Council approves mitigation-credit purchase, construction contract for South Holland Lake Creek stabilization

The Weatherford City Council on Jan. 14 authorized two linked actions to stabilize South Holland Lake Creek: it approved a purchase agreement for stream mitigation credits and awarded a construction contract for channel stabilization.

City staff recommended the work after consulting with a mitigation-bank consultant and reviewing alternatives. Assistant City Manager Chad Merbutt told council the mitigation bank extended a price lock through the end of January and that the consultant recommended purchasing stream credits because alternatives were more costly or less effective. Merbutt said the private property owner on which the work will occur has cooperated and is expected to provide the required easement before construction begins.

The purchase agreement authorizes the city manager to execute an agreement with Wild Texas Lands LLC for stream mitigation credits for the South Holland Lake Creek project in an amount not to exceed $529,392. Councilmember Matt Tiscus moved approval; Councilmember Zach Smith seconded. The council voted using their touch screens and the item passed, according to the meeting record.

Following that approval, the council considered the construction contract. Bill Smith, assistant director of public works, summarized the construction scope as roughly 600 linear feet of channel improvements including modular block walls, a concrete channel bottom and an access ramp to the trash rack. Smith said the project was publicly bid in November, drawing six bidders; the recommended low bid was from Patcon Services LLC at approximately $981,000. The council voted to authorize the city manager to execute a construction contract with Patcon Services LLC in an amount not to exceed $980,845; the meeting record indicates the item passed. Smith told council the contract work is scheduled to begin in February with a six-month contract time, and that revenues for the project are drawn from stormwater utility fees.

Council discussion addressed property rights and alternatives. Mayor Pro Tem asked whether the city would obtain an easement; Merbutt said an easement is required and staff had a second draft with the property owner’s attorney under review and would not start construction until the easement was in hand. Merbutt and staff told council that the mitigation credits needed are stream credits (not wetland credits), and that establishing a city-owned mitigation bank to substitute for buying credits would take three to five years and was not recommended because it is cost-prohibitive for this project.

The council record includes documentation from the city’s design consultant comparing alternative designs and costs; staff told the council that, on cost-effectiveness and expected long-term performance, the recommended approach provided the best balance of results and cost. The property owner has indicated willingness to accommodate construction starting within one to two months after approvals and execution of agreements.

The council did not provide a numerical roll-call tally in the public record for either item; the minutes state that both items passed after councilmembers used the council chamber touch-screen voting system.

Construction is expected to begin in February and, per the project schedule presented, to finish in approximately six months if no significant subsurface repairs are required.

Notes: the purchase of mitigation credits and the construction contract are separate actions required for the same stabilization project. The mitigation credits are purchased to meet permit conditions for the Army Corps of Engineers permit process, according to staff.