Staff Reports
The winter weather caused Jefferson Mayor Rob Baker to postpone Tuesday’s regular City Council meeting to next week, but that didn’t stop the online discussions about a proposed water line to Moon Lake Estates and a study for establishing a Quiet Zone in town.
The proposed water line would extend to a new housing development, Moon Lake Estates (MLE).
It was presented to JEDCO on Feb. 2 .
They tabled any action at their Feb. 9 meeting, saying they would like the City Council to weigh in on the matter.
“As current JEDCO board member, I have a problem with non-job related projects suddenly appearing for funding that have been in the works behind closed doors for months by a specific group of people and without community knowledge and input,” JEDCO Secretary Robin Moore posted to Facebook on Feb. 17. “(I fully understand how bringing JOBS to the area may need a bit of secrecy in order to accomplish because we’re in competition with other municipalities. But if the only reason for keeping a project quiet is to avoid public scrutiny, then a red flag should be raised by all who have been left out of the “conversation”.)”
Moore stated her opposition to the project publicly at the JEDCO meeting on Feb. 9 and took to Facebook to continue the discussions citing water pressure problems with existing city residents.
“I believe JEDCO could help the city each year with funds for a designated water line project until ALL CITY HOUSEHOLDS have proper water pressure instead of funding these endeavors borne out of secret meetings behind closed doors!,” Moore posted on Feb. 14.
According to information provided to Council members as part of their meeting packet, City Engineering Firm SPI worked with MLE developers to propose a cost when the existing line was deemed to be inadequate to support the housing development.
Total project costs are estimated to be about $1.2 million.
The developer indicated they are prepared to pay what they had budgeted in the project, and would like some help for the remainder.
The City currently has a water line which runs out Tx49 to the City Limits at Moon Lake Road.
The cost to upgrade that line is estimated to be around $434,375.
The City has current customers on the existing line.
If the line is constructed, the City would supply water to the development and receive water revenue from the houses being built there.
Council is set to hear the MLE project proposal and request for assistance in funding the project at Tuesday’s meeting.