Weatherford Municipal Utility Board Meeting - August 27, 2026
Weatherford Municipal Utility Board Meeting - August 27, 2026
The Municipal Utility Board of Weatherford met in regular session on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 12:01 PM in City Hall. The meeting included a budget presentation, a vote on the Parker County Public Utility Agency (PUA), appointments to board committees, a report on the Hudson Oaks wastewater project, and a water system update. The board adjourned at 1:52 PM after an executive session.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (Item 5a): The board unanimously approved the minutes of the July 30, 2026 meeting. (Motion by Davis, second by Smith)
Discussion Items
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Appointments to Board Committees (Item 6a): The board elected Zach Smith as Vice Chair, Kevin Cleveland to the Risk Management Committee (RMC), and Tom Novak to the Audit Committee. The motion passed unanimously.
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FY27 Proposed Utility System Budget (Item 6b): Budget Manager Ashley Esquivel presented the proposed budget, which includes $82.6 million in revenues and $76.9 million in expenses, resulting in a net operating result of $5.7 million. For the first time in several years, all three utilities (electric, water, wastewater) are projecting positive net operating income. The budget funds capital projects including Phase 3 and 4 of the water purification plant, an elevated storage tank, and infrastructure improvements. The utility system projects 171 days of working capital, nearly double the 90-day requirement. No action was taken.
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Parker County Public Utility Agency Recommendation (Item 6c): Rick Shaffer, Director of Water Utilities, presented the proposal to join the Parker County PUA, a regional entity with 16 voting members (plus Aqua Texas as non-voting). Weatherford would have a 25% weighted vote on significant matters and would contribute $50,000 annually until the PUA becomes self-sufficient (with a termination clause by Sept. 30, 2040). Staff recommended approval. Board members expressed support but raised concerns:
- Mayor Pro Tem Smith asked whether Weatherford’s Lake Weatherford water or Tarrant Regional contracts would be used for the PUA; Shaffer confirmed they would not be obligated.
- Board member Kevin Cleveland raised concerns about the PUA enabling unregulated development outside city limits, potentially reducing tax revenue and straining city services. He emphasized the need to protect Weatherford’s investments.
- Board member Ken Davis noted the significant staff time required and the importance of fiduciary responsibility to ratepayers.
- Mayor Paul Paschall discussed property rights and the need for regional solutions. The board voted to recommend approval to City Council. The motion passed (with verbal confirmation from Zach Smith).
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Hudson Oaks Wastewater Project Update (Item 4a): Sterling Nairn from Hudson Oaks provided the final semi-annual update on the construction of a new lift station and force main to divert wastewater flows from Weatherford to a joint treatment facility with Willow Park. The project is on schedule for a September 18th startup and full transition on September 30th, with the contract expiring at the end of October. Mayor Paschall requested timely communication if setbacks occur.
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Water System Update (Item 7a): Rick Shaffer reported that Parker County is experiencing moderate to severe drought, with water demand at peak levels. The city enacted Stage 1 drought restrictions on August 10th. Shaffer noted a 95% chance of a Super El Niño event, which could bring heavy rain and potentially refill Lake Weatherford by winter. He plans to activate a second pump from Lake Benbrook to maintain lake levels near elevation 888. No action required.
Key Outcomes
- Appointments: Zach Smith (Vice Chair), Kevin Cleveland (RMC), Tom Novak (Audit Committee) – unanimously approved.
- PUA Recommendation: Board voted to recommend City Council adopt a resolution joining the Parker County Public Utility Agency and authorize the City Manager to execute the funding agreement. (Motion by Davis, second by Novak; approved.)
- No further action on executive session items (water purification plant security).
- No citizen comments on non-agenda items.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for being here today before we call our meeting to order. I'm gonna invite uh Father Bill Estus up from All Saints Church to lead us in our invocation. Father Bill, we're so glad you're here today. I know you had a long commute over, sir. It's rough, especially with the construction over here. I've got to be able to do that. Yes, sir. Let's pray. Father, thank you so much for this day. We thank you for uh your son Christ. We pray your blessings on each of the members of this board as uh as well as this meeting and on our city. We especially look up to you at this time, those affected by fires, and our first responders through Christ our Lord. Amen. Thank you, sir, for being here. It is uh 1201 p.m. Thursday, August 27th. I'll call for the municipal utility board meeting. We do have a quorum present. Please let the record reflect that Hyder McClerkin was unable to attend, and uh council member Rod White. If either of those come in later, we'll announce that and duly note that we'd also like to welcome uh Kevin Cleveland, who is a prior uh city council member, utility board member, and has volunteered uh thankfully he's volunteered to come back and continue serving our committee. Welcome to Kevin Cleveland. We're glad you're back, sir. Let's see here. Um item three on the agenda is pledges of allegiance to United States and Texas flags. And speaking of Kevin Cleveland, we're gonna put him to work and let him lead us in those. Remember the okay. Thank you for that. It would only be fitting for that to be done. Let's see here. Let's go down to item four presentations and proclamations for a excuse me. We're going to hold off on this. Uh the gentleman that's going to present this is delayed uh due to conflict. He is going to be here, but we'll move that down later in the meeting when he's able to arrive utility board. So um we will shift down. We will skip item four for now. Skip down to item five, which is approval of the minutes. 5A is considered approval of the minutes of the municipal utility board meeting held July 30, 2026. Entertain a motion if that's your pleasure, unless you see corrections or conversations that need to happen. Motion for approval by Ken Davis. Is there a second? Second provided by Mayor Pro Tim Smith. Thank you for that. Any questions on this? Hearing none, please indicate yay or nay on your touch screen. And then it's pass. We'll shift down to item six on the agenda, which is regular agenda items. 6A is considered the appointment of vice chair to the municipal utility board and the appointment of municipal utility board member to the risk management cent uh risk management committee and audit committee. Chad Morbo. Thank you, Mayor.
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