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The Texas Water Development Board met on July 7 to take up a number of items. The board approved financial assistance totaling $10,808,455 for water, wastewater, and flood projects. $264k went to Jackson County County-Wide Drainage District for a watershed flood protection planning study, $2.12m to the East Texas Municipal Utility District for water system improvements, $1.65m to the Riverside Special Utility District for water system improvements, and $6.78m to the City of Corrigan for a wastewater improvement project. The full agenda can be found here and an archive of this hearing can be found here.

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.

 

Item 1: Members discussed regarding outreach efforts and activities by the Board.

 

Item 2: Consider authorizing the Executive Administrator to negotiate and execute contracts with financial consulting firms for an amount not to exceed $1 million for the purpose of providing services through the CFO to GO program to selected financial assistance recipients of the Texas Water Development Board. (Dennis Kyhos)

  • Past three years TWDB has engaged public accounting firms for financial assistance
    • Need to re-up these partnerships
  • Authorization motion passes

 

Item 3: Consider authorizing delegation to the Executive Administrator the authority to purchase motor vehicles for the Texas Water Development Board fleet for a total amount not to exceed $300,000 for Fiscal Year 2022-23. (Kelly Burton)

  • To replace and upkeep aging vehicles
  • Authorization motion passes

 

Item 4: Consider authorizing the Executive Administrator to: (a) negotiate and execute contract amendments to complete the sixth cycle of regional water planning (2026 Regional Water Plans) in an amount not to exceed $12,801,852; and (b) transfer these funds with an additional amount not to exceed $165,000 to support anticipated regional water planning activities during development of the 2026 Regional Water Plans from the Water Assistance Fund to the Research and Planning Fund. (Sarah Backhouse)

  • Authorization of this cost would increase total this cycle to $15.6m
  • Total costs are considered anticipated total costs; assume legislative funding equal to current appropriation
  • Committed funds are currently appropriated and will be increased as planning goes on
  • $165k is unused funds from previous cycles; could be used to resolve inter-regional problems
  • Jackson – Good to see the regional water process moving forward since we have to tie science to planning to funding
  • Paup – Imperative to give regional volunteer resources they need
  • Authorization motion passes

 

Item 5: Consider appointing members and alternates to the Interregional Planning Council. (Sarah Backhouse)

  • New Council will be in place until the 2027 State Water Plan is adopted
  • Recommended 16 members and 16 alternates listed in the board memorandum
  • Motion to approve members and alternates passes

 

Item 6: Consider authorizing the Executive Administrator to negotiate and execute a contract amendment for a $263,925 increase in grant funding from the Flood Infrastructure Fund for the Keller Branch – Lavaca River Basin Flood Protection Study Option 2 project and authorizing the transfer of $263,925 from the Flood Infrastructure Fund to the Research and Planning Fund as authorized by Texas Water Code Section 15.534(a)(8). (Jenn Jackson)

  • Originally were given FIF grant funding December 2020; are expanding project area due to chronic flooding issues
  • Jackson – Intent of these funds is to have regions working together; support this and future mitigation projects
  • Paup – Agree, goal is to get communities to talk and work together
  • Authorization of contract amendment passes

 

Item 7: Approve by resolution, previously adopted Texas Water Development Board Resolution No. 18-125, as amended by Resolutions 19-029 and 19-048, to extend the City of Terrell’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund commitment period and loan closing schedule. and

Item 8: Approve by resolution, previously adopted Texas Water Development Board Resolution No. 18-124, as amended by Resolutions 19-029 and 21-118, to extend the City of Terrell’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund commitment period and loan closing schedule. (Clay Schultz)

  • Implementing water and wastewater projects; closed all but final commitments
  • Requesting 2 months extension for remaining commitments to December 2022
  • Board members discuss flexibility given to communities to meet their needs
  • Motion to adopt proposed resolution passes

 

