Commissioners Court approves plan for flood siren funding

The Kerr County Commissioners Court unanimously approved four agreements Monday to move forward with installing an outdoor flood warning system on the Guadalupe River through a partnership with the Upper Guadalupe River Authority.

The court approved an interlocal agreement, a project agreement defining the initial scope of work, a resolution accepting grant funds from the Texas Water Development Board under Senate Bill 3, and ratified UGRA’s request for proposals to hire program management services for the system installation.

UGRA board member Jonathan Letz and UGRA General Manager Tara Bushnoe presented the items to commissioners. Bushnoe explained the interlocal agreement provides a broad framework while the project agreement establishes specific scope for the water development board grant.

Commissioner Rich Paces made motions to approve the agreements, with Commissioner Jeff Holt providing seconds. All four items passed with unanimous votes.

UGRA will hold a special meeting Friday to approve the interlocal agreement with the county.

Former Commissioner Tom Moser, speaking during the meeting, said the county and UGRA have made significant progress establishing requirements for the warning system and called it a “platinum flood warning system.”

The initiative follows the July 4, 2025 flood that killed 119 people in Kerr County when the Guadalupe River flooded.