Mayor’s Corner: Next Steps

Good Morning,

It has been a few weeks since my last posting. As Mr. Sweat pointed out, his paper is unable to give free press for a political candidate, even if the candidate is the Mayor reporting city news. Yes, I have decided to run for seat on the Council, Place 3. The Mayor doesn’t normally get to vote on the Council, unless of course there is a tie. I can do more for you if I am able to vote. Unfortunately like the Mayor’s position the Council position is also a volunteer job. Therefore, with having to pay $300 to $400 an article, it is going to be somewhat expensive for me to give you a weekly update on city matters.

City News: Progress! The Waste Water Collection process is back on track. For the record the delay was not because of the cancelling of the treatment plant but because we did not have a shovel ready project from the start. Engineering for the location of the main lift station was being coordinated with TXDOT for the necessary permits. Last week our financing for a modification to the collection system was unanimously approved by the Texas Water Development Board, TWDB. We will however have to exchange the Revenue Bonds for Tax Base Bonds. The TWDB is using this opportunity to strengthen the financial security for the funding which they are providing. They have come to realized that the revenue from the handful of users was less than adequate. By law, Revenue Bonds can only be paid back with actual revenue from the funded project. The TWDB was initially willing to give us leeway by allowing us to transfer money from our General Fund (which is solely based on retail sales from our local business) to our Park Fund (which relies primarily on tourism). The Park would then purchase the effluent (processed waste water) from our city owned sewage treatment plant to water the park. This would have far exceeded the parks annual net profit! Having a $200,000 added annual expense is one heck of a water bill, especially for a Texas Native designed park. In addition, tourism would most likely have declined by having a sewage plant located in the middle of the park itself. Furthermore to make matters worse, the plant would have had a “discharge” permit to release effluent into the Cypress Creek during high usage. This would have been less than ideal for the Creek not to mention the Blanco River. Effluent although safe for human contact is high in Nitrogen which promotes algae growth. Bad for the fish and bad for maintaining pristine waters.

Instead of a plant in the park we will be contracting with Aqua Texas, an established professionally run processor far from any Creek or River bed. They operate with a “TLAP” permit, TX Land Application.

Timing, if all goes as planned we should have an operational collection system by midsummer, less than 90 days from the original target completion date.

In next week’s article I’ll share information about the endangered Golden Cheek Warbler which has been sited nesting in or around the park and what this may mean to the activity in the Park with regards to installing the sewage collection line. As a Bird Watching enthusiast and a member of the Audubon Society I support protecting the endangered bird.

I could use your financial support to keep these articles coming, if you are able to contribute, please mail your donation to 250 Blanco Drive. Election day is May, 7th. Given your vote I will not favor raising an ad valorem tax to cover the sewage collection project.

Mayor J

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