When Port Acres flooded from heavy rains in late January, the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation’s business park also flooded. Consequently, they are making plans to prevent it from happening again.

The board of directors of the PAEDC will consider for approval a professional service agreement with Arceneaux, Wilson and Cole for engineering a drainage master plan for Jade Avenue Business Park at their regular meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, March 5 at 501 Procter St. in Port Arthur.

A letter from the firm to Floyd Batiste, executive director of the PAEDC, read a master drainage plan will establish the drainage criteria for all future development within the Jade Avenue Business Park and provide guidelines to manage storm water runoff.

“In development of the drainage master plan for the 141-acre site will go beyond a study of available records, to include field data collection, inventory of systems serving the vicinity and development of drainage criteria for the Jade Avenue Business Park,” it read.

The scope of services include:

• Research and assemble available records relating to drainage from the city, Jefferson County, Jefferson County Drainage District 7, Texas Department of Transportation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer.
• Determine or verify contributing drainage area to subject area using maps and field confirmation.
• Plot a contour and drainage area map of the subject area showing topography.
• Establish 25-year rainfall criteria (per the city’s request).
• Set up basic hydraulic model to analyze Jade Avenue Business Park site and outfalls using GeoHec-Ras software.
• Prepare magnitude of probable construction cost for drainage system recommendations in report.
• Prepare final report including criteria for drainage master plan within the Jade Avenue Business Park.

The firm recommends a maximum fee not to exceed $24,725. They expect to complete the work within 120 working days, unless delayed by weather or circumstances beyond their control.

The directors will give possible consideration to a requested $350,000 economic incentive for infrastructure for Joe’s Shopping Plaza. The 8,000 square feet retail space will be located at 3400 Jimmy Johnson Blvd. next to the Babe Zaharias Golf Course.

The board will discuss and possibly approve closing the incentive agreement with The Olive Packing Co. Inc.

A PAEDC memo read it is recommended the board close the incentive. In 2014, the company was awarded a conditional grant for $139,194 to be utilized for the purchase of equipment needed for the expansion of its operations in Port Arthur.

The Olive Packing Co. has met and exceeded those requirements by employing Port Arthur residents and receiving credits toward the incentive amount for payroll to Port Arthur residents.