Tensions ran high during Tuesday night’s meeting of the Jefferson Economic Development Corporation (JEDCO) ultimately leaving a housing developer still in search of water.
“I’ll be the first to tell you I appreciate you showing up two weeks in a row,” said Jefferson Mayor Rob Baker at the start of the meeting. “I think it’s important as we hadn’t met in a while as we were short two positions and I think it was important we meet and get that slotted and get on with business.”
And it started as a regular meeting catching up on past business of approving minutes of their last meeting, in July, and the financial reports. But when discussion turned to funding a request from the Mayor for $45,860 for an Engineering Study for Railroad Quiet Zone things took a different direction.
“This is from a currently private crossing (south of downtown) to Alley Street (crossing), but I have been working with TxDOT to expand this into the (railroad) stop signal we’ve had problems with at the 49 crossing,” said Baker. “I have an approval I’ll announce next week in detail, but this will go beyond Alley and include that crossing.”
The study, proposed by Baker, is through Benesch, a Fort Worth engineering firm which specializes in establishing railroad crossing zones. The study is required by TxDOT, federal requirements, and the railroads before a zone can be established.
A “Quiet Zone,” a combination of special crossings for railroads, allows train operators to not have to blow their horn as they enter each crossing. The request for a quiet zone has been around since they were established, almost 15 years ago by visitors and residents alike.
“This study will give us the costs, as well as options as how to do this,” said Baker.
Baker explained last week Benesch will gather the information and then conduct the required interviews, meetings and requirement documents to the various entities. The city will still have to supply at least a portion of the costs for changes to the crossings.
“Well, I’m looking at jobs – that’s our first requirement – does it create jobs?” said Moore. “This definitely doesn’t meet that criteria. As a JEDCO board member I believe this is kind of backwards. We’re not here to be asking ‘Does it cover this?’ That’s not our job. Our job is the City Approved it, Can we fund it? This needs to be asked at the City Council level before it comes to us.”
There are a lot of things we could discover on our own. We don’t need some engineer to tell us it’s going to take a little median going up to the crossing. … there are a lot of things the city could get busy on and figure out themselves. … So I don’t think this is something JEDCO should be looking at now. It’s just wasting our time.”
“My view is there has to be an engineering study before it gets done,” said member Raymond Sanders. “Whether we do it now or later is immaterial. We’ll never get the railroad and TxDOT to agree to anything without an engineering study. It’s a cost that has to be incurred at some point.”
“It does create jobs – we’re based in tourism,” said member Dr. Bruce Bradley. “We have to cater to them to some degree. It may not create new jobs, but it keeps jobs.”
“I think that we table it until it passes city Council” said Sanders.
“I’d feel better about that,” said Moore. “Our job here is to see if we fund it. City council will have to approve asking JEDCO for the money.”
“I move that we actually approve it based on City Council requesting to move forward,” said Sanders. The motion passed 5-1 with Moore voting against it.
Funding a portion of the $1.5 million water line extension out to Moon Lake Estates housing development sparked more controversy. During the almost hour long discussion.
“There’s no way JEDCO can fund the $1.5 million now or in the future, but it has been proposed a three-way split on the cost, but we don’t have a number yet,” said board president Doug Thompson. “Is this a JEDCO type project? Is this a project that should be considered? Is this a project we should consider funding a partial and up to what figure?”
“Apparently. It doesn’t matter,” said Moore.
“I want to clear the air on a couple of things,” said Baker. “I think there’s a misnomer of a JEDCO project having to create jobs. It is an aspect, but it’s not an all or not. Certain projects won’t have any jobs but still be considered economic development. Robin, I sort of take exception to your comment that it doesn’t matter. It does matter. What you guys should be looking at is, ‘is JEDCO in a position to put any amount of money, not whether the city puts in any money, or if Kyle’s (the developer) investors put in any money. This discussion should be around ‘does JEDCO have enough funds to put in any amount.’ ”
“Once again, to provide city water to a private subdivision that may one day be annexed I would much rather … I’ve talked to several property owners here in Jefferson, and I’m one of them, that have no water pressure,” said Moore. “I would like to see the city take care of their customers before we run five miles of new pipe out to a new subdivision. Have you thought of shallow water wells?”
“Its not feasible due to cost and operating a water system in a sensitive environment,” said Kyle Mayden, the developer.
“So you investigated this?” asked Moore.
“Yes,” said Mayden. “The report from TCEQ is in the information we provided in discussions with the city.”
“I’d suggest you bring those to City council,” said Moore.
“We’ve seen them,” said alderman Victor Perot.
“City council has seen them?” asked Moore.
“The folks that have been looking over and working with them have seen them,” said Perot.
“Just a few, a select few,” said Moore.
“Not a select few, it’s the members getting this started,” said Perot.
“We’re looking for some joint cohesiveness between us and JEDCO on this multi-million dollar project,” said Mayden. “If we develop this, then money goes right back into the community.”
“Again, the city has not even approved this yet,” said Moore. “They’ve put it in our hands without any agreement, public input, etc. You said you already have a letter of commitment from the city?”
“We said we could provide water if the line is there,” said Baker. “This is about getting the money to fund the project.”
