The executive director of the Harris County Flood Control District, Tina Petersen, resigned from her leadership role amid concerns about delays in Harvey-related recovery projects and federally funded programs with strict deadlines.
Her departure leaves the district without a permanent director while Harris County reviews flood mitigation projects that rely on federal aid and that could face problems if they fail to meet state or federal deadlines.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said that the commissioners plan to name Petersen’s replacement at a meeting scheduled for June 25.
The leader’s resignation comes amid scrutiny in Commissioners Court
Petersen stepped down on Thursday after Harris County commissioners again discussed her performance in a closed session.
Pressure on her position had intensified in recent weeks due to the way the Harris County Flood Control District handled and communicated delays in federally funded projects tied to Harvey.
The commissioners did not immediately name a successor. Hidalgo noted that the replacement would be considered at the next Commissioners Court meeting.
Petersen had been named the district’s executive director in January 2022. She was the first woman to lead the agency, which oversees flood-risk reduction projects in one of the country’s most flood-prone counties.
Harvey funds remain tied to projects with tight deadlines
The central point of discussion is flood-control projects funded with federal assistance approved after Hurricane Harvey.
The funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, known as HUD, and are administered in Texas through the Texas General Land Office.
The program includes administrative requirements, reimbursement processes and deadlines to use the money on approved projects. If the projects do not meet the established deadlines, the county could face the risk of losing funds or having to account for unspent expenditures.
The amount at stake has been described as hundreds of millions of dollars for recovery and flood mitigation works in Harris County.
The county seeks to salvage funds for pending projects
Before the resignation, the Flood Control District had presented a plan to address part of the problem with the funds and deadlines.
The strategy aimed to reorganize projects and funding sources so that some projects with faster progress could meet nearer deadlines, while other projects would be moved to programs with more time available.
County officials have said that such adjustments could help preserve federal funds earmarked for Harvey projects.
Commissioner Tom Ramsey questioned whether the plan arrived late, after months of warnings about deadlines. Other Commissioners Court members had also called for clearer information on project calendars and the county’s financial risk.
The Texas General Land Office urged prioritizing the projects
The Texas General Land Office, led by Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, participates in distributing federal disaster recovery funds in Texas.
Buckingham had asked Harris County to prioritize completing projects over internal disputes. Her office also identified concerns related to documentation, staff turnover and administrative handling within the process.
After the resignation, Buckingham said that her focus would continue to be delivering projects for Harris County residents, regardless of who leads the district.
The General Land Office has urged Congress to cut red tape and allow greater local control over federal disaster recovery funds.
Vulnerable communities rely on delayed projects
Harris County has areas that have faced repeated flooding and were affected by Harvey in 2017.
Flood-control projects can include drainage improvements, channels, retention infrastructure, land acquisitions, hydraulic expansions, or other works designed to reduce risk in vulnerable areas.
For residents of Houston and unincorporated county communities, delays are not only administrative. Construction timelines, permits and the use of funds can determine when a project is queued for work or if the project must undergo further adjustments.
The county also enters hurricane season, a period when heavy rains and tropical storms can increase the risk of urban flooding and bayou crests.
New leadership to be considered on June 25
The June 25 Commissioners Court meeting appears as the next public step to define the direction of the Harris County Flood Control District.
The person who takes the post will face several open matters: project schedules, communication with the Commissioners Court, coordination with the Texas General Land Office, and compliance with federal requirements.
They will also need to maintain progress on pending projects while the district responds to questions about funds, deadlines and documentation.
Petersen stated in her exit letter that she will remain available to support a transition. Her resignation leaves the county with less than two weeks before the meeting where the decision on the district’s new leadership is expected.
