‹ Harris County Water Control and Improvement District No. 159 · All districts' issues
question
Cost sharing
2 conflict questions
money moved
What does WCID 159 pay under the four-district Veterans Memorial Park contract (capital and future operation/maintenance), and how was its share set?
Gov't Code §791.011(e); Good practice: attach an allocation exhibit
The board action behind it
2026-04-20: Approved the Contract Regarding the Financing, Construction, Operation and Maintenance of the Bridgeland Veterans Memorial Park
What else happened at that meeting
The Board approved a Contract Regarding the Financing, Construction, Operation and Maintenance of the Bridgeland Veterans Memorial Park, listed on the agenda as an agreement with WCID 157. Responding to a WCID 157 letter requesting payment of an October 2024 invoice for Irrigation Pump Station No. 4, it approved a reply letter and voided check no. 4037. The Board adopted a resolution imposing an additional penalty on delinquent real property taxes, designated Irrigation Pump Station No. 5 as a posting location for meeting notices, and approved an affidavit authorizing the Harris County Constable's Office, Precinct 5, to enforce District rules on trespassing and vandalism. It reviewed a proposed operating budget for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2027, and the attorney reported that the Utility Development Agreement with TPHTL House Hahl, LLC had been fully executed. The Board met in executive session from 1:46 to 2:11 p.m., with no resulting action.The law and guidance in force on 2026-04-20
| Notice must describe the subject of each item Gov't Code §551.041
§551.041: Same text in force then and now |
Question | The agenda item read 'agreement with Harris County Water Control and Improvement District No. 157 related to Veterans Park'; the contract is among four districts and covers financing, construction, operation and maintenance (p.4-5; WCID 157 minutes Mar. 20, 2026). |
| Park and recreational facilities power; public purpose, control and return benefit for spending on facilities §49.462: Same text in force then and now§49.465: Same text in force then and now§51.335(c): Same text in force then and nowart. III §52: Same text in force then and now | Question | The minutes do not say whether the park lies inside WCID 159 or what return benefit WCID 159's taxpayers receive if it lies in another district. |
| Interlocal contracts state purpose, terms, and that payments come from current revenues and fairly compensate the performing party Gov't Code §791.011(d)-(e)
§791.011(d): Same text in force then and now |
Not shown in the record | Contract (Exhibit I) not posted. |
Who's involved
Harris County WCID No. 157 (party; builds and operates the park)
Harris County MUD No. 419 (party)
Harris County MUD No. 489 (party)
The Bridgeland Community Supports Veterans, Inc. (nonprofit sponsor of the memorial)
Schwartz, Page & Harding, L.L.P. (SPH) (District general and bond counsel; also counsel to WCID 157, WCID 158, MUDs 418-493 and the Bridgeland Water Agency)
BGE, Inc. (District engineer; also engineer to WCID 157, WCID 158 and the Bridgeland MUDs)
Possible conflicts
Schwartz, Page & Harding, L.L.P. (SPH): SPH is counsel to all four parties to the contract (WCID 157, WCID 159, MUD 419, MUD 489). (Consultant schedules in the audits of WCID 157 (HCWCID-157-Audit-Report-FYE-May-31-2025.pdf, PDF p.60), WCID 159 (HC_WCID_No_159_2025_FS_Final.pdf, PDF p.52), MUD 419 (2025_05_31_Audit_Report.pdf, PDF p.70) and MUD 489 (HC_489_Final_Audit_Report_FY_Ended_May_31_2024.pdf, PDF p.60))
BGE, Inc.: BGE is engineer to the parties and is designing the park for WCID 157. (Consultant schedules in the audits of WCID 157 (HCWCID-157-Audit-Report-FYE-May-31-2025.pdf, PDF p.60), WCID 159 (HC_WCID_No_159_2025_FS_Final.pdf, PDF p.52), MUD 419 (2025_05_31_Audit_Report.pdf, PDF p.70) and MUD 489 (HC_489_Final_Audit_Report_FY_Ended_May_31_2024.pdf, PDF p.60); WCID 157 minutes Nov. 13, 2025)
Cost to the district
Not stated in the minutes. WCID 157's minutes record a WCID 159 commitment of $150,000 over two fiscal years (May 8, 2025). WCID 159 budgeted $75,000 (FY2026, unspent) and $150,000 (FY2027) in account 17909 'Veteran Memorial'.Money or costs moved
HCWCID 159 → Harris County WCID No. 157: $150,000 Contribution toward the Bridgeland Veterans Memorial Park (commitment per WCID 157 minutes, May 8, 2025, p.2); WCID 157's financials record the commitment but no receipt yet. MUD 419 committed $250,000.
Why the board approved it
Recorded: “Approved and President authorized to execute (p.5). On May 18 the Veterans group thanked the Board for the District's contribution (p.1).”
The amount, the share formula, any continuing operating-cost obligation and the park's location are not in the minutes. The budgets ($75,000 in FY2026, unspent; $150,000 in FY2027, nothing spent through July 2026) fit the full $150,000 commitment being paid in FY2027, but the contract would confirm it.