One year ago local officials proudly broke ground to celebrate the long awaited extension of David Memorial to Hwy 242, with former Shenandoah Mayor Ritch Wheeler saying “we finally got it across the finish line.” Current Mayor John Escoto said the funding had been acquired to “complete this project.” Unfortunately, both men were relying on verbal commitments from Conroe because at the time, a written agreement had not been fully signed by all parties.

Just a few weeks before construction was scheduled to begin last summer, Conroe refused to sign the interlocal agreement and fund its share of costs. Shenandoah and Montgomery County agreed they would execute a new agreement instead, one which authorized the work to commence last fall.

It has been reported in local media that Conroe declined to fund the project because the money was needed elsewhere and Conroe is questioning the road’s design. A Conroe engineer quoted in this article pointed out that the agreement had been “verbal” for years.

Escoto said Shenandoah is in ongoing discussions with Conroe about the path forward, and declined to comment further on the status of those discussions. He noted that Shenandoah’s part of the work should be completed by next March or April.

Texas law recognizes oral contracts when certain conditions are met, and given the statements made by Wheeler and Escoto during the groundbreaking ceremony, it would appear that both of them were relying on conduct that could support a legal argument that an enforceable, oral contract had indeed been made.

Two years ago, about 100 residents of Harper’s Preserve signed a petition asking Conroe to commit to the extension as it would give them a much needed alternate route.

Three seats on the Conroe City Council are on the ballot in May 2024. Council meetings are open to the public and the 2024 meeting schedule is here.