Water supply resolution considered

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Feb. 12, 2004 -- Water was one of the agenda topics during several Northeast Texas city council meetings last week.

The cities of Annona, Avery, DeKalb, New Boston, Maud, Hooks, and Wake Village were to consider a resolution to create the Wright Patman Regional Water Supply Agency (WPRWSA) during their respective council meetings on Feb. 5.

The agency, according to the resolution, would establish an on-going relationship between the cities and would enable them to "collectively and cooperatively investigate, pursue, negotiate, and acquire additional water and wastewater facilities for the benefit of their existing and future citizens."

Currently the seven cities collectively have a lawsuit against the City of Texarkana and the Texarkana Water Utilities, claiming they have all been overcharged for water in recent years.

The resolution also gives the agency "power and authority to investigate, negotiate, and obtain permits and/or contract for water resources in the State of Texas or with any state, any Indian Nation or Tribe, and/or any other entity lawfully created, for the acquisition and transportation of water supplies to meet the existing or future needs of the agency and its members."

This statement caused concern from the opponents of the potential Marvin Nichols Reservoir.

"(The agency) will have the power to condemn land under eminent domain, to issue revenue bonds, to construct reservoirs and water treatment facilities, and to hold and transfer land," said Shirley Shumake. "Once it is established, the cities will be obligated to pay the costs of it out of the pockets of the taxpayers or the water rate payers."

The North East Texas Regional Water Planning Group (NETRWPG) is interested if the agency plans on building reservoirs and selling water.

NETRWPG Administrator Walt Sears said, "There is no pending request for consideration of a new reservoir."

Sears added, if there was a change regarding water, "I would affirmatively ask them to come before the water planning group ... not going to allow Senate Bill 1 to be by-passed. In the absence of no such request, this must be about forming an agency to work through their problems with the city of Texarkana."

The resolution, entitled "Resolution Authorizing Creation of the Wright Patman Regional Water Supply Agency Pursuant to Chapter 422 of the Texas Local Government Code," would give the participating entities the authority to collect, transport, treat and dispose of sewage and engage in the conservation, storage, transportation, treatment, or distribution of water.

Five of the seven cities (Avery, Annona, DeKalb, New Boston and Hooks) passed the resolution. Maud voted down the resolution 4-1. Wake Village canceled their meeting the afternoon of Feb. 5. When asked why the meeting was canceled, city officials said, "no comment."

Calls to the city halls regarding the agency were answered with, "no comment" due to a gag order on the issue in place by 76th District State Judge Jim White of Mount Pleasant.

"They (city council) are all convinced this is part of the lawsuit. There's not enough information about the agency to make a good vote on the issue," said Max Shumake, Sulphur River Oversight Society president. "We have a little more time to look at the agency, because there is plenty of room for questions and suspicion."