Riverbend wants clarity from SRBA after email mix-up

A misrouted email from the Sulphur River Basin Authority chairman has Riverbend Water Resources District officials seeking clarity on a funding agreement and the process for choosing an executive director.

At a special called meeting in New Boston, Texas, on Monday afternoon, Riverbend President Marshall Wood said, referring to the mistakenly sent email, "These are just some concerns the (Riverbend) board has that were brought to our attention to get a formal inquiry to the Sulphur River Basin Authority."

On July 30, SRBA Chairman Chris Spencer accidentally sent an email meant for his attorney to SRBA Board Member Kelly Mitchell, who left the Riverbend board of directors in February after being appointed to SRBA.

In the email, Spencer relays his thoughts on suggestions Mitchell had on changing SRBA's funding agreement with the Joint Commission for Project Development, a group of five water districts in the Dallas Metroplex, which fully funds the organization.

SRBA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1985 to protect and preserve the interests in the basin, but was not given a funding source.

Riverbend provides water and wastewater service to Red River Army Depot and TexAmericas Center as well as overseeing water supply interests for Bowie and Red River counties and most cities in those counties.

On Monday, Riverbend officials agreed to send a letter to SRBA to get assurances on funding and the executive director process.

"We felt the need for the interest of our local stakeholders that needed to be addressed a bit further and we will be submitting a letter to SRBA asking in the spirit of cooperation that they address some of those with us. We're still very much wanting to work in an open and transparent way and in that spirit just wanted to ask some questions about some things that were brought to our attention," Wood said, referring to the July 30 email.

The email states Spencer's opinion that SRBA extend its funding agreement with JCPD for one year and then work on a more comprehensive agreement at a later date. It also states the board must acknowledge Mitchell's suggestions on changing the contract.

"To maintain good rapport and civility with his side of the board, we have to acknowledge what he has suggested. Placating him, if you will, would be the best way to describe it," it states. "Not sure how to do that."

The email also addresses the hiring of an executive director to lead SRBA. It is required by HB 2180, passed in 2017 by the Texas Legislature, to hire someone for the position, as well as to address transparency issues as identified by the Texas Sunset Commission.

The email states Spencer's opinion that they should begin the process of selecting an entity to serve as the general manager for SRBA. Both Riverbend and the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District have expressed interest in serving in this role for SRBA.

"It is imperative that Riverbend be allowed to submit a proposal along with NEWMWD," the email states. "When the proposals are presented, the clear winner will be NETWMD."

After Monday's Riverbend meeting, Spencer told the Gazette he was expressing his opinion in the email and that no decision has been made on which entity will serve as SRBA's manager.

"Of the two organizations, my personal preference is and always has been that Northeast Texas Municipal Water District be the administrator for the Sulphur River Basin Authority," Spencer said. "This is not meant as an insult to Riverbend, but as a testament to the strength of the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District and the expertise of Walt Sears."

Sears is the executive director of NETWMD and also works closely with the Region D Water Planning Group.

"While we want to work cooperatively with Riverbend, it would represent a conflict of interest for Riverbend to be the administrator of SRBA based on the previous adversarial leadership that we are trying to heal," Spencer said.

Liz Fazio Hale, Riverbend's executive director and CEO, said they will send a letter to SRBA asking the decision on the funding agreement be extended by 60 to 90 days until a more comprehensive agreement can be made.

"We want to continue with SRBA including us and actively engaging us with regards to participation, which could include funding, could include partnership arrangements," she said. "I think it's fair to say as well that we're certainly disappointed. Some others have stated to me that this appears to be business as usual. There is an extreme lack of confidence at this point and we're seeking assurances that Riverbend and their member entities will have a meaningful role in participating in SRBA activities."

Wood said he also wanted clarification on SRBA's intentions.

"They are making very important decisions that are going to affect our region, which is quite frankly why Sunset (regulations) came along to begin with because we don't feel like that was being done," he said. "We thought we had turned the corner and had a great meeting with the SRBA and the city of Texarkana council members and we thought there was a pledge of transparency moving forward. The communications seem to indicate something different. We just want clarification. We are here ready to continue to work with SRBA but it has to be in an open, transparent, cooperative way."

Fazio Hale agreed, saying, "We believe we understand the (SRBA) chairman's intent at this time. We are seeking to clarify that the rest of the board doesn't feel the way that he has expressed in communications that we received."

SRBA's next meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Aug. 31 at the Mount Pleasant Civic Center, 1800 N. Jefferson Ave., Mount Pleasant, Texas.

Riverbend will hold a meeting and rate workshop at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22 at its offices, 228 Texas Ave. Suite A, New Boston, Texas. The next regular meeting will be held at noon Wednesday, Aug. 29.

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