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Saint Paul water project update; local water supplier reports alleged ban breach by former commissioner
Summary
County staff updated the court on a $1 million TDA grant to replace a water tower and add generators in the Saint Paul colonia; a local water supplier said a former precinct commissioner who had been banned from the facility recently entered the site, took photos and posted them to social media, prompting law-enforcement follow-up.
County staff told the San Patricio County Commissioners Court on May 27 that the department has received a $1,000,000 grant from TDA to replace a water tower and install two generators for the Saint Paul Water Supply area; environmental review is underway and construction is not expected to be bid until February of next year if reviews proceed on schedule.
The staff update said the county is working with Saint Paul Water Supply Corporation, Lynn Engineering and the Nueces River Authority. Staff said the award carries no local match requirement. The county cannot begin construction until environmental clearance is complete; the county expects to go out to construction bid in February 2026 if the environmental review does not delay the schedule.
During the same agenda item, Jack Bishop of Sample Water Supply told the court that the Saint Paul Water Supply board had previously banned the former precinct 3 commissioner from the water treatment facilities after an incident in February 2023 that the board said threatened the drinking water well. Bishop told the court he believes the former commissioner recently broke that ban, took photos of the facility and posted them on social media. Bishop said the board had reported the matter to the sheriff’s office and to TCEQ and asked the county for additional protection measures including trail cameras and regular patrols.
The sheriff’s office told the court it had an interview scheduled with Bishop to pursue the matter, and staff asked to be kept informed as the investigation proceeds. Commissioner Reuben Gonzalez requested the update and asked for follow-up questions after the briefing; staff said Commissioner Wilson was not involved in the grant and project team members include Lynn Engineering and the Nueces River Authority.
