Weatherford Municipal Utility Board Regular Meeting - July 24, 2025
Weatherford Municipal Utility Board Regular Meeting - July 24, 2025
The Weatherford Municipal Utility Board met on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 12:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included service awards, approval of consent agenda items, a public hearing on the 2024 Water Quality Report, a presentation on the Water and Wastewater Master Plan Update (postponed to August), approval of Guaranteed Maximum Price #3 for the water plant expansion, and a discussion on future GAC contactors. Staff provided updates on the Lake Weatherford Trail System and the quarterly performance dashboard. The meeting adjourned at 1:17 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of the June 26, 2025, meeting with one recusal.
- Authorized a professional services contract with Dunaway Associates for the 2026 Water and Wastewater Rehabilitation project design not to exceed $191,100.
- Authorized expenditure of up to $155,000 with Off Duty Excavation, LLC for aggregate materials.
- Approved Resolution R2025-09 amending the FY25 Utility Budget.
- Awarded RFP 2025-011 for substation battery inspection, testing, and maintenance to RMS Energy Company, LLC for $16,841 with a not-to-exceed amount of $126,548.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during the public hearing on the 2024 Annual Water Quality Report or during citizen comments on non-agenda items.
Discussion Items
- Service Awards (Item 4a): John Van Dyck was recognized for 10 years of service as a meter technician and metering supervisor. Joe Farley, Director of Electric Utilities, was recognized for 25 years of service.
- Water and Wastewater Master Plan Update (Item 8a): The board postponed adoption until the August meeting to allow members to review the 460-page document. Staff and consultant Jessica Brown presented highlights, including a projected 69% population growth over 25 years, risk-based assessments of water/wastewater lines, and a capital improvement plan. The board requested additional timeline information from staff.
- Water Plant Expansion – GMP #3 (Item 8b): The board approved an amendment with Webber Waterworks, LLC for Guaranteed Maximum Price #3 in the amount of $23,597,528.80, increasing the total contract value not to exceed $52,973,109.05. The work includes the new filter process building, rapid mix vault, chemical improvements, and piping. The schedule remains unchanged, with the new filter building operational by end of summer 2026.
- GAC Contactors #7 and #8 Discussion (Item 8b): The board discussed constructing a separate building for contactors #5–#8 to reduce risk and cost. Building the structure for all four contactors now would add $1.7 million today but save $1.3 million in future costs (estimated $7.3 million total vs. $8.6 million if built separately later). The board directed staff to proceed with design and limited construction for contactors #7 and #8, using existing design funding.
- Lake Weatherford Trail System Update (Item 9a): Staff reported 30% design completion for an 8,600-foot, 10-foot-wide hike-and-bike trail along the south side of the lake. Final design is expected in October 2025, with construction estimated at $4 million and a nine-month timeline. No funding source has been identified; the board requested exploration of grants and connection to Quanta Hill for potential phase two.
- Quarterly Performance Dashboard (Items 9b):
- Electric: Residential rate of 13 cents/kWh (34 months), 30% below national average. System reliability metrics (CAIDI: 65 minutes, SAIDI: 35 minutes) well below regional and national averages.
- Water/Wastewater: Combined rates 17% below average; water cost $6.92/1,000 gallons, wastewater cost $7.21/1,000 gallons. Non-revenue water was discussed, with a new satellite leak detection program showing 80% hit rate on identified leaks. The board noted a year-to-date deficit in wastewater operations of $1.3 million and inquired about rate adjustments.
Key Outcomes
- Approved consent agenda items (6a–6d) and minutes (5a) as presented.
- Approved Guaranteed Maximum Price #3 for the Dr. Paul Phillips Water Purification Plant Expansion (Item 8b) – motion by Tom Novak, second by Ken Davis, passed unanimously.
- Directed staff to proceed with design and limited construction of GAC contactors #7 and #8 as part of the water plant expansion, with additional cost of $1.7 million today and future savings of $1.3 million.
- Postponed adoption of the Water and Wastewater Master Plan Update to the August meeting.
- No action taken on the 2024 Water Quality Report public hearing (informational only).
Meeting Transcript
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here today before we call the meeting to order. We're gonna have our invitation invited Father Joe Keating of Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish forward to lead us invocation. Father, we're so thankful that you're here today. Thank you. Thanks for having me. Let us pray in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. May the Lord who went about doing good be with you all. God is love. And in the desire to make us share in this love, he sent his son into the world to come to our aid and in gentle kindness to help those who are weak, sick, or unfortunate. In his great love for all of us, Christ said that whatever we do for the least among us, we do for him. He called those who show mercy blessed of his father and promised them eternal life. Let us then pray for the Lord's richest blessings on the members of this organization, the utilities board, who are devoted to helping their brothers and sisters. Brothers and sisters, listen to the words of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. Jesus said to his disciples, When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate them from one another. As the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, he will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, come. You who are blessed by my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. A stranger, and you welcomed me, naked, and you clothed me, ill, and you cared for me, in prison, and you visited me. Then the righteous will answer him and say, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you drink. When did we see you as stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison and visit you? And the king will say to them in reply, Amen. I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did it for me. Let us pray. Blessed are you, Lord God Almighty, who through your son gave us a marvelous example of charity and the great commandment of love for one another. Send down your blessings upon these your servants, who so generously devote themselves to helping others. When they are called on in time of need, let them faithfully serve you in their neighbor. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. May Almighty God bless all of you who are gathered here, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Father Keith, have a good day, sir. Please come back. I'm gonna call the meeting to order and announce we have a quorum. All utility board members are present this afternoon. Thank you all for your service. Item three on the agenda is pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags. Be led today by Tom Novak. Please join me in addressing the college. I pledge allegiance through the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic, for which it says, one nation under God. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Honor under the Texas flag. One state honor. One and almouth. Here you go. Oops, great.
openpublica.com