Colleen DeGuzman
Tina Peterson has served as director of the Harris County Flood Control District.
Tina Petersen resigned Thursday as director of the Harris County Flood Control District — after introducing a framework plan that she said would save several flood bond projects facing a looming federal funding deadline.
Petersen submitted her resignation letter to Harris County Administrator Erica Lee Carter after county commissioners heard an update on post-Hurricane Harvey flood bond projects.
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In her resignation letter, which was obtained by Houston Public Media, Petersen expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve commissioners court and said she plans to continue to be available to serve the county to implement a transition plan.
“My goal is to support this process however I can to make it as smooth as possible for Commissioners Court and for this team,” Petersen wrote. “While I am confident in this organization and the work we have underway, it is clear to me that conversations about my role have become a distraction.”
The Office of County Administration will work with the flood control district to support operations after Petersen’s resignation.
Harris County commissioners on Thursday approved Petersen’s proposed framework to save several disaster relief projects facing an upcoming February 2027 funding deadline. The deadline jeopardizes about $245 million that the county could be forced to repay to the federal government.
The framework approved by commissioners will phase post-Harvey flood bond projects over time and save millions of dollars. The projects were authorized by county voters as part of a $2.5 billion flood bond package on the November 2018 ballot, less than a year after Harvey devastated the region.
Commissioner Tom Ramsey said Thursday’s discussions should’ve happened months ago.
“The framework of this plan was put together four months ago. And to have it come this late is a discouragement to me, is a concern to me,” he said. “So the framework was put together four months ago, it took this long to get here.”
During the transition from Petersen’s leadership of the flood control district, the Office of County Administration will work closely with the remaining flood control district leadership to support ongoing operations and ensure continued progress on high-priority infrastructure and flood mitigation projects, according to a news release.
In a statement after her resignation, Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones said more flood control projects are moving forward than at any time in the county’s history.
“We are moving with urgency to deliver key projects in collaboration with our partners at the state and federal levels,” Briones said.
Petersen’s resignation came days after Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said there’s “likely zero chance” Harris County will meet the funding deadlines to complete the post-Harvey flood bond projects. Buckingham urged County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who has been publicly critical of Petersen, to set aside differences to eliminate delays.
Buckingham accused Hidalgo of creating setbacks through disagreements with flood control district leadership on project delays. Buckingham also said county commissioners created arbitrary procedures by compelling the flood control district to address the court for minor changes.
Hidalgo addressed Petersen’s resignation in an interview Thursday afternoon with Houston Public Media.
“It’s hard. Nobody has a crystal ball in this,” Hidalgo said. “Can I say for a fact replacing her is going to be the solution? No. I’m making a bet on that. All I can do is do the best that I can with the information that I have and I believe this is that.”
The 2018 flood bond was passed with significant funding gaps, and the county secured another $2.7 billion in partnerships from local, state and federal funding sources to complete the projects.