Resources, News, and Announcements
7/30/25
$13MM Grant for Sewer System Overhaul:
Good afternoon! I wanted to clear up an error made in reporting by a recent The Facts article titled “Surfside Beach secures $13 Million grant for long awaited sewer system overhaul”.
Although this is great news and we should be celebrating the grant along with the position we are now in to begin executing this sewer project, the article makes it sound a bit better than it actually is. In reality, this is the existing grant through HGAC and GLO that I have been referring to for some time in the weekly Mayor’s letters. We have about $8MM in funding that has been held up by GLO and was recently released. We now are working with HGAC to sign contracts and begin engineering work with Lynn Engineering and utilizing GrantWorks to assist in grant management. This project is to replace the Seashell and Beach Drive section of our AIRVAC system with a gravity sewer system. The project would replace one of our three existing sections of the AIRVAC sewer system with a gravity sewer system. After the $8MM project is completed, we would still be operating with two sections of AIRVAC sewer system in the Village.
Below is a table that highlights the total $30.9MM in GLO grants, where Surfside is listed under HGAC in combination with a Crosby-Eastgate project for a total of $13MM. I believe that is the error in The Facts reporting that Surfside received $13MM in sewer project grant money. Again, this is great news and I appreciate The Facts helping to get the good word out about the improvements coming, but also needed to clarify the facts from The Facts!!
Thanks,
Zach
Click here to read
From the Mayor’s desk - 8/8/25
Happy Friday!
A brief letter today as I have been working in Michigan for most of the week. Back in City Hall on Tuesday morning!
EMS:
Advanced EMS Treatment Protocols have been officially signed off by our Medical Director. These updated protocols mark a significant step forward in our ability to treat the wide variety of medical and trauma related emergency situations we encounter in Surfside Beach. An expanded medication formulary and enhanced skills now authorized for use, our medics are better equipped than ever to provide life-saving care. From cardiac emergencies to trauma, respiratory distress, and beyond, we are committed to delivering the highest standard of prehospital care in every situation.
Emergency Management:
We’ve completed a comprehensive, citywide emergency Operations Manual for all departments. Also implementing new procedures to ensure coordinated, rapid response across the board.
Volunteer Coordination – Volunteers play a critical role after disasters but must be registered and coordinated in advance to maximize impacts. If you are interested in helping, please contact us to be registered.
Public Works:
With the heavy rains and flooding comes the failures of our sewer pit controllers. The crews are busy repairing what has failed, and manually pumping as required to keep individual pits operational. The AIRVAC sewer system has significant failure mechanisms that result from heavy rains and flooding. Not good, but good to know.
Other Items of Interest:
FEMA Disaster Relief – I want to personally thank Janet for the massive amount of time and effort being applied to working with FEMA to collect on our Beryl disaster relief funds that are owed to us by the Federal Government. She is now on her 3rd or 4th contact person with FEMA and they have required an enormous amount of detail on each individual claim. For example, they now need GPS coordinates of every sign that needed replacement, a photo of the new sign, a receipt of payment for the new sign, and it must be properly documented on a very specific form. Janet averages 20+ email communications per day with our FEMA representative to provide the new (and ever changing!) requirements necessary to claim our disaster relief funds. She deserves our thanks for her patience and attention to detail on behalf of VOSB.
Correction from a past Mayor’s letter…the new restaurant on the corner will be called the Salty Pelican. I believe that I told everyone the wrong name before! Salty Pelican it is.
As always, I hope that you have a great day and enjoy the weekend in wonderful Surfside Beach!
Thanks,
Zach
05/01/2025
SCAM ALERT: Beware of Fraudulent Emails Posing as City Communications
The Village of Surfside Beach has been made aware of scam emails being sent to residents, falsely claiming to be from official city departments. These emails may request personal information, demand payments, or contain suspicious links.
Please Note:
- The City will never ask for Social Security numbers or bank details via email.
- Official emails from the City will come from addresses ending in @surfsidetx.org
- If you're unsure about the legitimacy of a message, do not click any links or download attachments.
If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from the City, mark it as spam. When in doubt feel free to call the City first. 979-233-1531
Help us spread the word by sharing this post. Stay alert and stay safe!
— The Village of Surfside Beach
Notice
This year's levy to fund maintenance and operations expenditures exceeds last year's maintenance and operations tax levy. The following statements must be included in the ordinance, resolution, or order setting this year's tax rate. The statements must be in larger type than the type used in any other portion of the document.
VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH ADOPTED A TAX RATE THAT WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE.
THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE RAISED BY 3.50 PERCENT AND WILL RAISE TAXES FOR
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $-1.99.
Notice
Public Works After Hours: 979-248-2085 (Please Text)
Notice
If you need help obtaining a WPI-1 for Windstorm Inspection, feel free to call the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Angleton Office at 800-248-6032, option 4, then option 3; or you may hire a Texas Certified Windstorm Engineer.