Nonprofit cautions drainage rules are stalling Brazoria County women's shelter project

Thomas (Tad) Atkins, director of operations for the Forgotten Angels Foundation of Pearland, presented photographs and documentation and asked the Commissioners Court to direct county departments and Drainage District 4 to re-evaluate drainage along Heritage Road. Atkins said sediment, vegetation and reduced culvert capacity have lowered off-site drainage capacity, forcing developers to increase on-site detention and raising construction costs for a proposed women's shelter funded with HUD American Rescue Plan funds awarded through Brazoria County.

Atkins said one prior project cleared review in 2022, but subsequent recalculation methods used by the district would prevent the shelter project from passing current requirements without either county maintenance of the ditch or a variance. "If Brazoria County will actually maintain that ditch...we will seriously consider a variance using a different method," Atkins said, adding that without action "the woman's center is dead." The court clarified that Drainage District 4 and Brazoria County are separate political entities, and the judge said the court cannot direct how the drainage district operates; staff accepted Atkins's packet for follow-up.