TBCD welcomes new member
Justin Woody swears an oath of office, taking the district four position of Trinity Bay Conservation District.
WINNIE— Trinity Bay Conservation District welcomed a new board member before getting into regular business and the discussion of bonds.
TBCD held its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 14.
Justin Woody swore an oath of office, taking the district four position previously held by Gregg Turner.
Woody, owner of Jeri’s Seafood, said some asked him to take the position after Turner’s retirement.
“Just learning right now,” Woody said. “Hopefully I can help out.”
Regarding bonds, the board made beginning steps towards getting those projects started.
The bonds total about $3 million for three large projects. Those projects include installing a water storage tank for an estimated $1.85 million, installing 2,700 auto-read water meters for $830,630 and installing a 20-inch water line headed south across Interstate 10 from the water treatment plant in Winnie for $559,370.
The board approved to begin paperwork for the bond application with a $3.5 million borrowing cap.
TBCD financial advisor James Gilley, Jr., presented three bond packages to the board, offering a 10, 15 and 20-year plan for the bonds.
Gilley said TBCD’s net revenue from last year is “more than sufficient” for each plan offered.
“I’m one of those guys that likes to get stuff paid off quick,” board President Victor Caraway said.
With approval for the bond application, the board also approved the water line bid and will reimburse themselves when the bond application goes through.
TBCD also approved reimbursing themselves for the water meter changeout project though a bid has not yet been approved.
Operations Coordinator David Hoyt gave an update on utilities. As for water meters, six were installed, 150 were changed out and 88 were pulled.
Amos Roy, district employee, provided an update on drainage projects.
A bridge construction project was completed for Crooked Bayou and a bridge repair was completed for Whites Bayou.
Onion Bayou received pipe maintenance and crews worked on Elm, East Bay and Double Bayous.
The ground crews sprayed 40 miles this month and the air crew sprayed 50 miles in just one day. These crews help to maintain vegetation to assist in drainage.