Mayor’s absences have impact on sewer system

We all are busy, so I appreciate that the City of Wimberley makes recordings of Council and Committee meetings available on the website, allowing us to keep up-to-date with what’s going on in the community. So I watched the August 20 budget workshop with dismay, as the Mayor appeared to be completely unaware of the direction the Council elected to go at the wastewater workshop earlier in the month.

At the August 20 meeting, during a conversation about the wastewater budget line items, the Mayor asked City Administrator Shawn Cox, “On the expenditures, where do you have on operating the new plant if there was one? Because you’re still basing this on not going to AT, right? You’re still basing all this on having a plant, or are you?” (beginning at time stamp 1:42:26)

After Mr. Cox replied that the budget numbers are for the Aqua Texas option, the Mayor replied, “So you’re good with that? I get confused because sometimes I think you’re still thinking the other way.” To which Council Member Barchfeld replied, “No, this was all worked out at the last meeting, Mayor.”

• The Mayor did not attend the June 17 town hall on the sewer system, which addressed citizen questions.

• The Mayor did not attend the August 8 Special City Council sewer workshop.

• During the wastewater update at the August 15 Council meeting, the Mayor appeared to be disengaged and distracted.

The wastewater issue is the most critical – and costly – issue facing our city. Mayor Jaggers initiated major changes to this project, which, in turn, caused the delays we are experiencing now. She is fond of saying the wastewater issue is a can that continues to be kicked down the road. But she is the one who is doing the kicking! If the Mayor is too busy to keep up with this critical issue, perhaps she should resign and let those who are committed to solving this problem do just that.

Cate Sitton