BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER PLANS FOR WATER TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION

  

The Brenham City Council will potentially begin planning efforts to expand the city water system’s treatment capacity at its meeting today (Thursday).

Councilmembers will consider a professional services agreement with Strand Associates not to exceed $110,000 for engineering services related to a water source evaluation and a water treatment plant expansion plan.  They will also vote on a consulting services agreement with R.W. Harden & Associates for a groundwater availability study costing no more than $24,500.

In December, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) conducted a compliance audit at the water treatment plant.  The audit found that the water system’s total production capacity had exceeded 85 percent of its existing capabilities.  The city says unless it increases the system’s treatment capacity, its ability to serve new residential and commercial customers is limited.

If the professional services agreement with Strand Associates is approved, the firm will evaluate water needs, alternative water sources and options to expand the city’s water treatment ability.  The evaluation would take six months to complete.  The timeline for the study, design and construction for water plant expansion is approximately five years.

Also at today's meeting, the council will:

• Receive a development services department update.
• Appoint members to serve on the city’s housing task force.
• Consider a resolution repealing and rescinding previous resolutions concerning the city’s gas fund and maintenance of cash reserves. It will then act on a resolution for a $1 million letter of credit with Bank of Brenham for gas fund reserves, with an annual fee of $12,500.  With rising gas prices and legal fees related to Winter Storm Uri, the city says it has become more challenging to consistently maintain the cash reserve balance required by its gas supplier, Municipal Gas Acquisition and Supply Corporation.  A letter of credit will satisfy the supplier’s requirements.
• Act on a resolution providing for a temporary moratorium on the application, receipt, processing, consideration, approval and/or execution of leases of city-owned real property at the Brenham Municipal Airport. The moratorium is to provide time to complete the Airport Master Plan.
• Consider an ordinance on its first reading to abandon the undeveloped portion of Live Oak Street bounded to the south by Sycamore Street and located to the east of the northeast intersection of North Chappell Hill Street and Sycamore Street,

The council will meet at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for today's meeting.