City-owned treatment plant goes down the drain

The city-owned wastewater treatment plant is off the table after the Wimberley City Council voted to change the scope of wastewater project to “not have a treatment plant.”

The council subsequently voted to terminate the contract with Black Castle, which was the company hired to construct the plant, and allow the city’s attorneys to enter into negotiation with the company.

Council members Gary Barchfeld, Craig Fore, Patricia Cantu Kelly and Mike McCullough voted in favor of the change. Allison Davis voted against.

The four voting for change echoed similar sentiments when explaining why they voted to drop the city-owned system. Most of the comments were focused on the council member’s belief that the city-owned plant would result in discharge into the Blanco River and that the plant was not affordable.

“Forever,” Barchfeld said. “That is how long you will be polluting the Blanco River if you vote (for the city-owned plant).”

Davis argued that the city-owned option was more affordable and that the costs of changing to Aqua Texas were not accurate or vetted. She also said that the city-owned plan was more environmentally friendly.

“It is honoring our word, reusing our own wastewater, treating it to the highest standard and using it in away that benefits our community,” Davis said of the city-owned plant. “We have the land to reuse it responsibly.”

Fore said that he was struggling with the decision and said that both plans had flaws.

“My main objective is affordability and zero discharge, but I want to end the great divide,” Fore said. “I’m sick of this sewer. I am sick of living with and sleep with it. All I ever see, hear or talk about is the sewer, and I’m sick of it and I want to get it done and move on.”

After the meeting, multiple city officials said they were advised by their attorneys not to discuss what the next steps are in the process.

Former Mayor Steve Thurber said that he doesn’t believe the vote ends the discussion.

“Absolutely not,” Thurber said. “It is just beginning. They have a lot of work to do. As far as I know, they don’t have any money to do this plan. To my knowledge, the Texas Water Development Board has not given them approval to make this change. It is my opinion that they have violated several of the covenants in the bond documents. So it remains to be seen what happens there. They have a lot of things to do to get this done.”