Katy City Council awarded a contract for about $3.8 million to Fused Industries, LLC out of Houston and approved the purchase of about half an acre of land on the south end of Patna Drive for $90,000. Both are intended to facilitate drainage improvements promised by the city since Hurricane Harvey caused flooding throughout the Riceland Terrace neighborhood.

“We’ll start as soon as we can. I do know the consultant assisting with the GLO contractual obligations requires an environmental study up front and they’re working on that right now. As soon as that’s cleared up Costello will get started as soon as we can. Our anticipation is to start bidding and start construction on or about February to March of next year, if not sooner,” said Costello Senior Project Manager Ralph Saldana during the meeting in regards to work to improve drainage on the south side of Patna Drive into the Town Park Detention Pond.

Work on improvements to drainage along Patna Drive is expected to begin sometime in August.

The land will be paid for using flood bonds approved by city voters in 2018, according to city officials.

Purchase of the land will facilitate putting a more robust draining tool at the bottom of the neighborhood, Council Member Janet Corte said via telephone.

An environmental study is also required according to Ralph Saldana of Costello Engineering. Council approved the study and authorized Costello to complete the engineering and surveying for drainage channel reconstruction and improvements to the existing channels in the neighborhood which are intended to help rainwater runoff flow out of the subdivision and into the new Town Park Detention Pond on its way out of city limits.

According to documents provided by the city, the scope of work for the second phase of the work on the south end of Patna Drive includes reconstruction of 820 linear feet of the existing drainage channel south and west of the Riceland Terrace subdivision, where the property was purchased. The design for the new construction includes providing cement side slopes to prevent erosion. Further, a new storm channel will be installed at the end of Caloro Lane going toward Patna Drive and will flow to existing drainage channels. Initial payment for this portion of work to be done in the subdivision is a lump sum of $156,000.

“It is estimated that due to both (General Land Office) contract preparation and environmental study lead times required the final construction plans suitable for public bid are estimated to be ready at the first of (2021),” Saldana said in a letter to city officials.