[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6787894,"mediaKeyId","5671814-e58388f52c91ca0b0c59f3518acb0975","parentId",5671814,"title","San Patricio County adopts resolution backing Sinton, opposes large groundwater export from Evangeline project","audioSeconds",1584,"startMs",732520,"endMs",2316835,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671814-e58388f52c91ca0b0c59f3518acb0975&start=732&end=2316","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671814-e58388f52c91ca0b0c59f3518acb0975/thumbnail_732520.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6787894/San-Patricio-County/Texas/San-Patricio-County-adopts-resolution-backing-Sinton-opposes-large-groundwater-export-from-Evangeline-project","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6787894-d611a3c7c66ab186d03fc150902bd8d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441716&Signature=ZZeEoWt9k7clWZJAdMaOMr09XpIpR0lwX4wNYvpCiZ0yWkGeY3C9wp3~ocoiQ8K1~E2E68NREfhI1xZWkKBFMWB~~2dkUkL~jNHsephQ0VBtm2hm9cE7vWdT9Dvw9erp~PMdNmmXz8Fl8XGC7JR9-XE~LmIK7eTbzm3EYmnaL6dAT~tG11QKL9C-NRBDkIPseaqn6KQGrS7lbRrvVs9bk1qbYZodkNIY2kcu7VoLhxA~XYyHSSNzHJIj6BUxJicsrb9T8wRoPpNWe59yc~0aCUsH5D9u9helH4mJElG8KrlvYsBbbDd8ae8YS7QOVw-5pLDNPx7lKzDuism3rPZWeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Patricio","date","2025-08-25T00:00:00Z","article","San Patricio County’s commissioners court voted 4–1 to approve a resolution formally expressing support for the City of Sinton and opposition to large groundwater exports tied to the Evangeline project. County Judge read the resolution on the record, saying the county “expresses concerns that the 25,500,000 gallon project proposes significant risk to local farmers and residents of Sinton” and urging a unified search for long-term water solutions including desalination and interbasin transfers.

The vote followed more than an hour of public comment and commissioner debate about whether the court had sufficient factual basis to adopt an adversarial posture. Charles Fox, a landowner near Odom, told the court that “pull out 25 to 30,000,000 gallons a day…that’s going to eventually hurt us,” and asked commissioners to stop permitting or transporting water that large from local aquifers. Mayor John Hopkins of Sinton told the court he had been approached by the Evangeline group and expressed concern about the impact of extracting ‘‘25,000,000 gallons a day’’ on local wells.

Consultants and technical witnesses urged caution before adopting a resolution. James Dodson, a consultant working with the Evangeline Water Project, described 12 years of hydrogeologic study and testing of wells and said the project team had coordinated with the Groundwater Conservation District. Stephen Thomas, a geophysicist and former groundwater district board member, asked the court to study the district and Texas Water Development Board data before passing a resolution, saying the groundwater district’s modeling had included Evangeline pumpage and that the data did not indicate harm to Sinton.

Commissioner Zegorski and others objected that the resolution, as written, contradicted the county’s prior advocacy asking Corpus Christi to pursue more water sources and that the Groundwater Conservation District and technical models were the proper venues for resolving impacts. Zegorski said he did not believe the resolution, as drafted, would protect Sinton and urged more factual support. Supporters, including Commissioner Sikorsky and Commissioner Gillespie, argued the resolution was important to show solidarity with Sinton.

The court’s motion to approve the resolution was made by Commissioner Sikorsky and seconded by Commissioner Gillespie. After the public exchanges and further comments from elected officials and technical witnesses, the resolution passed 4–1. Commissioners noted on the record that if new factual information emerged they could rescind or amend the resolution later.

