We did not think to ask about those little add on costs such as all the mailed invitations to dignitaries for the Turn on the Surface Water Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting
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UPDATE: From 2 commenters, below. Read all comments, or add your own, by clicking on the comments button at the bottom of the story.
" . . . My point is that Wimberley didn't act when many of the surrounding cities created governmental associations for their water needs. I'd rather have my water in the hands of a non-profit government rather than a private corporation."
"My heart really bleeds for the citizens of Wimberley that may have to pay a little more for their water:) My water/sewage bill in Woodcreek North was $165 for 3,300 gallons, last month. Our supplier is Aqua-Texas. It is our wonderful “non-profit government” that lets them get away with it!"
By Bob Ochoa
RoundUp Editor
A chance encounter with a Kyle city official the other day brought this news on the water supply front for Wimberley: "The opportunity is there," he said. "They just need to tell us what they want."
This particular official is one who knows what he is talking about. He has been involved in the whirlwind discussions of late involving officials from Wimberley, Klye, Buda, San Marcos, Hays County, the GBRA and the offices of State Rep. Patrick Rose and Sen. Jeff Wentworth.
The discussions now appear to have entered the negotiating stage. Or, if you will, the big players are gathering round the high stakes table – and the dealer is shuffling the cards. How much water does Wimberley want, for how long, and what size bankroll has it brought to the table?
Kyle right now is in an enviable position of having more water than it needs from multiple sources. One of its largest sources is wheeled through San Marcos via Canyon Lake. Once upon a time, Wimberley was offered its own supply from Canyon Lake but failed to move on it. Today, the stakes have become far more expensive for the city.
Wimberley Mayor Tom Haley (who in his day job doubles as general manager of the Wimberley Water Supply Corporation – the two hats the mayor wears is what is commonly described as a conflict of interest) recently confirmed that the parties are getting down to crunching the numbers. The mayor volunteered it would cost an estimated $19 million to build the pipeline and associated infrastructure into Wimberley. We're not sure yet if that includes high rise water towers. Adding in new costs, Haley said end users would be paying in the range of $8 per thousand gallons – three times more than Wimberley Water's current going rate.
We did not think to ask about those little add-on costs like all the mailed invitations to dignitaries for the Turn on the Surface Water Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting.
It is now emerging that a new water source is on its way to Wimberley to give our aquifer some relief. In all likelihood, it is no longer a question of IF, but WHEN. Of course, much will depend on if the city and its silent partners can meet the ante.
No doubt this is a crucial round in the region's water poker contest. It is probably not a stretch to guess that, for some players, this new water supply hand at the table will turn up as an ace high full house. Alert citizens should be asking many important questions.
Perhaps the first question should be directed to the Mayor & General Manager Haley himself: "Which comes first for you, mayor, the interests of the citizens, your water company and its customers, or the pent up demand from developers desperate for a new source of water to get their projects off the ground, and could grow a whole lot more customers for your water company?"
Any and all with an ounce of interest in this matter will get a chance to offer their thoughts at a community meeting next week, Wednesday, April 15, 7-9 p.m., at the Wimberley Community Center. The gathering is being organized by Hays County as part of a $200,000 countywide water and wastewater study. Be there or be square.
Maybe the mayor will be in attendance and will give us all a quick update on how his card game is going.
11 comments:
Why did Wimberley wait so long to get into the water game? San Marcos, Kyle, and Buda have long been working on water solutions together.
That's not the point, Katie. The point is Wimberley residents will be paying much higher water rates while the local businesses benefit. A taxpayer subsidy if you will. It is similar to the big bad banks getting bailed out with taxpayer money. It is the new local version of thirsty crony capitalism feeding at the public funds water trough. Get it Katie? Get it Wimberley?
Yes, I do get it. My point is that Wimberley didn't act when many of the surrounding cities created governmental associations for their water needs. I'd rather have my water in the hands of a non-profit government rather than a private corporation. Get it Drowned?
Got it Katie. Hey, let's meet at lonelyblogger.com so we can get all wet waiting for the locals to get smart.
My heart really bleeds for the citizens of Wimberley that may have to pay a little more for their water ;) My water/sewage bill in Woodcreek North was $165 for 3,300 gallons, last month. Our supplier is Aqua-Texas. It is our wonderful “non-profit government” that lets them get away with it! Get It?
You can make a difference. Get involved and encourage your city to find a not-for-profit solution to the water debacle. There a many around and I, personally, feel better having my water out of the hands of big business.
Katie, Drowned and Anonymous are stating the growingly obvious: our local elected officials both at the city and county level are simply not smart enough to come up with good solutions to the complex issue of water. Instead, they suck up to business development and real estate interests who have the money to fund their campaigns -- thinking that "growth and development" will somehow bring the water. In the meantime, companies like Aqua Texas sit in the wings waiting for sleazy sub-devision developers to contract with them -- who in turn force new home buyers to sign with and be ripped off by Aqua Texas. Any real estate agency or agent who cares about the Wimberley Valley should refuse to sell properties for such sub-division developers. But they won't - because they are caught up in the same ignorant, greedy carousel as our local public officials.
Sustainable-
Do you really believe that growth should not occur? That's living in fantasy land. If you don't want growth move to the northeast where everyone is leaving for the southern states. And, by the way, government officials at the county level and in Buda, Kyle and San Marcos have established governmental entities to secure water in the future. Wimberley was too cheap to get on board a few years ago.
Wimberley is a small valley with a major drought hitting it as we speak. To even think of adding new subdivisions at this time is ridiculous. If Anonymous above doesn't care about our increasingly crucial water problem and is OK with letting irresponsible developers suck it up, then he/she should move to some community that has nothing but cheaply made houses on .20 acre lots. Let's get a sane and smart water infrastructure before we get on the increasingly mindless and short-sighted "growth" bandwagon. Growth should come in smart spurts, not all the time. Currently, we already have too many unsold houses in Wimberley. We don't need another subdivision now. Get real, Anonymous (2).
None of you all seem to get it. It's not that "growth and development will somehow bring the water." It's just the opposite: Bringing in surface water will bring growth and development.
If you're anti-growth, the status quo is the best weapon you have. Control water pumping (e.g., support Chapter 36 for the HTGCD) and you control growth.
If surface water comes in, though, (e.g., from LCRA), there'll be plenty of water--albeit relatively expensive water--and nothing to stop development.
Remember that the "high end" folks that want to retire up here from Houston aren't especially concerned about the PRICE of water, they're concerned about the AVAILABILITY of water.
Precisely #10! If you bring it (water) they will come! If what we have right now (this very day) are irresponsible developers and water pirates literally in charge of our aquifer try to imagine what the carnage to our community will be once surface water is piped in? Why aren't our elected officials trying to protect OUR water from these gluttons? There can only be one answer...cha ching!
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