“This project continues to be a chicken and egg for everyone involved,” said Mayden. “To approve the onsite sewage treatment plan, we had to have an agreement to provide water. We just want to get it all done . We want to add 95 more homes to his community. That’s our goal.”
“I’d like that too, but I’d like our existing citizens to have good water lines,” said Moore. “If the city would bring that to JEDCO I’d think that would be a good thing for us to fund every year.“
Board member Willie Turlington raised questions about condition of the roads access the subdivision, school bus requirements, and if those things had been discussed with County Commissioners and JISD. He also raised the issue of flooding in the area and neighbor input.
“We’ve not discussed it yet, but those are good questions,” said Mayden. “I didn’t want to upgrade the road yet, as it’s in pretty shabby condition, so the trucks on it, while won’t help it, but won’t make it much worse. All the homes are required to be built on piers. (Flooding wise) The good thing is we’re upstream from Black Cypress and on the high side of the river, so we’ve already got that going for us.” Kyle. “Until we get the water line in place this is stalled out, so (residents along Moon Lake Road) have a general idea of what we’re doing and we’ll update as we move forward.”
“Have you considered water tanks?” asked Turlington.
“It wouldn’t be an option for the type of housing and deed restrictions we have,” said Mayden. “I think what will quickly build out is folks coming in for a second or vacation home in the first phase.”
“How long have you been in consulatation with these city folks on this project?” asked Moore.
“Probably 6-8 months,” said Mayden.
“And the water problem wasn’t an issue until recently,” said Moore.
“Correct. We’ve assumed we could tie into fire plug at 49 and Moon Lake Road,” said Mayden. “We anticipated we’d lay our own line and tie in. Then after testing the water flow and pressure was beyond inadequate to supply one house, let alone the subdivision.”
“So existing lines going out that direction are not adequate,” said Moore.
“That was the closest main line that would facilitate us,” said Mayden.
“The engineer sized it from Masterwood Craft on out and since Moon Lake is all downhill, there should be plenty of pressure and flow,” said Perot. “It was all done by engineers and let them take care of all that. All of the pressure comes out of the overhead tanks at the cemetery and sand town. They’re all automatic, so. Nobody looses anything because they fill right back up.”
“So if anyone is having flow or pressure problems it’s probably corrosion or build up in the lines?” asked Thompson.
“Most likely,” said Perot. “I was thinking, isn’t there a new water line going down your (to Moore) street? Have you talked to Allen about tying into that line? I know they just tied Rod Rodriguez in.”
“There’s a NETWMD line there,” said Moore. “That (Rodriguez work) actually occurred without council approval as well. It was ordered by you.”
“That’s Allen’s deal. That’s not the council,” said Perot.
“You mean any council can say fix that line?” asked Moore.
“That’s Allen’s deal. It’s not up to me or council,” said Perot. “Allen is the superintendent. I don’t know why you have such a gripe with me and think I’m over everything. I’m not. You’ve been trooling that all night.”
“I’m just saying Victor that I’ve checked on it and yes it was at your instruction,” said Moore.
“You’re very misinformed,” said Perot. “I told Allen to go check and see what the problem is.”
“Everyone on that street has problems,” said Moore.
“I’m through. We need to get back on topic here,” said Perot.
“Good,” said Moore.
“I’m just saying you have a problem with me,” said Perot.
“Yeah I do,” responded Moore. “Does anyone else in town use that line?”
“Yes,” said Perot. “It’s a major distribution line coming up through town.”
“Do any residents tie into that?” asked Moore.
“I don’t know that’s an Allen question,” said Perot.
“The city doesn’t know…” asked Moore.
“That’s an Allen question. You’d have to ask him,” said Perot.
Further discussion with the City after the meeting determined the work for Rodriguez was done approximately two years ago and Moore rejected the City’s offer to tie into that same line at that time.
“I’d assume I’d have to pay to tie into that line,” said Bradley.
“We work to solve problems,” said Perot. “So if that’s what Allen chooses to do, he does it. People have already paid their tap fee, so call city hall and it doesn’t cost the person a thing.”
“We tried to make this thing palatable,” said Mayden. “I know it’s hard to swallow this all at once. We obviously want this. We want to work with you and the city on whatever makes sense to make this happen.”
“This would be a grant to the city,” said Moore. “The city would request it and they would act on what they’re willing to do and then come to ask us.”
“No we’re asking JEDCO to make a decision now hat they’re willing to spend,” said Baker. “We’re asking the city to decide what they can spend. Then together that will go to the project.”
“Who would we be paying?” asked Moore.
“It can go to the city to go to the contractor or more than likely it will go to the contractor,” said Perot.
“This is on the agenda for city council next week,” said Baker. “They’ll get a presentation like what you got last week.”
“I move that we table until the city council meets and then if a grant request is provided to us on our grant forms then we can act on that,” said Moore.
“I sent that in already. It should be in the materials,” said Mayden.
“I didn’t see it when I made copies,” said Moore.
Sanders seconded the motion and it passed 6-0.
The remainder of the meeting handled establishing future meetings and a request to reach out to former board member Bob Avery on delivering JEDCO’s quarterly report to the City.
The video of the meeting can be viewed on the Marion County Herald’s YouTube channel.
JEDCO’s next meeting is March 9. Bradley requested a special meeting be called if needed, after City Council has met so further action could be taken on the water project.