TWDB expects city to move forward with Aqua Texas plan

The Texas Water Development Board made it clear to the city of Wimberley that it expects the city to move forward with the Aqua Texas treatment plan for the Central Wimberley Wastewater Project.

City Manager Shawn Cox previously stated that he had asked the Texas Water Development Board if it was possible for the city to build its own wastewater treatment facility at this stage in the project. In a written response emailed on June 18, Dain Larsen, Central Region Team Manager for the TWDB, said they expect the city to continue on the Aqua Texas path.

“As stated at the March 28,2019 meeting, our expectation is that the City will move decisively to execute the approved change of scope (to go with Aqua Texas),” Larsen’s email said. “Furthermore, Section 8.07 of City Ordinance No. 2017-015 requires the City to comply with federal regulations to timely and expeditiously pursue the project and expend its bond proceeds. It is imperative that the City move forward now to expend its bond proceeds.”

The city still has to comply with the conditions the board put on the approval of the change of scope including an environmental finding and exchanging current revenue-backed bonds for tax-backed bonds.

The letter also states that the city has not yet “provided documentation that it has complied with” the required conditions of the approval. Cox said during the last city council meeting that the environmental determination will be posted publicly “very shortly.” He also said that negotiations for the needed easement are “currently being discussed between Sabino Ranch and Aqua Texas and that the city has not seen the necessary filings for the easement that would be needed at this point.”

A potential contact with Aqua Texas is expected to be presented to council “at an upcoming meeting,” according to Cox.

FULL LETTER FROM TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD

Mr. Cox:

On March 28, 2019, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved a request from the City of Wimberley to amend TWDB Resolution No. 16-032, changing the constructed project components for TWDB Project No. 73653. The Board’s approval allowed for the modification of the project scope removing a centralized, City-owned wastewater treatment plant, and adding a connection to Aqua Texas for wastewater treatment services. The Board’s approval also required the City to comply with all conditions of the final environmental finding and exchange refund its existing bonds held by the TWDB with a pledge of ad valorem taxes and net revenues of the proposed system.

The City has not provided documentation that it has complied with the requirements of the Board’s approval. As stated at the March 28,2019 meeting, our expectation is that the City will move decisively to execute the approved change of scope. Furthermore, Section 8.07 of City Ordinance No. 2017-015 requires the City to comply with federal regulations to timely and expeditiously pursue the project and expend its bond proceeds. It is imperative that the City move forward now to expend its bond proceeds. Please reach out to me… with a timeline for final implementation of the change in project scope

Dain Larsen,

Team Manager, Central Region