NEWPORT – The water district is attempting to deal with damage done by tropical storm Imelda, hold a public hearing for a tax hike October 17 to handle increases in expenses and propose a bond to repair old lines and facilities and expand capacities for future growth and regulatory requirements. A board hearing was held Friday at 2:00 p.m.
Damage by Tropical Storm Imelda includes a sink hole developing where a large drainage pipe is near the waste water treatment plant. There was more erosion at the Gum Gully trail than during Hurricane Harvey and a main broke at the lift station. Professional services were handling these on Tuesday. This on top of service of each of the hydrants in the neighborhood.
On Thursday, October 17, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. at 16410 Country Club Drive, Community Room (next to Fitness Room), at Stonebridge in Newport is the regular board meeting to concern itself with a tax increase. There is a possibility of a rollback.
An Open House is to be held on Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. to educate residents about a proposed bond that has recently been said to be for about $70,000,000 and is to repair much of the infrastructure of the neighborhood. Some of the lines are as old as 47 years, even though the Newport Municipal Utility District dates only back to the 90’s.
Controversy has been raised that the bond is too high and for too long a time. Also issues have been raised about the appraisal of the engineer of costs of water and sewer treatment facilities being less that speculated by the bond.
Newport’s consultants, on the issues, Touchstone, had hoped to publish a top ten questions and answers concerning this bond but approval of the answers was not completed by press time.