The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved financial assistance totaling $50,935,872 for water and wastewater systems. Of this funding, $4,380,972 was designated for rural projects. They also took up a full agenda which included an update on water conditions in the state and a briefing on a pilot initiative to offer assistance to smaller water and wastewater systems.
Opening Discussion:
- Director Kathleen Jackson – Spoke at Texas Rural Water Association. Stopped by Harlem field office
- Director Peter Lake – spoke at capital area exchange, participated in Houston Groundwater Supply Ground breaking.
- Director Bech Bruun – attended Western State’s Water Council in California
Agenda:
Consideration and acknowledgment of gifts and donations of $500 or more in value given to the Texas Water Development Board in accordance with Chapter 575 of the Texas Government Code.
Kendal Kowal, Executive Administrator Staff
- Board must acknowledge gift within 90 days – accepted on May 19th
- List of gift statements have been included
- Jackson – reimbursement for staff travel?
- Correct.
- Motion Passed
Consider approving by resolution a request from Barton Water Supply Corporation (Palo Pinto and Erath Counties) for $200,000 in principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to finance planning, design, and construction of water system improvements.
Caaren Skrobarczyk, Executive Administrator Staff
- Provides water service to 177 residents
- Corporation had to prioritize improvement and develop a phase strategy.
- Replacing pumps, electric and mechanical updates – improvements will address pressure problems to comply with TCEQ
- Jackson – service population were 166? Efforts will bring into compliance?
- Correct.
- Motion Passed
Consider approving by resolution a request from the San Jacinto River Authority (Harris and Montgomery Counties) for $43,000,000 in financing from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for design and construction of wastewater system improvements.
Nancy Richards, Executive Administrator Staff
- Facilities were constructed in the 1980’s
- Requesting 25-year maturity
- Jackson – the woodlands division is doing the upgrade? There are 11 MUDs that make up that division.
- Bruun – security pledge cannot be impacted by pending litigation from the River Authority?
- Correct.
- Motion Passed
Consider approving by resolution a request from the City of New Deal (Lubbock County) for $1,033,800 in financial assistance consisting of a $935,000 obligation and $98,800 in principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for construction of water system improvements and a waiver from the requirement to include funds to mitigate water loss as part of the project.
Lee Huntoon, Executive Administrator Staff
- Provides service to 292 connections
- Installed the water lines in the 1960’s
- Design phase should be completed by July 15, 2017
- Implemented a water meter replacement plan – all to be replaced by 2021
- Jackson – happy to see the community moving forward along with the identified savings.
- Bruun – replacement of transmission line and meters is being addressed during the project.
- Motion Passed
Consider approving by resolution a request from the City of Toyah (Reeves County) to reinstate and amend TWDB Resolution 17-026, by extending the commitment period to finance water system improvements through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
Lee Huntoon, Executive Administrator Staff
- Approved by TWDB on March 29th
- City will evaluate the ground water source to replace the service water option
- Key issue – staff is on corrective active plan
- Mark Pearson, Communities Unlimited
- Nonprofit expressed how important project is to the community
- Would like to hire a local CPA – perhaps out of Fort Davis
- Jackson – leadership in Toyah goes beyond the water system. Important for financials to be in good standing.
- Lake – must ensure the process is done right and appreciates all the hard work from the city.
- Motion Passed
Consider approving by resolution, a request from the City of Ballinger (Runnels County) for a six-month extension of the $3,393,435 commitment consisting of a $1,035,000 obligation and $2,358,435 in principal forgiveness in Resolution No. 17-009 from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), to finance planning, acquisition and design of an alternative water supply project.
Lee Huntoon, Executive Administrator Staff
- Planning, Acquisition, and Design Phase – city has not made a commitment yet.
- City is pursuing alternative federal funding – has an agreement with the city of Clide.
- Requesting a 9-month extension on previous TWDB agreement
- Bruun – mention of IEP, under that we are limited my 6-month extension, can you only do one?
- Rules were changed to allow more than one.
- Phillip Arp, City of Ballinger
- Expressed how important project is to the city.
- Jackson – two outstanding issues, funding for water rights and potential construction of pipeline funding.
- Bruun – could be most expensive water in the state.
- Motion Passed
Consider approving by resolution a request from the Bracken Christian School of Bulverde (Comal County) for $32,072 in principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to connect to Canyon Lake Water Service Company.
Dain Larsen, Executive Administrator Staff
- Motion Passed
Consider approving by resolution a request from the Greater Texoma Utility Authority on behalf of the City of Krum (Denton County) for $1,225,000 in financing from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for planning, acquisition, design, and construction of a new water well and appurtenances.
Luis Farias, Executive Administrator Staff
- Requesting 20-year loan maturity
- Jackson – some communities are not rated.
- GTA with all of their cities, help with financing
- Motion Passed
Consider approving by resolution a request from the City of Quinlan (Hunt County) for $1,890,000 2 in financing from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for planning, design, and construction of wastewater treatment plant and collection system improvements.
Luis Farias, Executive Administrator Staff
- Currently under TCEQ sanitary overflow agreement
- Treatment plant was constructed in 1980’s.
- Conducting sanitary overflow study is currently being done along with evaluating pumps
- Requesting 20 year maturity
- Jackson – shared that project will be based on outcome of the study, the main issue is currently exceeding 75% of need.
- Lake – thanked city for taking steps to get construction started.
- Bruun – last time funding was asked for was 1983, how was it found this time around?
- The community workshops and board members traveling have been helpful.
- Motion Passed
Consider approving by resolution a request from the Mustang Special Utility District (Denton County) for $3,555,000 in financing from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for the construction of a new elevated storage tank.
Luis Farias, Executive Administrator Staff
- Source of water comes from 8 wells
- Requesting 30 year maturity
- Jackson – could project meet the fast pace needs of the community?
- Yes.
- Bruun – community is in fastest growing part of the state
- Motion Passed
Briefing on a pilot initiative to offer assistance to smaller water and wastewater systems.
Mark Wyatt, Executive Administrator Staff
- Funding through the state revolving fund
- Systems will be installed on assistant computers
- $450,000 would be available
- will not include more than $75,000 per project for 5 years nor exceed 50,000 with assets conducted recently.
- Consult with TQEC for potential candidates that qualify by:
- Size
- Income of service area
- System operations
- Selecting system in each of the 6 regions – initial selection from the established list.
- Draft state revolving funds include the proposed use of fees
- Jackson – when traveling around the state, board shares information with communities along with seeking their input. Big cities have an asset management plan.
- To qualify, community has to be less than 5,000. Prioritization is there. For pilot, once needs to be selected.
- Anticipates TWDB staff to do a site visit under pilot initiative
- Lake – looks forward to seeing results
- Bruun – has seen a lot of positive comments with pilot. Concerned that there might be an issue disqualifying applicants due to past actions. However, would like to see more flexibility on qualification for pilot.
- Need a good candidate for the pilot. Doesn’t have a dollar match for funds. Ideal candidate would be one that is doing fairly well but just to lack of funding.
Briefing and discussion on water conditions in the state of Texas.
Dr. Carla Guthrie, Executive Administrator Staff
- Moderate drought occurs from south Texas through the panhandle along with one spot of severe drought in Cottle and Wheeler Counties.
- State Reservoirs are in good condition – 2017 storage is at 86.4%, lower than 2016
- Pattern where eastern systems are above 90%
- No new drought development
No Public Comments.
