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COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST
T
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MADE BY: William H. Williams
MEETING DATE: April 25, 2005
OFFICE: Commissioner, Pct. 2
TIME PREFERRED:
SUBJECT: (Please be specific). Consider, discuss and take appropriate action on
progress report detailing activities relating to the development of a Wastewater
Collection System for Center Point.
EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED:
NAME OF PERSON(S) ADDRESSING THE COURT: Commissioners Williams.
ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION: IO Minutes
IF PERSONNEL MATTER-NAME OF EMPLOYEE:
Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in
accordance with Title 5, Chapter 551 and 552, Government Code, is as follows:
Meeting scheduled for Mondays: 5:00 P.M. previous Tuesday
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY:
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED ON:
All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate
information has been prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court
meetings. Your cooperation is appreciated and contributes toward your request being addressed
at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rule adopted by Commissioners Court.
Memorandum
April 21, 2005
To: Commissioners' Court
From: William H. Williams, Commissioner, Pct. 2
Subject: Center Point Wastewater Collection Proiect
By Resolution, dated July 26, 2004, Kerr County Commissioners' Court
approved filing an application with the Texas Water Development Board for
Pre-Engineering Design Funding for a Wastewater Collection System for the
unincorporated community of Center Point.
Assistance in developing the application with supporting maps and data of
the proposed project has been provided Pro Bono by Tetra Tech
Engineering. The CP primary project area is approximately 1,566 acres, or
2.447 square miles. Within this area upwards of 500 residential and
business sewer connections is anticipated when completed, all of which are
currently served by on-site septic facilities; many of them failing, and most
of them out of compliance with current State standards.
The Kerr County application to the Texas Water Development Board is 95%
complete. Filing awaits communication from TWDB that sufficient funds
are still available in their current budget, (Disadvantaged or Hardship
Community Funds), or that by awaiting the new budget year better results
could be expected.
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Interestingly, HB seeks to permanently establish the Disadvantaged
Communities Program through TWDB, and I have been in contact with Rep.
Hilderbran's office regarding this legislation that can be beneficial to our
efforts.
The demographic study of the proposed service area authorized by
Commissioners' Court, when completed, established the Median Household
Income at $26,000. This figure proved to be well below the figure
established by the 2000 Census for the entire census block identified as
"Center Point." However, compared with the State of Texas Median
Household Income of $39,927 established in 2000, and adjusted for inflation
to $44,007 in 2004, we can qualify this application for not more than 50%
grant money, with the remainder of what is required to come from matching
funds-from whatever source.
Preliminary Engineering Design costs are estimated at $121,770. Based on
TWDB's established formula, we can anticipate $60,885 in SCHP or DCP
Grant Funds, and the balance ($60,885) to come from the TWDB low
interest Loan Program-which must be repaid with matching funds.
The estimated cost of the CP WW Project ranges from $3.6 M to $4.4 M,
depending on which direction the wastewater is taken for treatment. The
lesser cost would be if we take the effluent northwest to the City of Kerrville
sewer stub at Airport Commerce Park. The more expensive option would be
to take the effluent southeast to Comfort for treatment. The preliminary
engineering will provide more detailed information on these options. In
analyzing this information when the Preliminary Engineering is completed,
we must not lose sight of the need to keep end-user costs to a minimum, plus
deciding which option provides the greatest amount of long-term economic
benefit to Kerr County.
This is a major undertaking that will take all of our collective will, ingenuity
and creativity to make it happen. However, the long-range benefits to Kerr
County are enormous in terms eliminating adverse environmental impact
from that region of the Guadalupe River watershed and area groundwater
resources; improving the quality of life for several hundred Kerr County
citizens; and improving and sustaining long-term economic development for
Eastern Ken County.
To make this happen, Kerr County needs partners.
Who might they be? For openers, they might be:
• Tegas Water Development Board
• USDA, through its Rural Utilities Services program
• CDBG and Colonies grants
• Upper Guadalupe River Authority
• Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority
• Lower Colorado River Authority
• Others (unidentified).
Who has shown interest?
In meetings I have had with each of those identified, the Texas Water
Development Board, USDA-RUS, UGRA, GBRA, and LCRA have all
evidenced major interest in the project. As soon as we obligate existing
CDGB and Colonias grants awarded for the Kerrville South WW Project, we
again will be eligible to explore other grant opportunities through ORCA for
the Center Point Project. Preliminary Design Engineering is an absolute pre-
requisite for filing an application with USDA-RUS.
Prior to engaging in discussions with GBRA and LCRA, I inquired of
UGRA whether or not they were in a position to commit to the CP WW
Project; or whether they would object to my soliciting interest in the project
with either of the other river authorities. I was advised to proceed with
discussions, and keep them advised. Former UGRA GM Greg Etter
participated with me in the initial discussion with LCRA. My most recent
meeting with the UGRA Executive Committee was Tuesday, April 12, and I
have been invited to make a presentation to the full board on Apri127.
At my meeting with the Executive Committee, I brought them up to date on
my various discussions; made an informal request for their participation in
the matching grant money required for Preliminary Engineering* required
by TWDB; advised them of the scope and estimated cost of the project; and
that GBRA has expressed serious interest in partnering with Kerr County to
make this project become a reality. I have not pursued further discussions
with LCRA, although they continue to express interest in the project.
I have met with Barry Brandenberg of the Comfort WC&ID to explore their
interest in treating the CP Wastewater. Mr. Brandenberg was very interested
in this project, and their WW treatment plant has sufficient excess capacity
to handle any flow coming out of Kerr County.
On April 12, Commissioner Letz and I met with a representative of GBRA,
and reviewed the potential hookups available and proposed that could result
if the transmission line went east to Comfort.
On Apri120, I was a guest at the GBRA Board of Directors meeting. I had
the opportunity to meet members of the Board and Staff, and learn of their
interest in this project.
We've learned from the experiences gained in the Kerrville South
Wastewater Project that (1) sewer projects take a long time, and (2) they are
fraught with unanticipated problems that cause delay.
What's needed at this point?
It would be helpful to have an expression of support from Commissioners'
Court with authorization to explore any and all of the possibilities noted in
this memorandum that could lead to Memorandums of Understanding and/or
Definitive Agreements with Kerr County for funding, construction,
ownership and operation of the Center Point Wastewater Project.
* After UGRA settled its lawsuit with the City of Kerrville over the residue
of the dam failure settlement funds, the Board of Directors at this time
earmarked $50,000 for wastewater planning for both Ingram and Center
Point. I believe the UGRA Board recently agreed to give some of the money
earmarked for the Ingram WW project. I reminded the XC of that earlier
commitment, and requested consideration for Center Point.