HARDIN COUNTY, Texas — Hardin County Judge, Wayne McDaniel, is looking for solutions after another year of what he calls "destructive flooding" across Hardin County.
In a Facebook post, McDaniel says a Drainage District in Hardin County could solve numerous problems across the region.
"Not all of the flooding could have been prevented, but some of it could have possibly been less destructive through the formation of a Drainage District for the purpose of providing flood damage reduction projects in Hardin County through the construction and maintenance of canals, drains, ditches and levees," McDaniel said in the post.
While McDaniel recognizes that everyone may not be in favor of such a project, he says this project could take immense stress off the County and its citizens in the long run.
"Although this idea is not popular among all residents, the formation of a Drainage District here is long overdue," said McDaniel. "Your County Government has taken on smaller drainage improvement projects over the past 18 years which were made possible through Disaster Recovery Grants. However, without a mechanism to properly fund the required ongoing maintenance of many of these projects, improvements made have been diminished."
To follow through with this plan, McDaniel is asking for help from the county's residents.
He says the creation of a Drainage District must be voted on by the public, at the request of the public by petition to Commissioners Court.
McDaniel lays out the process of creating the Drainage District in a series of documents that can be found here. He's hoping that the project can be started sooner rather than later.
"With any luck, this measure could be placed on the ballot next year for the voters to decide if they agree that it is time to begin properly addressing drainage issues to mitigate future flooding and damages. Caused by torrential downpours that are occurring more often over the past decade than ever before during our lifetime," said McDaniel.