"Having to respond to the hospital district and having to respond to the general fund and flood issues, it would not be for me in good conscience to say, ‘Yes, we can increase your flood control protection and we can also decrease your taxes,’" Lee said.

The commissioners court voted 5-0 to reject the bids received and to revise and re-advertise a slip-lining project at 20512 Atascocita Shores Drive in Precinct 4.

The commissioners court also unanimously approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Houston for implementation of an online real-time surveillance program for collection and dissemination of data from local area hospitals for public health surveillance purposes.

At the request of Steve Radack, the commissioners court agreed to hold for study a request for approval of changes to lists of authorized regular deputy constables and reserve officers.

All other items were unanimously approved, including 17 deferred mortgage down payment assistance loans for low-income homebuyers in Precincts 1, 3 and 4 in the total amount of $350,800.

"Many of the potential home-buyers who applied for this program went in with the hope of buying a home at an affordable price," Nargang said.  "They have spent time, money, personal hopes and dreams on this program.  All of them put money down with builders to start the process of building their homes."

Harris County Community and Economic Development Director David B. Turkel told the commissioners court the problem is the lack of such assistance from the City of Houston.

"With the City of Houston's down payment assistance programs having been suspended (by HUD) about 90 days ago, we’ve had a 400 per cent increase in applications," Turkel said.  "Our budget for down payment assistance is static and has to last us until the end of HUD’s fiscal year, which is the end of August. Accordingly, the only way we can stretch those funds is to reduce the assistance."

"We’ve talked to the City of Houston and offered on a temporary basis to administer their home grant program until their suspension is lifted. We have not heard back from them," Turkel said.

With the help of Channel 2 Television Weatherdog Radar, County Judge Robert Eckels proclaimed April 12 as Tag Day in recognition of Public Health and Environmental Services/Animal Control Division online dog and cat licensing service.

Other approved resolutions documented April 10-16 as National Crime Victims’ Week, April 14 as Children’s Legal Services of Houston Youth Services Day and April 12 as Sue Brietzke, Ebb Owen, Loren D. Peerson, Glenn Bray and Robert Gault Day on the occasion of their retirements from the Harris County Sheriff’s Department.