Montgomery County commissioners will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 22 to discuss and approve awards for two projects. These include finishing the David Memorial Drive extension to Hwy. 242 and debris monitoring for San Jacinto River watershed flood mitigation projects.

The backstory: The David Memorial Drive extension project aims to improve mobility and relieve traffic congestion. The final segment has an estimated cost of $2.5 million and is set to be paid through a Montgomery County road bond approved by voters in May 2025. Agenda documents recommend using JFO Services, LLC for the base bid of over $1.8 million.

Additionally, commissioners will discuss awarding a contract for San Jacinto River watershed flood mitigation efforts, which received $60 million from the Texas General Land Office. This funding is split among three areas:

• East Montgomery County: $36.38 million
• Stewart Creek: $15 million
• Lake Creek: $8.99 million

Before you go: Commissioners will also approve an interlocal law enforcement agreement with The Woodlands Township for mounted patrol.

According to an Oct. 15 Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing, a new PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans location is coming to Magnolia.

What's on the menu: Construction on the 1,700 sq. ft. space is scheduled to begin Nov. 30 and run through Feb. 26, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 26, 2027. The total cost of the project is estimated at $225,000. The new storefront will be located at 11510 FM 1488, Ste. 100, Magnolia.

According to its website, PJ’s is a national retail coffee chain that specializes in roasting methods inspired by the New Orleans French Quarter. The coffee shop serves a wide variety of food and drinks, including:

• Specialized frozen granitas
• Muffins
• Breakfast sandwiches
• Fresh-baked beignets

On the day that Montgomery County utility provider Quadvest completed its $540 million sale earlier this month, CEO Simon Sequeira gave every employee a gift and a personalized letter that promised to change their lives.

In the letters, Sequeira wrote something nice about each employee and what he remembered about the work they had done for the company. Included too was an estimate of each employee's share of $40 million in bonuses divided up among 115 of them that Sequeira's family would distribute as part of the sale.

"The people who gave some of the best years of their lives to us, we just thought it was the right thing to do," Sequeira said in an interview, "to reward them for all their hard work."

What’s changing?: Quadvest now has more than 100,000 customers, Sequeira said and that could double in a few years with Montgomery County's expected growth. The Magnolia-based utility provider has stressed that customers shouldn’t expect any hiccups in the changing of the guard.

Federal, state and local leaders met Oct. 16 to discuss future collaboration on regional flood mitigation projects for Greater Houston.

At a glance: The meeting, closed to the public but open to the media, was the third cross-jurisdictional meeting held to address the region's infrastructure needs. Attendees included FEMA officials and elected leaders from the state House, state Senate, the City of Houston, Harris County and Montgomery County.

The details: Key points from the discussion included:

• Houston city council member Twila Carter emphasized mitigating flood risk before disasters occur.

• Montgomery County Commissioners Ritch Wheeler and Matt Gray noted funding challenges, as the county relies on property taxes and lacks access to sales taxes.

• FEMA deputy division director John Garvin said that predictable projects are most competitive for FEMA grants.

• State Rep. Steve Toth said the group will meet again to begin drilling down on projects.