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Willis ISD board approves resolution to negotiate water cost-sharing with City of Conroe
Summary
The Willis Independent School District board adopted a resolution authorizing the superintendent to negotiate a cost-sharing agreement with the City of Conroe to provide water for Elementary No. 7 and the Willis High School expansion; the city also provided options related to a tree canopy ordinance.
The Willis Independent School District Board of Trustees voted Aug. 1 to authorize the superintendent to negotiate a cost-sharing agreement with the City of Conroe to develop water-supply capacity for a new elementary school and the high school expansion.
Superintendent Dr. James read the resolution aloud to the board, citing a July memorandum from the city that proposed a development and cost-sharing memorandum covering Elementary No. 7, the ninth-grade campus and tree-canopy compliance for the high school.
"Whereas, the city has provided the district with a proposed development and cost sharing memorandum for the district's consideration," Dr. James read as part of the resolution language presented at the meeting. The resolution directs the superintendent or a designee to negotiate an agreement and return it to the board for approval.
Board discussion addressed a separate but related matter: compliance with the City of Conroe tree canopy ordinance for the high school campus, which was built before the ordinance took effect. The city provided three compliance options: plant trees to meet canopy, pay $3.50 per square foot for canopy the district does not have, or pursue a utility cost-sharing agreement. The city had estimated roughly seven acres of missing canopy; the district has retained an engineering firm and a tree expert to verify existing canopy before agreeing to any remedy.
Board member questions noted previous comments from city staff that the district's timeline for receiving water could have ranged from July to December under earlier estimates; district staff said they had temporary water at Elementary No. 7 and were working through final inspections at other projects.
Board member Mr. Carson moved to adopt the resolution; Coach Perry seconded the motion. The board chair called the roll and recorded the motion as carried.
The resolution authorizes negotiations; the district must still present a negotiated agreement for board approval before any cost-sharing contract is executed.
