A decision on whether to purchase water from an outside source for the city’s planned multi-million-dollar upgrade still hasn’t been made.
City council members met Monday in regular session at City Hall to discuss a delay in receiving grant funding to start the project.
The council agreed to let a feasibility study proceed, something which should produce data allowing the city to finally make that decision.
Also, the council heard changes have been made in the city’s street-numbering ordinance and discussed priorities for the upcoming city budget.
WATER—Two water companies—Blue Water and EPCOR USA—made presentations in June on selling the city already treated water, alleviating the need for city facilities to provide treatment.
The council decided last month not to make that decision, saying it did not have enough “apples to apples” information to compare its options.
It still doesn’t.
City Manager Chris Whittaker said grant money from the Texas Water Development Board, which was supposed to have arrived this month, is now being delayed until August or September.
That means a study by KSA Engineers, which was to have been funded with that money, and which is expected to provide info to allow the council to make that “outside vs. local” water decision has not begun.
The council decided, rather than waiting for the delayed funds to have KSA start the survey and pay the firm when money comes in. Vote was 4-1 with council member Belinda Hillhouse voting against.
Whittaker phrased the issue as one of good faith with Rockdale residents, who have seen their water bills skyrocket to provide the bulk of funding for the massive water-sewer system overhaul.
“It’s actually the water board delaying the project,” Whittaker said. “But if we go along here for six months and customers still haven’t seen anything happen, we’re going to get some pushback.”
NUMBERS—Barbara Holly, city development services director, told the council that the city’s first house numbering ordinance had been revised after staff and public input.
Size of numbers to be required have been changed from six inches high to three inches high and numbers may now be placed anywhere “readily identifiable from the street.”
Holly said an education campaign will precede the ordinance going into effect.
PRIORITIES—The council reached a consensus to give priorities to streets and drainage/flooding issues in discussions on the 20192020 budget, scheduled to begin next month.
Mayor John King said a pay increase between 2.5 and 3 percent for city employees will be in the budget. Council members discussed linking performance to pay hikes through an evaluation process.
In other business, the council:
• Decided to purchase for $2,670, a piece of property near the Belton Avenue low-water crossing to improve drainage in that area.
• Heard council visitors Gary Griesbach and Collier Perry discuss two structures they said should fall under the city’s dilapidated structure ordinance for demolition.
• Agree to enter into a inter-local agreement with Milam County in an attempt to clean up the Thrasher property on East Cameron Avenue (US 79). See separate story, this page.
• Heard Whittaker report additional speed bumps are being considered at several locations around the city.
• Okayed city participation in a low-income housing program in which it’s anticipated the city’s matching requirements can be made through demolition of existing structures.
• Decided to further discuss the possibility of the city instituting a yard of the month program for Rockdale after noting the long-running effort by the Linwood Acres Garden Club has gone dormant. Another club will be approached first.
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