The Courier of Montgomery County reports that in order to help with water infrastructure issues, Representative Will Metcalf and Senator Brandon Creighton have secured $15 million through the Texas Water Development Board for the city of Conroe. This action helped delay a city-wide moratorium on development.
According to Councilwoman Marsha Porter, the city found out about the $15 million late Thursday.
On Friday, during a special meeting, the city council unanimously voted against putting into effect a city-wide moratorium.
By a 3 to 2 vote earlier this month, the council agreed to go ahead with the plan to broaden the moratorium. This would include public hearings and another vote. Two “no” votes came from Mayor Pro Tem Harry Hardman and Councilman Howard Wood who wanted to put off the item to put together more information on the situation.
The council approved a 120-day moratorium back in August on all new residential and commercial development on the city’s north side. They extended it again in December.
The city is out of compliance with state water requirements, according to Assistant City Administrator and Director of Public Works Norm McGuire.
It’s required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that 85 percent of a city’s water capacity meets typical, current demand. This leaves 15 percent to take care of peak demand and unexpected situations.
The city is operating over capacity, according to Assistant Public Works Director Jason Miller.
The Texas Administrative Code, according to McGuire and Miller, has a requirement that says a city provide 0.6 gallons per minute for each connection to the system. Any single-family residential unit, commercial or industrial establishment is considered a connection.
To move closer to the 85 percent requirement, according to McGuire, involves requesting that TCEQ allow the city to reduce the 0.6 gallon per minute requirement. The request to TCEQ is still in a pending stage.
