[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6270418,"mediaKeyId","3034861-941481c9fa81ef1a1d2cfab0bd0da3ee","parentId",3034861,"title","Council supports further study of 4,000 acre-foot raw water purchase estimated at $12 million","audioSeconds",1352,"startMs",349000,"endMs",1701000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3034861-941481c9fa81ef1a1d2cfab0bd0da3ee&start=349&end=1701","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3034861-941481c9fa81ef1a1d2cfab0bd0da3ee/thumbnail_349000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6270418/Copperas-Cove/Coryell-County/Texas/Council-supports-further-study-of-4000-acre-foot-raw-water-purchase-estimated-at-12-million","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270418-926c77e722ce376d376d5f746e66aed1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775128273&Signature=S6UfIY078yVhSj6FSsGhnXbGGauY1fxq79RlJ-thuxrWv8WAmRq0791aV8i4Pxlyn2osM-EcFyuPbLjcVhIm4oVyi9HxQ5cv1OF96MRCo7zA3aZvfnwEZiENySi6ZCMoBr4Jl0L8is19G-Yf5zyhDqzTJnsAKuTyGwF5AsOLXhOPmEberjGC8BHNY2wE27N6jg7Qs-c9v-9AjUXZT87h~AVh~bboajh4J~rSfTXyXP7dPbdADC6-h-NHdHy84UxJ8L4R-lALT9-rtX-Y0gV4UbZn0BwsPaeIAXl1eWPUxrq~BV8tfMsW5TIsGzQIOb4HjBtXeVC1DiQ0U34cfLDSjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Copperas Cove TX","date","2025-04-17T08:47:19.193Z","article","Copperas Cove city council on April 15 directed staff to continue studying the feasibility, financing and construction costs of purchasing 4,000 acre-feet of raw water rights, an acquisition city staff estimated would cost about $12 million for the water rights alone.

City Manager Ryan Haverlaw told council the city currently has nearly 9,000 acre-feet of raw water supply “— which is actually, we don't own the water. We own the rights to use the water” — and staff is considering the purchase of an additional 4,000 acre-feet to support future treated-water capacity and population growth. “At 4,000 acre feet, the estimated cost right now is about $12,000,000,” Haverlaw said during the presentation.

Staff and outside speakers cautioned council that the purchase price for raw water is only part of the cost: conveyance and delivery infrastructure can be substantial. Ricky Garrett, general manager of Bell County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1, told the council the Brazos River Authority currently has no additional allocations available and stressed a regional approach. “The Brazos River Authority doesn't have any other water rights to allocate right now,” Garrett said. “I think the only way we can be successful is if we act regionally and we compile our interest and needs.”

Officials outlined additional financial and project considerations discussed in the meeting:
- Current city raw water supply: nearly 9,000 acre-feet (city holds use rights rather than owning the underlying water in fee).
- Purchase target: 4,000 acre-feet to match mid-century treated-water planning and growth forecasts.
- Price estimate for the 4,000 acre-feet: approximately $12,000,000 (raw-rights cost only).
- Conveyance distance: potential conveyance routes could be roughly 50–55 miles in some scenarios; final routing and cost estimates depend on partners and alignment decisions.
- Local infrastructure example: staff estimated roughly $12,000,000 to extend a 24-inch line from Clear Creek to Fordham Street in Killeen (about 3–4 miles), not including full design and easement or land acquisition costs.

Staff also noted legal and financing distinctions: bond counsel has been consulted to determine whether the city could finance the purchase under applicable statutory authorities and whether the water interests would be treated as real property rights. Staff recommended longer financing terms (20 years or more) to spread repayment costs. City attorneys and bond counsel discussed that a purchase confers title to the water rights (a real-property interest) rather than a lease, which affects long-term obligations and budget planning.

Council discussion focused on balancing near-term capital priorities and long-term water security. Some council members urged caution because conveyance costs and easements remain uncertain; others argued delaying a purchase risks losing the opportunity entirely. Several councilmembers voiced support for continuing the analysis and pursuing regional coordination through the Central Texas Water Alliance and other partners. Council gave staff direction to proceed with more detailed cost, financing and route studies and to continue coordination with regional partners and Bell County WCID No. 1.