Next steps: the resolution expresses the county’s opposition but does not impose regulatory action; technical review and monitoring by the local Groundwater Conservation District and the Texas Water Development Board were repeatedly identified by witnesses and some commissioners as the next steps for evaluating hydrologic impact.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","San Patricio - Commissioners Court","oneSentenceSummary","The commissioners court approved a resolution supporting the City of Sinton’s water rights and opposing export of roughly 25.4–25.5 million gallons per day from the Evangeline project, passing the measure 4–1 after commissioners and public witnesses clashed over the science and timing.","taxTitle","San Patricio County, Texas","taxId",69592,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6787884,"Coastal Bend program outlines GOMESA-funded shoreline and park projects for San Patricio County",696,3414170,4110385,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671814-e58388f52c91ca0b0c59f3518acb0975&start=3414&end=4110","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671814-e58388f52c91ca0b0c59f3518acb0975/thumbnail_3414170.jpg","/articles/6787884/San-Patricio-County/Texas/Coastal-Bend-program-outlines-GOMESA-funded-shoreline-and-park-projects-for-San-Patricio-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6787884-a98de1214742e9ecee406f310325ee9d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441716&Signature=U45Z~llWTt-tD7RFlK76iYJkO-DcM4m2WP7flh9BizTFjK7kH-Z2tnJmVp-xVWLhRZn-rAbtT1~pFOrLb2H3fEA9l0XPywW7rRcWNC~3yxouLuYIh49Oj9b1i5rJuyRM2u0ZYft7kt4CZu-G~JNfZ3j~ViDFaJZvywlCZ24TTQRTPbcFpBced~a1~9atoVIfUbhuAWX21Q77OiBuxrri2EQu2JJ1us~xDwVNVVrFwqwK7vQ8U5r1ofZoOzbVqqrY9A1N8GrA4m2VlOU6z87sOun~3Ipk4lSlbkXU4nFCtsqp2u6P2-pz3h09Oi0-QHI88od6S0FrS9gG6lS3HVrYrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kristen Stansell, Executive Director with the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program, briefed the court on seven projects the program manages under an MOA with San Patricio County and outlined how the county might allocate roughly $512,000 in GOMESA funds. Key project highlights included the Ingleside On the Bay pocket park (property acquisition completed; parking site identified and a CMP grant applied for), rehabilitation and solarizing of a well at a county-owned Hibernia Park parcel, replacement and rebid of a damaged Aransas Pass boardwalk (bids had exceeded budget), engineering/design for Sunset Lake trail and Violet Andrews Park permitting, pier replacement with the San Pat Navigation District, and a multi-phase plan to reactivate the Fred Jones Nature Sanctuary (access control, signage, potential demolition of structures, and trail maintenance).

Stansell presented a proposed allocation that would set aside approximately $100,000 for Ingleside On the Bay phase 2, funds toward phase 2 of Fred Jones improvements and a proposed septic-to-sewer conversion project at Agape Fellowship and Training Center that a commissioner had raised. She said the county’s available GOMESA funds total just over $512,000 and currently proposed projects total about $293,500, leaving flexibility for additional proposals.

Commissioners and staff discussed grant-matching, rebid strategies to reduce construction costs (including switching some materials from plastic timbers to treated lumber), and next steps to coordinate precinct-level priorities. Stansell said this briefing was informational and that formal funding amendments would return to court later for approval.","The Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program presented updates on seven projects funded with GOMESA allocations, including shoreline acquisition and parking for Ingleside On the Bay, Hibernia Park rehabilitation, Aransas Pass boardwalk refurbishment, Sunset Lake trail design, pier replacement, and Fred Jones Nature Sanctuary improvements.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6787889,"San Patricio County adopts FY2026 budget and sets 2025 tax rate; maintenance rate effectively lowered",190,3078614,3269510,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671814-e58388f52c91ca0b0c59f3518acb0975&start=3078&end=3269","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671814-e58388f52c91ca0b0c59f3518acb0975/thumbnail_3078614.jpg","/articles/6787889/San-Patricio-County/Texas/San-Patricio-County-adopts-FY2026-budget-and-sets-2025-tax-rate-maintenance-rate-effectively-lowered","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6787889-b3e206d195b796ec170fd89c402ab4c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441716&Signature=ffejGZ8iIskyNAGgq8xXHDuqOcY-Zr92EcZJMb3clGvs4io6r8bevBuaWruCdJPX7nr3lpiZUWKK5Xnr-us8FJlbmoNuWRWnOUE9MJrBJhTdis5KppFT05FXisSVwyhnHaM94CeFIkzHsbCCxhpPyeaFiF5MxtvuReBTVogaoZrinMGeWEVBtqzmLe3IhbBw35RHZhNFC5ak8KUhikTTgbfUbNx1zAtKDYTtKhZ0X28j57ECUOxXXDqCb2NmZWyzsGos4NJRgyMpAYSP4ePXsfMBBngQwhaAQDYPo8lk0AwcADZ~xZmPivRYgDjsXQ~QLyojUheHdfVs2wAuHzsPfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","San Patricio County commissioners approved the fiscal year 2026 budget and related tax orders during the regular meeting. The court adopted an order approving estimated revenues and proposed expenditures for 01/01/2026–12/31/2026 and read the tax rates on the record: maintenance and operations total 0.372516 (general fund maintenance 0.292105; road & bridge 0.080411) and debt service 0.037245, for a total ad valorem tax rate of 0.40761. The court stated the maintenance and operations portion will raise less for maintenance and operations than last year and quantified an approximate $28.93 annual reduction on a $100,000 home.

