TEXARKANA, Texas - The City Council on Monday approved a joint effort with Riverbend Water Resources District to apply for more Wright Patman Lake water rights.
During a regular meeting, the Council voted unanimously to apply for rights to more than 174,000 acre-feet of water in the lake beyond the city's current rights.
"As you know, the state and regional water plans identify that we have future water needs over and above the 180,000 acre-feet that we have righted for now. So moving forward, this application will be the first step in trying to secure our water rights for our needs out towards 2070 and beyond," said Kyle Dooley, Riverbend's executive director.
The joint resolution with Riverbend authorizes the application with Texarkana as permittee; authorizes the city manager to sign the application; designates Riverbend as the point of contact for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality during the application review process; authorizes the city manager to spend up to $90,000 for the TCEQ's filing fee; and makes 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. A previous resolution named Riverbend as the entity to apply for future water rights on behalf of its members, including Texarkana.
The Council also voted to issue bonds worth $7 million 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 approved Bowie Central Appraisal District's 2019 tax roll and cast its votes for a candidate for the BCAD Board of Directors. It previously voted to name Council Member Josh Davis as its candidate.
There was only about $10,000 in difference between the tax roll and estimates used in this year's budgeting process, so the budget plan remains accurate, Chief Financial Officer Kristin Peeples told the Council.
The Council also heard a number of first briefings on zoning and permitting matters.
Its next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 12.