#REFUGIORISING
WHAT IS "REFUGIO RISING"?
Refugio Rising is a community-centered effort focused on strengthening Refugio County by bringing people, ideas, and opportunity together. It reflects a shared commitment to honoring our past while actively investing in the future-- through collaboration, long-term planning, and visible progress across the county. It serves as a precursor for the Horizon Refugio 2036 initiative; the long-term economic development plan to celebrate our bicentennial.
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At its core, Refugio Rising is about momentum: residents engaged, partnerships forming, and projects moving from vision to reality. It represents the pride we have in our communities and my sincere belief that when we work together, Refugio County continues to rise.
MOMENTUM YOU CAN SEE
FROM PLANNING TO IMPLEMENTATION
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2025 PROJECT UPDATES
Completed Projects
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Bayside Shoreline Protection and Public Access Project Phase 2a: Engineering Design and Environmental
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Humble Camp Colonia Street Rehabilitation
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Humble Camp Colonia Water Improvements Project
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Animal Control Facility
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Airport Fuel Farm Phase 1: Engineering and Design
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Locke Street Waterline Replacement
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Johnson Street Waterline Improvements Project​
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Funded Projects – Awaiting Execution
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Austwell Water Quality and Erosion Mitigation Project
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Bayside Shoreline Protection and Public Access Project Phase 2b: Construction
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Funding Under Review
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Bonnie View Community Center Safety and Park Improvements
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Law Enforcement Center Renovation
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Courthouse Restoration Phase 2: Interior Restoration
Projects Currently in Progress
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Courthouse Restoration Phase 1: Exterior Envelope and District Courtroom
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Airport Fuel Farm Phase 2: Construction
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Austwell Pier Replacement
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Woodsboro Water Well Improvements Project
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Rogers Street Drainage Improvements Project
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Law Enforcement Center Generator
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Bayside Streets Project
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Repairs to Bayside Shoreline Protection and Public Access Project Phase 1: Boat Bock and Dredging (project completed 2024)
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Woodsboro Wastewater Treatment Improvement
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Bayside Wastewater Treatment Improvement
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Refugio Lift Station Improvements
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Bayside Water Facility
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Old Gin Rd Drainage Improvements
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Kelley-Elliot Rd Drainage Improvements
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Jackson Road Flood Improvements
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Fox Road Flood Improvements
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Bayside Drainage Project
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Austwell Drainage Improvements
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Kelso Rd Drainage Improvements
PLATFORM
PRESERVING THE PAST; PROTECTING OUR FUTURE
When my family and I moved to Refugio in late 2017, Hurricane Harvey had just ravaged South Texas, leaving our little corner of the world battered and bruised-- but definitely NOT broken. The only Refugio County I have ever known is one of resilience, and of grit, and I have been humbled by the strong sense of community I felt here from day one. Mother Teresa once said "Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies." Well, Refugio County may have a small population, but we work together, we support one another, and in that togetherness is strength-- and so much potential.
I am committed to CONTINUE serving as your County Judge full-time to help us reach that potential; to working hard, every day, to bring economic growth and stability to Refugio County; to leading with a level-head, focused on family and community; to supporting law enforcement in any way I can in the worsening border crisis, and to fighting to keep that culture of community strength that makes this county a place where residents want to live, want to work, and want to raise a family. I am committed to working with you to preserve the things that make Refugio County great, while creating and environment that will keep it great long into the future.
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Join the Campaign
One of the foundations of democracy, and our political system in general, is the public mandate - basically the ability to serve and govern through support of the community.
--Jhiela "Gigi" Poynter