The Katy City Council Monday authorized the acceptance of about $1.13 million dollars from the Texas General Land Office.

The vote to accept precedes the city’s application for the money. If received, the money will be used for drainage projects, City Administrator Byron Hebert said.

In a letter to the city, Houston-Galveston Area Council Executive Director Chuck Wemple wrote that the Texas General Land Office allocated $488.8 million to the Houston-Galveston Area Council—called H-GAC—to develop a method of distribution for a regional mitigation program.

This program is part of the state’s Community Development Block Grant Mitigation Action Plan. Wemple wrote that Katy is a potential recipient of funding, but also said the amount is subject to change and the General Land Office must give final approval.

Wemple wrote that Harris County is excluded from this method of distribution, as the county received a direct allocation of $750 million from the General Land Office. As a result, Katy's allocation excludes the Harris County portion of the city, Wemple wrote.

Ward A Council Member Janet Corte recognized the city staffers who prepared the grant application.

“Initially, when the allocation cam out, the city was down for $0,” Corte said. City staff members met with H-GAC representatives and worked with them to reach the approximately $1.13 million figure, Corte said.

“This would not have happened without the grant writers,” Corte said, adding that she’s “real anxious” to see the city get the money and put it to work on the drainage project.

Council Member-at-Large Chris Harris asked Hebert if the city had a specific drainage project for which the money, if received, would be allocated.

“We do,” Hebert said, not being more specific. Hebert said if the allocation comes through, city officials would have a follow-up with a project list that would be formalized.

Mayor Dusty Thiele praised Corte, who serves as the city’s H-GAC representative, for her work on the grant.

Council receives animal control shelter update

Police Chief Noe Diaz said two new dog runs were being added to the city’s animal control shelter, 25839 Katy Fwy.

The dog runs were scheduled to be completed Monday. It has been pushed out due to a missed workday Friday, the heat, and problems acquiring some of the supplies, Diaz said.

The new dog runs will enable more space for dogs to run around. In this way, pets and their prospective adopting families have a chance to see if they are a good fit for each other. Also, Diaz said, representatives from 501(c)(3) organizations, who coordinate the adoptions, either visit the shelter or bring their own animals for a family to consider adopting.

Diaz said the internal kennel areas have been repainted and praised the organizations who have donated supplies to the shelter.

Volunteers are still needed. For more information, prospective volunteers must call the shelter at 281-391-4740.

Council appoints board and commission members

The council approved appointments to city boards and commissions. Here is a list those appointees:

Building and Standards Commission

• Ricky Burch, Chairman
• Jim Lipka
• Vincent C. Morille, Jr.
• Bob O’Malley
• Steve Schilder
• Matt Lawson, Alternate
• Troy “Monty” McGuire, Jr., alternate
• Paul Redmon, Alternate
• James A. “Alan” Williams, alternate

City Planning and Zoning Commission

• Eric Paulsen, chairman
• Paul Redmon, vice chairman
• Sam Pearson, secretary
• Alan Chapman, assistant secretary
• Jason Ward
• Gregory Christmann
• Charles Anthony Wier, III, alternate
• Paul Follis, alternate
• Randy McDonald, alternate

Convention and Tourism Bureau

• Kevin Mousavi, chairman
• Cynthia Cavin, vice chairman
• Shari L. Boothe, secretary
• Jeffrey Rocheleau
• Paul Follis
• Tara Wilson
• R. Richardson

Katy Heritage Park Board

• Adrienne J. Davitz, chairman (City of Katy Rep)
• Linda Mikeska, vice chairman (City of Katy Rep) (extended term to 1-10-2024)
• Marilyn Frishman (Heritage Society Rep)
• Jerrilyn Rheman (Heritage Society Rep)
• Jared Cardiff (Joint Rep)

Keep Katy Beautiful Board

• Carrie Singletary, chairman
• Jennifer Stence, vice chairman
• Jamie Wolman, secretary
• Albert Thompson, Jr.
• Cynthia Madison
• Jacalyn Warner
• Kathy Wiesner
• Katy Heerssen
• Kesley Moebes
• Paula Taylor
• Tara Wilson
• Lynn Paulsen
• Debbie Berger, emeritus member
• Julia Barta, emeritus member
• Sandy Schmidt, emeritus member
• Kay Callender, emeritus member
• Sharon Rhoades, emeritus member
• Patti Hanson, emeritus member

Landscape Appeal Board

• Ricky Burch, chairman
• Sandra Byrd
• Chris Harris, council member
• Carrie Singletary, Keep Katy Beautiful Board Member
• James Leroy Muscarella, Jr.

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

• Wendy Hanne, chairman
• Ida Faye Elder
• Paula Kay Hughes
• Keith Jobe
• Terion Peloquin
• Susan Stormer
• Susan Hastings

Social Services Advisory Board

• David Bent, chairman
• Anne Frye
• Joyce Harris
• Milton Dwight Clarke
• Henry Martin Wagoner II
• Gail Pyontek
• Betty Williams

Zoning Board of Adjustment

• David Minze, chairman
• Cecilia Crutcher, vice chairman
• Jim Lipka
• Otis M. “Mike” Sadler
• Jody R. Sturm
• Johnston A. Dietz, alternate
• Diane Walker, alternate
• Jennifer Gayle Schneider, alternate

Reinvestment Zone Number 1

• Glen Bliss, Position 1
• Michael B. O’Connell, Position 2
• Melody Hess, Position 3
• David Minze, Position 4
• Mildred “Lee” Kosina, Position 5
• Eric Paulsen, Position 6
• Tommy Brooks Bolin, Position 7
• Jonas W. “Skip” Conner, president, Position 8
• Stanley Thompson, Position 9

Katy Development Authority

• Jonas W. “Skip” Conner, president
• Tommy Brooks Bolin
• Mildred “Lee” Kosina
• David Minze
• Eric Paulsen

Katy Management District No. 1

• Donald P. Cox, president
• Paul Redmon, vice president
• Robert Hargarther, secretary
• Doyle Callender, assistant secretary
• Tim Yager, assistant vice president

Village at Katy Development District

• Michael Harrington, president
• Ronald J. Parent, vice president
• William “Bill” R. Abbott, PE, secretary
• Steve Pierson, assistant secretary
• Jaime Corona, director