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The Texas Water Development Board met on October 16 to take up a full agenda. The Board approved financial assistance totaling $18,335,000 for water and wastewater system projects. Of this funding, $13,835,000 was approved for rural projects, concluding $4.5 million to the City of Shoreacres (Harris County) for water and wastewater system improvements, $4.5 million to the City of Wills Point (Van Zandt County) for water system improvements, and $9,335,000 to the Creedmoor-Maha Water Supply Corporation (Guadalupe, Hays, and Travis counties) for water system improvements

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics the committee took up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the hearing, 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.

 

Opening Remarks

  • Jackson – Since last meeting: travelled to Ft. Worth to speak at International Right of Way Association luncheon, participated in drainage summit in Falfurrias
  • Paup – Since Last Meeting: Attended TML conference in Ft. Worth
  • Lake – Since Last Meeting: spoke at brush country Cattle Women’s Association, Met with Farm Bureau, met with Meadows Center, spoke at TML conference in Ft. Worth

 

Consider approving by resolution a request from the City of Shoreacres (Harris County) for $4,500,000 in financing from the Texas Water Development Fund for planning, design, and construction of water and wastewater system improvements.

 

Nancy Richards, TWDB Staff

  • Described Shoreacres in Harris County
  • Provides services to roughly 1,750 residences
  • Requesting financing to address water and waste water improvements including water transmission line, tank, citywide water meter replacement, etc.
  • Jackson – good to see a small community utilizing the resources of the board
  • Paup – last commitment was in 1980, good to see them coming back to the board
  • A motion to approve the resolution was made, seconded, and passed without objection

 

Consider approving by resolution a request from the City of Wills Point (Van Zandt County) for $4,500,000 in financing from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for planning, design, and construction of water system improvements.

 

Luis Farias, TWDB Staff

  • Described Wills Point
  • Has an aging water treatment plant that has been cited by TCEQ
    • Needs several improvements such as: rehabbing its waste discharge pond, filters to the treatment plant, etc.
  • Jackson – the work will increase the efficiency and integrity of the system, will provide value to the customers and increase reliability
  • A motion to adopt the resolution was made, seconded, and passed without objection

 

Consider approving by resolution a request from the Creedmoor-Maha Water Supply Corporation (Guadalupe, Hays, Travis Counties) for $9,355,000 in financing from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for planning, design and construction of water system improvements.

 

Dain Larsen, TWDB Staff

  • Will add water main from connection point to an elevated location, pipeline replacement, etc.
  • Will address expected population growth in the area
  • Expecting rate increase of $12 by 2020 to meet the expected debt service
  • Jackson – good project for a growing community
  • Paup – thanked the community for getting ahead of the expected growth
  • A motion to adopt the resolution was made, seconded, and passed without objection

Consider authorizing by resolution the Executive Administrator to seek a waiver from the Texas Bond Review Board on the maximum amount of the Economically Distressed Areas Program Bonds in a fiscal year.

 

Alexis Lorick, TWDB Staff

  • The need of the applications from the Economically distressed Areas Program is roughly $124 million
    • The need exceeds the remaining constitutionally authorized bonding ability of the board ($53 million)
  • In order to proceed with the applications a request must be sent to the Bond Review Board
  • The Bond Review Board must find that
    • There are not sufficient EDAP funds available for the fiscal year
    • There is an immediate need for issuance of EDAP bonds
  • This would be simply a request, review of the applications for assistance would come later
    • This would give sufficient time to consider this request
  • Paup – thanked staff for the hard work on this presentation
  • A motion to adopt the resolutions was made, seconded, and passed without objection

 

Consider approving Fiscal Year 2019 Allocation of Funds for Agricultural Water Conservation Grants in an amount not to exceed $600,000.

 

Cameron Turner, TWDB Staff

  • The projects eligible would include irrigation efficiency and system improvements
  • Grant application are due Wed. January 16, 2019
  • Jackson – have seen the value of this program
  • A motion to approve the allocation of funds was made, seconded, and passed without objection

 

The Board will receive comments from the public on any matters within the jurisdiction of the TWDB, with the exception of matters which are subject to the ex parte prohibition found in Texas Government Code Section 2001.061.

No public comment

 

Executive Session

No Executive Session