Boerne council authorizes $2 million TWDB grant application for water-treatment project

The Boerne City Council on July 14 authorized staff to file an application with the Texas Water Development Board for funding under the Water Supply and Infrastructure Grant program to support a granular activated carbon (GAC) project at the water treatment plant.

Mike Binkard presented the request and said the city plans to seek up to $2,000,000 to cover engineering and construction for the GAC project, which is designed to reduce disinfection byproducts associated with organics in the raw water supply. Binkard said the program, as administered this year, offers full grant reimbursement for eligible shovel-ready drinking-water projects.

"It is a 100% grant," Binkard said, noting his team has been working with consultant Freese Nichols to prepare the application and that the deadline is at the end of the month.

Council discussion touched on program caps and eligibility. One council member noted an applicable per-city cap of $21,000,000 referenced in the discussion of the program; staff said reuse projects ended up excluded from the final grant guidance but the GAC project fits the drinking-water criteria and therefore is a competitive candidate.

Councilman Macaluso moved to approve Resolution 2026 R40 authorizing the application filing and designating the city manager as the authorized representative; the motion passed 4–0.

Staff said they will submit the application and pursue other grant opportunities in parallel.