January 19th, 2011
Hays County urges LCRA to delay water systems sale

STAFF REPORT

The Hays County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a resolution on Tuesday petitioning the Lower Colorado River Authority to postpone its plans to sell 32 LCRA-owned water and wastewater systems, one of which supplies water to residents of northern Hays County.

Pct. 4 Commissioner Ray Whisenant will present the petition to the LCRA board of directors at a meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 19.

The resolution cites lack of sufficient notification by LCRA about the sale to stakeholders, probable rate increases should the systems be sold as a block, and abdication of LCRA’s mission and abandonment of legal and other commitments to the various communities currently supplied with water and/or wastewater services by LCRA.

The resolution also states the county’s intent to form a coalition of interested parties to advocate on both a collective and individual basis on behalf of the citizens and ratepayers currently served by the LCRA systems. The resolution urges the LCRA to grant stakeholders the opportunity to negotiate to purchase a system that serves the stakeholders and grant “right of first refusal” to that stakeholder group.

The court also wants the deadline for completing negotiations extended to Dec. 31.