Using the strongest language yet to describe Rock-dale’s decades-old water problems, City Manager Chris Whittaker told a packed house at City Hall Monday evening Rockdale’s water system is “failing.”
“It’s more than red water,” Whittaker said, noting that since January, 2015, the system has logged 1,226 line breaks and 46 main (primary line) breaks.
In a lengthy agenda at City Hall, the council also approved the Sumuel Park splash pad and discussed perceived communication problems with the Municipal Development District.
SYSTEM FIX—Many in the crowd wanted to talk about red water, and how much it will cost to fix it. Whittaker obliged and pointed out the problem is two pronged.
“You have to address both the water treatment and condition of the pipes,” he said.
He noted recently the elementary campus had to dismiss early because of a city water system problem.
“It was spilling 850 gallons per minute out into the street,” Whittaker said.
But recent developments may have given the city a chance of obtaining the huge amount of funds to provide the system overhaul.
As was reported in the Aug. 9 Reporter, Rock-dale has submitted plans to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) for $45,090,000 in water system and $14,055,000 for wastewater system improvements.
And Rockdale appears to have scored high enough in both applications, 50th of 130 in water and 28th of 104 in sewer, to have some hope.
NEXT STEP—Whittaker said the state has told him “the money is there” and Rockdale’s case for getting some of it has been helped with its recent designation as a “disadvantaged community,” 70 percent for water and 50 percent for sewer.
Help could come in the form of loans or even loans that are “forgiven” by the state, essentially grants.
Whittaker said the city is in the process of “checking the boxes” as it moves forward, currently on the water side.
But he noted the council will have to make some decisions, including the amount to request and the scale of adjustments to water and sewer rates.
A Sept. 24 special council session was set to discuss those issues.
Whittaker said the city probably should “submit for everything” (the entire $40-million-plus) and then the council can come up with a realistic project as the process moves ahead.
He said the Sept. 24 session will deal only with the water system application, not the sewer submission.
SPLASH PAD—On a 5-0 vote the council decided to proceed with the splash pad at Sumuel Park.
Eighty persons packed the council chambers Aug. 27, most of them in support of continuing the project, which had been put on hold due to cost concerns, after a ground breaking ceremony was held Nov. 4, 2017.
The only provision in Monday’s motion was that any cost overruns must come back to the council for action.
COMMUNICATION— In a workshop to discuss “MDD priorities” Mayor John King said he wanted the MDD to share its information with the council on business recruiting.
“I would like to have advance notice, not read it in the paper,” King said.
The mayor did not reference details but The Reporter broke the story of Bitmain coming to the former Alcoa smelter on July 26.
Dr. John M. Weed, MDD president, said directors had to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
Council members re-appointed four MDD directors Monday, two of them on split votes.
Dr. Weed was re-appointed on a 3-2 vote with Nathan Bland, Doug Calame and Joyce Dalley in favor, Richard Coppedge and Denise Holmes-Wallace against.
Councilman Jason Barcak was absent.
Dr. Denise Monzingo was re-appointed on a 4-1 vote. Coppedge voted against, the others in favor.
Allan Miller and Lisa Benford-Roberts were re-appointed unanimously.
Rebecca Vasquez was nominated. That nomination failed with Coppedge and Holmes-Wallace voting in favor and Bland, Calame and Dalley against.
PALM TREES—Council visitor Deta Donnelly asked if the council was still in a mode of “no non-essential spending” and cited the recent addition of six palm trees to Veterans Park and large stone blocks at that park and several other locations around town.
In other business Monday, the council:
• Set the tax rate at 91.18 cents, same as the current rate.
• Emerged from a 40-minute long executive session to employ attorney Barney Knight in connection with litigation involving the city.
Whittaker said the suit is being brought against the city by a construction firm in connection with the abandoned Pari Olefins project at the industrial park.
• Okayed a request to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to close FM 487 (Main Street) between US 79 and Milam for the Oct 6 Fall Music Festival.
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