Sweetwater council approves applications and bids for water projects, appoints museum board member and awards downtown grant contract

The Sweetwater City Council approved a package of actions to address water infrastructure and downtown revitalization, and confirmed an appointment to a local museum board.

The council voted to submit an application to the Texas Water Development Board seeking funding to replace lead and galvanized service lines citywide. A water utilities staff member told the council the inventory completed in October 2024 identified about 400 galvanized service lines that need replacement and estimated per-line replacement costs in the range of $2,000 to $5,000.

The vote followed approval to advertise three bid solicitations: replacement of a water line under Union Pacific Railroad tracks on Robert Lee Street, and a bid package for Contract B of the raw-water pump station improvement project funded through the Texas Water Development Board Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (project number 62897). Council members were told the 10-inch line under the railroad has been isolated for more than a year and that Contract B will replace pump motors, piping and major electrical components at the Oak Creek intake structure and two booster pump stations; leftover funds from a prior membrane filter replacement completed in May 2024 will be used for waterline replacement.

The council also appointed Kelly Sheridan to the Pioneer City County Museum Board for a term expiring Feb. 1, 2027, and adopted a resolution awarding the grant administration contract for the 2025 Texas Community Development Block Grant downtown revitalization program to Public Management. Staff said an RFP evaluation process produced the recommendation to select Public Management as grant administrator.

Votes at a glance - Approval to submit application to the Texas Water Development Board for lead service line replacement funding (agenda item 7a): motion approved by voice vote (all in favor). - Approval to advertise bid solicitation for Union Pacific Railroad board water line replacement project on Robert Lee Street (agenda item 7b): motion approved by voice vote (all in favor). - Approval to advertise bid solicitation for Contract B, raw-water pump station improvement project (TWDB DWSRF project 62897) (agenda item 7c): motion approved by voice vote (all in favor). - Appointment of Kelly Sheridan to the Pioneer City County Museum Board, term to 02/01/2027 (agenda item 7d): motion approved by voice vote (all in favor). - Adoption of resolution awarding grant administration contract for the 2025 Texas CDBG downtown revitalization program to Public Management (agenda item 7e): motion approved by voice vote (all in favor). - Approval of minutes for Jan. 14 meeting (agenda item 5): motion approved by voice vote (all in favor). - Motion to adjourn: approved by voice vote (all in favor).

Manager's report The city manager reported two community items: SNAP will hold an annual Valentine's Day dinner and dance on Feb. 14 at the SNAP building (dinner at 5 p.m., live music and dancing to follow) and Carla Hebert, Sweetwater Police Department records clerk and PSAP supervisor, represented the department and 18 counties at a meeting with state legislators about ensuring sustainability for 9-1-1 services in Texas.

Why it matters Replacing lead and galvanized service lines addresses water quality and public-health exposure risks; pump-station and transmission repairs restore system reliability. The downtown revitalization grant affects local economic-development planning and will be managed by a professional grant administrator. The appointment to the museum board fills a municipal advisory seat.

What’s next Staff will prepare and submit the TWDB application, publish the advertised solicitations as directed, and proceed with contract administration under the adopted resolution; specific construction schedules and contractor awards were not decided at this meeting.