MYRIAM GONZALEZ
The Walnut Creek Special Utility District board of directors met Tuesday, Jan. 20, to review and provide updates on ongoing construction projects as well as the pending agreement with West Fork Public Utility Agency now that the new year is well underway.
At the start of the meeting, board member Stephen Rorai began a discussion regarding a recommendation from the Texas Rural Water Association regarding public commentary of government officials. Rorai presented paperwork in which TRWA affirms citizens do, in fact, have the right to criticize government officials, bringing into question WCSUD’s own compliance. After some discussion, the board agreed to look further into the matter to ensure it is in compliance.
Moving along the agenda, WCSUD Assistant General Manager Perry Day made his way to the podium to provide an update on the water meter project. Day said a few gateways were having power issues because they were on the same plug as a heater, causing them to go offline. However, he confirmed that an electrician was sent to replace the plugs, bringing the gateways online and resolving the issue.
Day continued, updating on the number of meters and meter interface endpoints (MIE) remaining to be installed. According to his last inspection, zone two has 427 meters and 1754 MIEs, zone three was “going full force” and zone four has 120 meters and 177 MIES remaining. Day stated he expects the project to be completed by summer. In addition, General Manager James Blackwood added there have been 568 service orders since the last board meeting with 374 line locates and eight water leaks reported, as well.
During a December board meeting, WCSUD agreed to enter into an agreement with WFPUA, making them the last of 14 entities to do so. This move caused a delay that made the other 13 entities revise their already submitted agendas. According to Blackwood, after revisions from their attorneys, the other 13 entities have until March 31 to resubmit the amendments, which will be forwarded to the WCSUD board before its final decision April 30. Secretary Tom DeGeer asked who WCSUD will appoint as its representative to the WFPUA.
“They've changed some of the rules so that it could not be an elected official. Now they have made it where it would actually be OK for one of the board members here to be on that,” Blackwood responded.
Blackwood said the job calls for a person with a strong grasp of water‑system issues and upcoming demands.
“We do need to make sure we have someone who has an idea of what's going on, has worked with bonds, maybe and worked with all of these different things, because otherwise you're going to get someone in there who's afraid to say, ‘you can't have that.’ You have got to be able to speak up and say what, you know, you think is going to need to happen to get your voice heard. Otherwise, being a board member won't be any good,” Blackwood said.
Until then, WFPUA will continue the momentum by holding its first open forum board meeting at the Decatur Conference Center, slated Jan. 28. at 6 p.m. located at 2010 W. State Highway 380. For more information, please visit westforkpublicutilityagency.net.