The discussion did not yield a binding purchase authorization at this meeting; council’s direction was to continue analysis and return with more detailed financing, construction and conveyance information for future budget consideration.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 04-15-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council gave staff direction to continue researching financing, conveyance and timeline for a proposed purchase of 4,000 acre-feet of raw water rights estimated at about $12 million, and to pursue regional solutions through the Central Texas Water Alliance.","taxTitle","Copperas Cove, Coryell County, Texas","taxId",52762,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6270423,"Council approves resolution to join Central Texas Regional 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District",3826,0,3826000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3034861-941481c9fa81ef1a1d2cfab0bd0da3ee&start=0&end=3826","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3034861-941481c9fa81ef1a1d2cfab0bd0da3ee/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6270423/Copperas-Cove/Coryell-County/Texas/Council-approves-resolution-to-join-Central-Texas-Regional-9-1-1-Emergency-Communications-District","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270423-bf6ca57f90a7818ccd2b4490e9bd256b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775128273&Signature=lgoHdHHV--VaD-Tk1OIBQybCsxg4MkSxcwIWBQP2db5dgTYUMcowP393UqnzWtl6ddc-qywqfs-fEFRgaHEWAXHQfit1ZOHVfSYEuxAaUJsFfH8ZzJbxx2GepcJOI9maT5uoM0bW-QwlUeZf4oBX37k84LM87tGNCN5C-jxebxMA4H7yZLxFzi9rgjP~uEKbEo7z3evhuqmaaweropQtpn0CGBcyyAb~SUTeASkUUhG9oCnOCI3X3PSDXJGgkGISwSpdl2fF3zQkhnscBFjGskK3sQFutTNE27EsI4oi5ipBEOhlp16ZNYJZ7OHOyI0naPJ1lUBEXWESwnV~7RR2KQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Copperas Cove city council voted April 15 to approve Resolution 2025-7 authorizing the city to join the Central Texas Regional 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District, a regional emergency communications entity being organized through the Central Texas Council of Governments (Citcog).

City Manager Ryan Haverlaw said the change redirects the existing 50¢-per-line 9-1-1 fee so Citcog (the regional council of governments) — rather than the state allocation process — will receive funds to operate regional 9-1-1 services. “By passing the attached resolution to become a emergency communications district, that 50¢ fee would then be remitted to Citcog directly,” Haverlaw said during the meeting.

The nut of the change is financial and operational: the district will collect the full 50¢ fee that telephone customers already pay for 9-1-1 service and use it to sustain the region’s 9-1-1 call-taking and dispatch infrastructure. Haverlaw and staff emphasized that the communications district is not a taxing entity. It cannot levy taxes, issue bonds or increase the 50¢ fee without separate state legislation.

Council members and staff said the district is intended to stabilize funding for the region’s 9-1-1 back-end systems, mapping, databases and equipment replacement. Staff materials cited an appropriation estimate (if the district forms and pending legislative decisions) of roughly $7.4 million for the region’s 2026 budget year.

Creating the district requires unanimous participation from the region’s constituent governments. Haverlaw and other presenters said the district formation requires resolutions of support from all 32 cities and seven counties in the service area; officials noted Bell County had not yet passed its resolution and was expected to act later in the summer. City staff described an administrative transition period — roughly six months to a year — when the new district would work to ensure fees remitted by telecom providers flow directly to the new district rather than through the state process.

Action taken: Councilmember Dale Treadway moved to approve Resolution 2025-7; Councilmember Rita Hogan seconded. The council approved the resolution by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting minutes.

The city manager and staff said the district should provide more direct control of 9-1-1 operations funding for the region, while noting the district’s authority is limited to the existing 50¢ fee unless the Texas Legislature authorizes a different fee level.

Local officials said the district would cover seven counties, 32 cities and Fort Cavazos and that the district’s funds would be used exclusively for emergency communications operations and equipment.

The council’s approval sends Copperas Cove’s resolution of support to Citcog, which is compiling resolutions from the other jurisdictions to complete district formation. Councilmembers did not request further action from staff at this meeting.

","Copperas Cove city council voted to approve Resolution 2025-7 to join a new Central Texas Regional 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District; the change redirects the existing 50¢ 9-1-1 fee to the regional entity and does not create taxing authority.","actionData","errors"]

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Council supports further study of 4,000 acre-foot raw water purchase estimated at $12 million

Council approves resolution to join Central Texas Regional 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District