‹ Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 493 · All districts' issues
concern
Operations
$95,000
money moved
Confirm how the $95,000 was priced and whether competitive bids were required or obtained.
Water Code §49.273 (three written bids for $25,000-$150,000).
The board action behind it
2026-08-25: Authorized Inframark to extend water service lines for 72 lots (total cost approximately $95,000)
What else happened at that meeting
The Board approved the preliminary official statement and notice of sale for its Unlimited Tax Bonds, Series 2026, authorized Masterson Advisors to advertise the sale subject to final TCEQ approval, and named The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as paying agent/registrar. It approved the bookkeeper's, tax assessor-collector's and operator's reports, including testing of four non-residential meters at a total cost of $800 and extension of water service lines for 72 lots at an approximate cost of $95,000. The Board accepted the engineer's report, including concurrence in six water, sanitary sewer, drainage and paving contract awards to Unitas Construction, Inc., several easements and an auto-flusher agreement. It also approved a storm sewer agreement and street light letter agreements for Prairieland Village sections. The attorney reported that the Bridgeland Water Agency's constable patrol contract is up for renewal and that the Agency will add two deputies, for a total of 26.The law and guidance in force on 2026-08-25
| Construction contracts over $25,000 and up to $150,000 need written competitive bids from at least three bidders Water Code §49.273
§49.273: Same text in force then and now |
Question | About $95,000 of service-line work authorized to the operator; no bids recorded. Whether this falls under the operator agreement or counts as a separate construction contract is not stated. |
| A district pays only for facilities that benefit it; developer cost shares §293.44: Same text in force then and now§293.47: Same text in force then and now | Question | The work is needed "due to the placement of landscaping reserves adjacent to the lots" (p.2), a layout choice in the developer's plats. |
Who's involved
Inframark, LLC (utility operator (also the Bridgeland Water Agency's administrator; MUD 418's operator until March 2026))
Bridgeland Development, LP (represented by Howard Hughes Holdings Inc.) (developer)
Cost to the district
$95,000 Approximate; about 50 feet per line for 72 lots (p.2). Funding source (operating fund or bonds) not stated.Money or costs moved
HC MUD 493 → Inframark, LLC: $95,000 Service line extensions. Whether the Developer or builders should bear the cost is not addressed.
Why the board approved it
Recorded: “Inframark explained the need and cost; motion carried "following detailed discussion" (p.2).”
The reason is recorded, but not why the District rather than the Developer pays for a cost created by lot and reserve layout, or how the price was tested.