Council to consider water-rights application

TEXARKANA, Texas - During a regular meeting Monday, the City Council will consider a measure authorizing application for additional Wright Patman Lake water rights.

The joint resolution with Riverbend Water Resources District would authorize the application with Texarkana as permittee; authorize the city manager to sign the application; designate Riverbend as the point of contact for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality during the application review process; authorize the city manager to spend up to $90,000 for the TCEQ's filing fee; and make a joint finding by both Texarkana and Riverbend that the application for water rights is not inconsistent with the Region D Water Plan and does not adversely affect any strategies of the plan.

Riverbend's Board of Directors approved the resolution Thursday.

"Additional firm yield water supply of over 174,000 acre-feet appears to be available within the established conservation pool of Wright Patman Lake. This additional water supply is over and above the current water rights - 180,000 acre-feet - permitted to Texarkana," background information published with the meeting's
agenda states.

A previous resolution named Riverbend as the entity to apply for future water rights on behalf of its members, including Texarkana.

The Council will also vote whether to formally issue bonds it authorized as part of the Fiscal Year 2020 budget. The bonds will be used to finance Gibson Lane road construction and building a new fire station.

In other business, the Council will consider approving Bowie Central Appraisal District's 2019 tax roll and casting its votes for a candidate for the BCAD Board of Directors. It previously voted to name Council Member Josh Davis as its candidate.

The Council will also hear a number of first briefings on zoning and permitting matters.

The agenda includes an open forum during which members of the public may address the Council on any topic for up to five minutes each.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at City Hall, 216 Texas Blvd.

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