transportation and Texas Parks and Wildlife for the project and plans to get started on the project in the next six months.

“This is the fastest path forward and we’ll get rolling in the next six months, we know this is incredibly important,” Buckingham said.