Water district says TxDOT has not approved FM 4 conveyance; bidding process and TWDB loan unchanged

The Water District No. 1 general manager said officials with the Texas Department of Transportation on Jan. 29 told district and county representatives they "were not in a position to approve the memorandum of understanding as presented and further discussions would be needed," leaving the conveyance of the portion of Farm-to-Market Road 4 that would be inundated by the planned Turkey Peak Reservoir unresolved.

The update, delivered during a joint appearance before the Mineral Wells City Council, followed an invitation in early January for district staff to meet with TxDOT and state elected officials. The Jan. 22 meeting was rescheduled for Jan. 29 because of weather; a Jan. 24 virtual call likewise produced no agreement, the district said. The district told the council it expects to receive an appraisal in roughly five to seven days that will be forwarded to TxDOT as part of the agency’s formal review process.

Why it matters: conveyance of the inundated portion of FM 4 is part of the permitting and land-acquisition steps necessary to build Turkey Peak Reservoir. Delays in finalizing the TxDOT memorandum of understanding could affect…