County staff outlined budget adjustments and departmental transfers that the court approved, including matched intoxilizer program revenue of about $4,229, DA expenditure rollovers (~$35,000), election employee rate adjustments, added utilities for animal control and a proposed $50,000 per precinct transfer to create a contingency for a road superintendent or engineer. The budget package includes a 4% cost-of-living adjustment for all county employees excluding elected officials, and staff presented multiple departmental transfers that the court approved by motion.

The court also formally ratified the property tax increase as reflected in the adopted budget on a majority vote. Treasurer’s reports and monthly financials were accepted on motion. Commissioners and staff noted the budget had been posted for public inspection and adjustments were made consistent with required public hearing notice and law.

Next steps: implementation at fund level as authorized; staff to proceed with line-item transfers and department-level adjustments recorded in the minutes.","The commissioners court approved the FY2026 budget, adopted a total ad valorem tax rate of 0.40761 (maintenance 0.372516, debt 0.037245) and ratified the property tax increase reflected in the budget; the court also approved line-item transfers and a 4% employee COLA.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6787879,"Court accepts RWE settlement offer and denies single-case agreement after closed session",169,4399775,4569050,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671814-e58388f52c91ca0b0c59f3518acb0975&start=4399&end=4569","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671814-e58388f52c91ca0b0c59f3518acb0975/thumbnail_4399775.jpg","/articles/6787879/San-Patricio-County/Texas/Court-accepts-RWE-settlement-offer-and-denies-single-case-agreement-after-closed-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6787879-f4ed26b5b6a2abb78a3d8a60e308e672/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441716&Signature=NHQR4mKSQrTxj9gpKafzIxMFIvgg03ZYJiN~8qN79heFAg4toNtKsqBORIppf1~NGB9A77gcacWZZWzP4VuDqS07wEW0IZ8MfDxpdIJ~Gh5olXIZ22r3NIkixYPk3Qf-r3gX3xFhDG8gCsVZtOlGWIF8j1nlK-LZlU1pc66GDbPbxMdJr1VT5mHaxiyzlmz2wfyO-6stvDW-7ADzBFkYbJRmAMdKIUiXUpvJ41xMwnWoHt3ewJraE1ocw4tV7bQK5Wwgp2kTLAzfY5nqJqW7F4UzLMmgaUeN5kMi5J2cFHJAvj-9~Ts7MoS9kraqwnZoazJtOO9jKrglJzN~sBXKDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Following an executive session conducted under Government Code Sections 551.071 and 551.0785 for consultation with attorneys and personnel matters, the commissioners court returned to open session and voted to accept a settlement offer from RWE (terms not read into the public record) and to deny a proposed single-case agreement for a county employee with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Motions on both items were seconded and carried in open session.

The judge had previously announced the executive session would consider litigation with RWE and Windform LLC and possible settlement proposals as well as the single-case agreement for a county employee. In open session the court recorded motions to accept the RWE settlement and to deny the single-case agreement; the latter was described in the motion as a denial of the single-case agreement effective 08/12/2025 through 08/31/2026.","After an executive session, San Patricio County commissioners approved a settlement with RWE and denied a single-case agreement for a county employee with University of Texas MD Anderson; both actions were announced in open session.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

San Patricio County adopts resolution backing Sinton, opposes large groundwater export from Evangeline project

Coastal Bend program outlines GOMESA-funded shoreline and park projects for San Patricio County

San Patricio County adopts FY2026 budget and sets 2025 tax rate; maintenance rate effectively lowered

Court accepts RWE settlement offer and denies single-case agreement after closed session