Maverick County Water Control & Improvement District No. 1 Board address key issues

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

The Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 (MCWCID) Board of Directors held their monthly meeting on Tuesday,June 10, 2014, at  the MCWCID No. 1offices located at 1622 Maverick Industrial Park Road in the Maverick County Industrial Park (Radar Base) in Eagle Pass, Texas, addressing key issues.

During Recognition of Visitors, George Baxter and Martha Baxter addressed the Board of Directors regarding Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s request for three licensing agreements over Lateral 20 in the District.

The Board unanimously approved the minutes of the April 28, 2014 Special Meeting and the May 13, 2014 Regular Meeting.  The Board also unanimously approved the Accounts Payables.

During the General Manager’s Docket, General Manager Cynthia Martinez advised the Board regarding the Amistad Lake and Falcon Lake levels and water consumption; the hiring of an Administrative Assistant and the vacancy of a water accountant position; a future meeting with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Watermaster Office on July 8th; proposed changes to the District’s retirement plan; water delivery rates will be reviewed during the Budget process; and the possibility of revisiting employees group health benefits. The Board approved to publishing a Request for Proposal for Group Health Insurance Services.

Another agenda item unanimously approved was the District’s Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual revisions and final draft done by the Policy Committee.

The Board also unanimously approved the publication of a Request for Proposal for purchasing a new Backhoe for the El Indio area of the District and another Request for Proposal for Depository Banking Services for the District.

The MCWCID No. 1 went into Executive Session to consult with general counsel to discuss several items including three license agreements with Dos Republicas Coal Partnership concerning the construction of temporary bridges and road over three locations on Lateral 20; the water use fee dispute with the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority (Maverick County Landfill); delinquent accounts and installment agreements; contract status of the On-Call Engineering Services; and personnel matters.

Upon the Board of Directors return into Open Session, the Board approved the hiring of a surveyor, title examiner, and hourly fee payment to general counsel on matters related to Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s three license agreements; authorized the General Manager and General Counsel to continue negotiations with the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority regarding the water fee use dispute; stopping accrued interest on District delinquent water accounts for those who execute and enter into an installment payment plan subject to their compliance with said agreement; no action taken on the engineering services contract; and approved the General Manager’s requests regarding personnel matters.

On the water use fee dispute with the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority, Board member Xavier Mancha raised his objection on the record, joined by Board member Yolanda Mauricio, regarding any agreement with the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority for an amount less than the amount owed for the water used by the Maverick County Landfill administration during a two year period.  “I feel that the water was taken illegally and make it a matter of record that no negotiation should be done because that water belongs to the farmers of Maverick County. So whatever agreement comes between the landfill and the MCWID is not going to be a true picture of what they took,” said Board member Mancha.  Board member Yolanda Mauricio concurred with Mancha’s sentiment on this matter.

When President Travis Kelly  called the item for a vote, Mancha and Mauricio voted against while Kelly, Board members Marcelino Perez and Beyer Junfin voted in favor of authorizing the General Manager and General Counsel to continue negotiations with the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority on a possible amicable settlement agreement.