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Council schedules workshop after CCMA warns delays could close window to join South plant expansion
Summary
City staff and CCMA urged council to authorize a workshop on wastewater capacity after Schertz requested a large expansion of the Cibolo Creek Municipal Authority’s south wastewater plant. Staff said Schertz’s project creates an opportunity; delaying could mean waiting 6–7 years for another expansion window.
Cibolo city staff and leaders from the Cibolo Creek Municipal Authority urged the City Council on May 13 to schedule a workshop to consider buying additional capacity in a planned expansion of the CCMA south wastewater treatment plant.
Clint Ellis, CCMA general manager, and Ryan Mattson described Schertz’s request for roughly 1.375 million gallons per day (MGD) of additional capacity and said Schertz’s timetable has accelerated the need to decide whether Cibolo should join the current expansion. Ellis said CCMA is pursuing a major permit amendment with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to raise permitted capacity and that Schertz’s requested capacity would push the plant past an intermediate phase directly toward a final permitted phase.
City Manager Brian Reid and CCMA staff presented two buy‑in options for Cibolo: a smaller buy‑in of 0.5 MGD that would give the city roughly 4,838 living‑unit equivalents (LUEs) at an estimated construction share of about $17.25 million (not including contingency), and a larger buy‑in of 1.125 MGD (bringing total permitted south plant capacity to 3.0 MGD) that would provide roughly 8,870 LUEs and cost the city an estimated $38 million for its share of construction plus design. Estimates assume roughly $25–$30 per gallon construction cost; staff warned costs could vary with market conditions.
Engineers and staff emphasized timing: CCMA expects to submit permit materials in June, TCEQ review can take up to 12 months, and construction would take 24–30 months after design and procurement. Ellis and staff recommended a joint meeting with Schertz and CCMA so the three parties can examine phasing, cost allocation, impact‑fee credits and financing. Reid said the city does not immediately lack capacity but that missing the current expansion “is our one opportunity” to buy capacity without waiting multiple years.
Council members asked for more detailed design and financing scenarios and agreed by consensus to hold a workshop in June to dive into costs, master planning for interceptor backbones and the lift‑station and force‑main work the city would need on the Cibolo side of the creek. No binding action or commitment of funds was taken at the May 13 meeting.
