Council Gets Water/Sewer Updates

ANAHUAC– Anahuac City Council heard an update Oct. 14 from LJA engineer Jeff Scroggins regarding its water and sewer plants. 

Scroggins said the new wastewater treatment plant is operational with a final punch list to be completed in the next few weeks. 

The new sewer plant was funded by a $5 million Economic Development Administration grant. It is larger in capacity than the old plant and handles the breakdown of solids more efficiently and more cost-effectively. 

The city facility is tied in with a small Trinity Bay Conservation District plant on Poskey Road. Scroggins reported that TBCD plans to make improvements to its plant as that district ponders plans to keep up with a growing community. 

He also reassured council members who expressed concern that the city’s new plant will have enough capacity for the expected residential and government facility growth, especially with the new Justice Center expected to open sometime in 2026. 

City Attorney Richard Baker spoke of a potential agreement with TBCD to purchase water. The agreement will be considered by council if it becomes necessary, while the city water plant may be offline for repair. 

Baker said the agreement charges the city $5 per 1,000 gallons of treated water, the same amount as it charged the city several years ago when the city bought water from TBCD. 

In other matters, council heard from Lucia Morales, owner of Gator’s Fruits & More. She asked for permission to move her portable building to another location on her property, adding that City Code Enforcement Officer Amber Ayres had approved the new location. 

Council discussed whether the city has authority not to allow someone to move a building on their own property if the building remains within the required setback boundaries. 

City Secretary Julie Harvill brought up that a $125 permit is required to move a building from one location to another on the same property. 

Baker expressed surprise at the city having such a requirement and asked Harvill to send him the information. 

Council voted to allow Morales to move the building and to waive the $125 permit fee. 

Council also approved a request from Randall Decker with the local Masonic Lodge for a $263.97 credit on the sewer portion of the bill due to a water leak. 

Also approved was a request from Jill Garrison for a $1,011.69 credit on her sewer portion of the bill. A major water leak was found at an unoccupied home. 

A payment plan was approved for Deborah McBride, who requested a 12-month payment plan of $76.81 per month in addition to her regular bill. 

Mayor Pro Tem Janice Jircik reported on continued plans for a new animal shelter, with Anahuac Municipal Development District committing up to $100,000 for the new facility. 

She also brought up the fact that the city had $32,000 earmarked for the facility from Hurricane Harvey funds. 

Administrator Kenneth Kathan acknowledged that funds had previously been earmarked for a shelter. Jircik requested that the item be put on the November agenda for further discussion. 

AMDD is in the process of acquiring property for the shelter. The new building will replace the city shelter on the corner of Miller Street and Bay Avenue. 

City council recognized Bay Area Turning Point with a proclamation in observance of October. 

BATP Victim Advocate Jarnae Williams spoke of various events and programs coming up. The agency has an office at the Wellness Center at Bayside and are there Monday through Friday. The local BATP phone number is 409-267-4337.