By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
City Manager Shawna Burkhart has asked Val Verde County officials to consider helping
the city pay for “urgent and important” water and wastewater projects.
In a letter emailed to Val Verde County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr., dated Jan. 28 and
obtained by The 830 Times, Burkhart opened by saying the projects she is now tackling,
in her fourth month at the helm of the city, were identified and in some cases financed,
long before she arrived here.
“Let me preface the following email with facts that I can’t clearly explain,” Burkhart
wrote.
“The city has many water and sewer capital improvement projects that have been
financed and not moved on for many years. This is a responsibility that falls to many,
including prior city councils, city engineers/public works directors and city managers,”
she wrote.
Burkhart went on to say that “I and the current city council must accept the following
reality.”
Burkhart then wrote about “urgent and important water issues.”
She wrote, “After two or more years of drought conditions, our current water intake on
the West and East Springs of the San Felipe Creek will not be enough to sustain the water
needs of city, county and Laughlin Air Force Base residents.
“Thus, the city must finish bringing in a second water well that is already drilled and test
pumped. The city must also address the current conditions of the East Springs wall.
Finally, the city has an option to work with TCEQ (the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality) on certifying the use of the Agarita well for emergency purposes
and/or for blending into existing infrastructure.
“All of these options total $21 million. Option: Consider the sharing of costs between the
city, county and the EDC (the Del Rio Economic Development Corporation),” Burkhart
wrote.
Her email then addressed “urgent and important sewer issues.”
Burkhart wrote, “The Silverlake sanitary sewer line is at 100 percent capacity during high
flow times throughout the day.
“The city has $8 million financed to address Phase 1 from the Silverlake sewer plant to
Owens Drive. The city must still acquire easements under UPRR (Union Pacific
Railroad). The city’s engineers stated this week that it will allow the city to address one
pending development, but no more developments until Phase 2 (of the sewer line project)
is completed. This means the construction of new homes will be brought to a halt.
“The city has asked that our engineers model Phase 1 in order to prove that Phase 1 work
will not provide the city with more capacity than initially projected. If our engineers’
assumptions are correct, this will have a significant, negative impact on housing and
economic development north of Walmart over the next three years. (Emphasis
Burkhart’s.)”
She also wrote, “The second aeration basin/oxidation ditch at the Silverlake Wastewater
Plant must be expanded to include a vertical rise on the walls for more capacity. The
total cost of Phase 2 is estimated at $23.5 million, and the second racetrack
expansion is estimated to cost approximately $4 million. (Emphasis: Burkhart’s.)
Option: Full cost allocated to the city,” Burkhart wrote.
She wrote, “The grand total of water and sewer urgent and important issues is $48.5
million.”
Burkhart also wrote, “Please note that these two areas of concern could negatively impact
the viability of Laughlin Air Force Base. Consequently, the city, county, EDC and all
interested parties have a real and vested interest in creating a viable plan to ensure the
ongoing viability of Laughlin Air Force Base.
“Last night (Jan. 27), I toured the city’s water plant with the city council (and) advised
them on the water issues. I would like to extend an invitation to tour these projects to the
county commissioners court, the city’s EDC board, the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce,
the Del Rio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the city/county state and federal (elected)
representatives and any other interested parties. When might be a good time to schedule
this tour for the county commissioners court?” Burkhart wrote.
The city manager finished her missive as follows:
“Your consideration of these very weighty issues is greatly appreciated. I welcome sitting
down and visiting with you further on these issues.”
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
