City approves utility work, nixes projects to fix streets
By SHANNON CRABTREE newsdesk@leader-news.com

El Campo City Council shot down $2.2 million in proposed street and drainage improvements last session while giving the nod to almost $2 million in upgrades to the waste water treatment plant and sewer/water mains.

The plant and main upgrades should be completed and paid for over the next five years with fund balance dollars from the city's Utility Fund.

The Capital Improvement Plan or CIP outlines five projects over the next five years for the city Utility Department.

The first year, the city plans to spend an estimated $400,000 upgrading a "digester" at the waste water treatment facility - an improvement the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is demanding.

In the second year, the plan calls for an emergency generator at the facility as well as providing matching dollars for a water line improvement grant, upgrades to water and sewer mains as well as a new sewer lift station on Olivia Street - almost $460,000 in work.

An additional $250,000 of main upgrades are planned in year three and almost $200,000 in year five.

Exact costs will have to be determined later.

"Remember that fund balance is a moving target that ebbs and flows depending on budgeting and how well, or how bad, the city operates each year," City Manager John Steelman said.

Council approved the Utility Fund CIP in a 5-2 vote with Councilmen Robert Boone and Ed Erwin against on Sept. 11.

The CIP plan for unexpended General Fund dollars was rejected in a 3-4 vote with Mayor Phillip Spenrath, Erwin, Mayor Pro-Tem Kyle Smith and Councilman Anthony Collins against.

That plan called for reworking the Town & Country area, South Meadow Lane, Phillips Southland and the 3P's area as well as two major ditches and drainage in the Avenue F and Pecan area.

Councilwoman Gloria Harris stood in support of the CIP saying, "We've got to get some of this out of the way."

But Erwin said he wanted more time before committing to any plan of work.

"You're talking about spending $2.2 million on numbers (I've) seen since Friday," he said. ""I'm in the construction business. I know things are going up, but they are not going up in a month. We've got time."

Erwin added he wasn't necessarily against any of the proposed projects, but wanted to wait on approval and link it into the city's soon to be revised comprehensive plan.

Spenrath said he was concerned that approving the plan now would lock those dollars for that use only.

Council could always change its mind and redesignated dollars, Steelman said.

"This is not set in stone. This is a guide," he said. "This is a road map. Certainly we need to be open to change."