By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
City council members have approved an application for a $17 million loan from a state
fund for military communities for priority improvements to the city’s water
infrastructure.
City council members voted unanimously during their June 10 meeting to approve a
resolution authorizing City Manager Shawna Burkhart to apply for the loan from the
Texas Military Value Revolving Fund. The title of the resolution reads that the funds
obtained via the loan will be used “for the rehabilitation of the San Felipe Springs
containment wall and water treatment plant expansion to provide readiness and support to
Laughlin Air Force Base.”
Rehabilitation of the containment wall, which surrounds a pool of water created by the
San Felipe Springs East Springs, and the expansion of the city’s water treatment plant to
allow for more capacity were identified earlier this year as two of the top three priorities
for the city in regards to its water system infrastructure.
The text of the resolution notes the Texas Military Value Revolving Loan Fund, which is
administered by the Texas Military Preparedness Commission, “provides financial
assistance to communities for projects that enhance the military value of military
installations and surrounding defense communities.”
“The rehabilitation of the San Felipe East Springs wall and water treatment plant
expansion is essential to ensure the continued provision of a reliable water supply to the
community and to maintain the operational readiness of Laughlin Air Force Base,” the
resolution reads.
The resolution also states the city seeks to borrow a total of $17,003,580 from the Texas
Military Value Revolving Loan Fund.
Although the informational memo presented to the council along with the resolution
references an alternate municipal water well, which has been identified as the city’s top
water system priority, City Manager Shawna Burkhart told The 830 Times after the
meeting the resolution and the $17 million loan, if it is approved, will only go to fund the
reconstruction of the East Springs containment wall and the expansion of the water
treatment plant.
Burkhart said the city will apply to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) State
Water Implementation Fund (SWIF) for funds with which to pay for the second
municipal water well.
During the June 10 meeting, Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus, who presided over the meeting
in the absence of Mayor Al Arreola, made the motion to approve the resolution, with
Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez giving the second.
The motion to approve the resolution passed unanimously without questions by or
comments from council members.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com .
