A representative of the local utility briefed the Aransas Pass City Council on service and vegetation work during the Oct. 20 meeting.

The utility representative (Patrick) told council members a customer concern about extensive vine growth in an alley around the 1300 block of Oak Park Drive and Highland Avenue required specialized equipment to gain access and remove vegetation within the company easement. He described the utility’s practice: crews cut vines at the base within the utility easement and spray them so they die back, but they do not pull vegetation from private property because doing so could damage facilities and private property. The city’s Code Enforcement also sent notices to adjacent residents advising them that maintenance responsibility for half the alley falls to private property owners per the city ordinance.

The utility representative said the Texas Public Utility Commission had approved, earlier in the year, authorization for a three-year resiliency plan that will allow the utility to allocate funding for resiliency work across its coastal service territory. That program will support activities such as vegetation control, pole changeouts and other resiliency measures. The representative also summarized prior post-Harvey reconstruction work: distribution and transmission line rebuilds connecting the Aransas Pass, Seawall and Port Aransas substations.

Council thanked staff and the utility for the cleanup and noted ongoing coordination between city crews and utility personnel when heavy equipment is needed.

Ending: The utility representative asked residents to report continuing concerns to city staff; council and utility staff said they will continue to coordinate on access and maintenance issues.