The Sulphur River Basin Authority will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday to consider the extending their funding agreement for another year, the 2019 fiscal year budget and hiring an executive director.
The funding agreement is with the Joint Commission for Project Development, a group comprised of five water districts in the Dallas Metroplex that fully funds SRBA. When SRBA was created in 1985 by the Texas Legislature to protect and preserve interests in the Sulphur River Basin, it was not given a funding source and has been funded by JCPD for several years.
Both Riverbend Water Resources District and the city of Texarkana, Texas, have formally asked SRBA to delay approval of the funding agreement until changes can be made. The contract ends Aug. 31.
Texarkana, Texas, passed a resolution Friday including the request, along with statements questioning SRBA Chairman Chris Spencer's ability to lead the board. The resolution comes after Spencer accidentally sent an email meant for his attorney to SRBA Board Member Kelly Mitchell, who had recommended changes to the agreement. In the email, Spencer said he thought SRBA should extend the current agreement for one year and then work on Mitchell's suggested changes. "To maintain good rapport and civility with his side of the board, we have to acknowledge what he has suggested," the email states. "Placating him, if you will, would be the way to describe it. Not sure how to do that."
Riverbend sent a letter to SRBA following a special meeting Aug. 13, where their board discussed the email, which also stated Spencer's opinion that Northeast Texas Municipal Water District serve as executive for SRBA and not Riverbend. The letter asks for a written reply to several items, including extending the funding agreement with JCPD for 60 to 90 days at minimum, if SRBA will actively engage in incorporating local participation and funding with Riverbend and/or other local stakeholders, and the re-issuance of a request for qualifications for legal services, as SRBA's new attorney also works for NETMWD. The letter goes on to ask if SRBA will work with local stakeholders on the development of a strategic plan that meets the needs of the health, safety and welfare of the basin and assurances that the development of the executive director position will be made through a legitimate process.
Discussion and possible action on Riverbend's letter is also on Tuesday's agenda and is one of the items the city of Texarkana, Texas, asked to be tabled until a later date.
The meeting will be held at the Mount Pleasant Civic Center, 1800 N. Jefferson, Mount Pleasant, Texas.