The Brown County Water Improvement District (BCWID) approved new wholesale water rates for both treated and untreated water as well as the budget for their fiscal 2010-2011 year on Tuesday night.
The district’s Board of Directors was presented with and approved a $2,635,500 budget for the next fiscal year which is an increase of 3.65% over the current fiscal year. The new budget allows for the purchase of two new vehicles, a lawn mower, a computer, a boat for the lake patrol, employee pensions and cost of living pay raises.
The board also approved wholesale water rates of $1.1970 per 1,000 gallons of treated water ( a 2 cent or 2.04% increase), and $.692 per 1,000 gallons of untreated water (.4% increase). These wholesale rates are the prices the Water Improvement District sells water for to municipalities and other water suppliers. Cities which purchase water from the district adjust their water rates annually depending on the wholesale rate that is offered to them. Brownwood, Bangs, and Early will likely adjust water rates to customers to reflect in new rates during their own budgeting process.“We were asked by the city of Brownwood to hold the budget to the bare minimum,” BCWID General Manager Dennis Spinks said. “I think this is the bare minimum.”
The district’s new fiscal year starts in September.
Spinks also commented that the district plans to replace an open canal that runs through the Camp Bowie area. The line will need to be replaced to provide water to the proposed power plant under development by Mesquite Fuels and Agriculture. The line is 5423 feet long and will cost approximately $92,800 to replace. This will be paid for from the districts surplus and not out of the regular maintenance and operation budget.
The BCWID also addressed the following agenda items Tuesday night:
*The board approved a redetermination of an annual rental rate for lots D, D1, and D2 in the Spillway Subdivision of Lake Brownwood. The rate increased from $576/year to $2136/year which reflects an increase in the appraised value of the property according to the Brown County Appraisal District.
*The board granted Consent to Mortgage property on McCartney Island where the seller is going to finance part of the note.
*The board granted a variance to William Shive regarding the moving of his dock in Rocky Cove. Shive said that he was working on remodeling his dock when it was discovered that the dock was several feet over in front of his neighbor’s property which is against BCWID regulations. Shive said that not only would the moving of the dock cost him $4000, but would also leave concrete and metal anchors in the lake that could be a potential hazard. He also said that the dock had been in its current location for over 75 years. After a lengthy discussion, the board granted the variance to the rules on moving this dock.
*Don Benedict from the Lake Brownwood Community Development Council requested that the BCWID review its rule for the requirement of having a stiff-arm due to the cost of installing them when required. He asked that the district look at alternatives to the rule. The board of directors agreed to review the rules through a committee.
*The board agreed to review a request of an owner to rock a concrete wall which would normally be a violation of the rules. The rock work would improve the appearance of the property.
*The board approved 6 contracts with non-waterfront land owners to sell water to them from Lake Brownwood.
* The board terminated a contract with Crescent Constructors Inc. with a termination cost of $170,399.97 for work that was completed.