Item 9: Amend by resolution, the previously adopted Texas Water Development Board Resolution No. 17-071, as amended by Resolution 19-013, to modify the City of Springtown’s State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas (SWIRFT) project scope. (Clay Schultz)

  • Previous 2017 commitment to Spring; state water plan did not include surface water treatment plan improvements
  • City asks to now include improvements to surface water treatment plans
  • Board members discuss the city’s dedication to get this project done
  • Motion to adopt proposed resolution passes

 

Item 10: Approve by resolution a request from the East Texas Municipal Utility District (Smith County) for $2,119,530 in financial assistance consisting of $1,496,000 in financing, and $623,530 in principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for planning, design, and construction of a water system improvements project. (Clay Schultz)

  • Planning, design and construction to replace aging water infrastructure
  • Also includes funds to create a water system master plan with new lines
  • Jackson – Good use of SRF funds to enhance reliability of system
  • Motion to adopt proposed resolution passes

 

Item 11: Amend by resolution the previously adopted Texas Water Development Board Resolution No. 15-077, as amended by 16-079, 17-083, 18-091, and 20-039 to modify the North Harris County Regional Water Authority’s State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas annual loan closing schedule. (Nancy Richards)

  • North Harris County Regional Water Authority’s has received $2b through several multiyear commitments from SWIFT
  • Recommend changes to loan closing schedules; close on $202m in 2022 and $106m in 2023
    • Offset funds 2028, 2029, and 2030
  • Jackson – Total amount of funds is the same, moving forward so they can use it now
  • Paup – Are an important partner with the TWDB
  • Motion to adopt proposed resolution passes

 

Item 12: Amend by resolution the previously adopted Texas Water Development Board Resolution No. 15-080, as amended by 16-106, 18-090 and 21-088, to modify the North Fort Bend Water Authority’s State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas annual loan closing schedule. (Nancy Richards)

  • North Fort Bend Water Authority has been given $895m through several multiyear commitments from SWIFT
  • Recommend loan closing schedule changes; defer funding scheduled to close in 2022 to 2023
    • Closing amount will increase $15m
  • Motion to adopt proposed resolution passes

 

Item 13: Approve by resolution a request from the Riverside Special Utility District (Walker County) for $1,650,000 in financial assistance consisting of $1,575,000 in financing and $75,000 in principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for planning, design, and construction of a water system improvements project. (Nancy Richards)

  • Deteriorated water system and not meeting water distribution standards
  • Funds are for planning, design and construction to drill new water well to replace two existing wells
  • Jackson – Glad to see communities to take advantage of emergency plans
  • Paup – How many have taken advantage of these funds?
    • 7
  • Motion to adopt proposed resolution passes

 

Item 14: Amend by resolution previously adopted Texas Water Development Board Resolution No. 20-068, as amended by Resolution No. 21-091, to modify the City of Corpus Christi’s State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas annual loan closing schedule. (Mireya Loewe)

  • In 2020 city received $222m multiyear commitment for planning and permitting for seawater desalination projects
  • Closed on the first $11m in that first year; completion of planning and permitting has taken longer than expected
  • City is asking for a second extension to loan closing schedule; currently fall 2022 to fall of 2023
    • Commitment expiration would now be December 31, 2023
  • Motion to adopt proposed resolution passes

 

Item 15: Approve by resolution a request from the City of Corrigan (Polk County) for $6,775,000 in financial assistance consisting of $2,450,000 in financing and $4,325,000 in principal forgiveness from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for planning, acquisition, design, and construction of a wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation and expansion project. (Bill Blaik)

  • City not meeting wastewater discharge parameters; will acquire new property to expand current treatment capacity
  • City will also create an asset management emergency plan
  • Jackson – Glad to see use of funding to get the management emergency plan together
  • Paup – Good to see community using all funds the board has to offer
  • Motion to adopt proposed resolution passes

 

Item 16: Public Comment and Item 17: Closed Session

  • The board did not receive any public comment and did not meet in closed session