County awarded $24M for improvements

County, state and emergency services officials gathered April 25 at the Hardin County Courthouse for the historic presentation of a $23.9 million check celebrating the approval of funds from the Texas General Land Office’s (GLO) Regional Mitigation Program for drainage, detention and roadway improvements in parts of Lumberton, Silsbee, Kountze and Village Mills.

Additionally, the dignitaries celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony for new fire brush trucks for the Saratoga, Silsbee and Kountze fire departments to aid in emergency response situations with funding provided by the GLO.

“We are grateful for the Texas General Land Office and for Commissioner (Dawn) Buckingham to come her personally to Hardin County to present the check,” said County Judge Wayne McDaniel, who noted the county budget is around $24 million. “The money didn’t come today but it’s an announcement that it is coming.”

“It’s historic for Hardin County,” McDaniel said of what he called the county’s good fortune in being part of the Regional Mitigation Program. “The fire trucks that are here and some of the disaster recovery project … none of this would have been possible without these funds coming from the General Land Office.”

Buckingham stated that she loves bringing resources to Texas communities.

“I really have a heart for our firefighters,” said Buckingham, who added she is former volunteer firefighter. “We are happy to bring those resources, but I have a deep understanding of how much this area floods and big these projects are, and how expensive.”

Saratoga Fire Chief Gary Flowers, at the celebration alongside neighboring fire department staff and volunteers, Hardin County Commissioners Chris Kirkendall and Ernie Koch, Emergency Management Coordinator Aaron Tupper, Sheriff Mark Davis and Tax Assessor Collector Shirley Cook, said the fire brush truck received with assistance from GLO in December 2022 has proven to be a tremendous asset.

“It was the first of its kind in Hardin County,” Flowers said of the truck that he added now responds to almost all calls received the department. “It’s been a great asset for the department. We done one water rescue during the rain event several weeks ago. We got the victim out and was able to save some of her personal property.”

“Medical calls, accident calls or fire, it’s a support truck and we’re glad to have it,” Flowers continued. “Our roads sometimes wash out pretty quick if there is a large rain event, but we can easily get through there.”

Flowers noted the brush truck can also transform into a high-water rescue vehicle that can carry 12-15 people.

“The GLO was very good to us,” he added.

Also present at the April 25 event were MPTX Grant Administrator Greg Wobbe, Public Management Grant Administrator Miriam Moran and South East Texas Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Shanna Burke. Representing elected federal and state officials were Sarah Jones, deputy regional director of Southeast Texas for U.S. Senator John Cornyn, Kelly Waterman from U.S. Senator Ted Cruz’s office; Lanie Brown, Senior Regional Field director for Congressman Brian Babin, and Melanie Cotton, district director for District 18 State Rep. Ernest Bailes.