The Courier of Montgomery County reports that because of a 2021 utility agreement with Municipal District No. 183 the City of Conroe may step up a water and sewer project which will tack on more than $6 million to the city’s segment of the original project.
The complete cost of the project Conroe will be funding will be $8.5 million.
During their workshop meeting Wednesday, councilmembers talked about the amendment to its utility functions agreement with developer McComb Realty Limited but agreed to defer the item to let the staff get together more information.
Conroe’s original agreement, according to City Engineer Chris Bogert, was to be a partner with the district so each could fund half of the water and sewer plant for the 393 acre development located near FM 2854 and Old Highway 105.
To upsize the water and sewer lines to take care of future developments on the west side of the city, Bogert said Conroe agreed to provide just over $3 million in funds.
Back in 2020, Conroe gave the go-ahead to create the district. The voluntary annexation of the district was okayed by the council at the same session.
Bogert said, our “master plan calls for a water plant over there, but we feel we can serve the citizens better by routing through this subdivision and paying additional funds to upsize it at this time.”
Bogert also said because the developer has started construction on the new subdivision that will offer 1,580 homes, an urgency to act was created.
He also commented right now might not be the “best timing” to do this, but the developer wants to move ahead. Bogert said it was a “significant increase,” and said they’ve moved around some of their capital improvement projects and gotten together with their public works group to prioritize the project with other ones. Money from various line items in the budget will provide funds.
Bogert added that the original 10 to 12 inch lines will be changed to increase the capacity with 24 to 30 inch lines.
He said, viewing it in an extended perspective, it will cost less than running a new sewer treatment plant.
