Granbury council OKs contracts to advance $100 million water treatment project after major state grant

GranburyCity Council on Dec. 2 approved a set of professional service agreements to advance a planned $100 million water treatment project after staff announced a major grant award from the Texas Water Development Board.

City staff told council they have received roughly $57,800,000 in principal forgiveness funding from the Texas Water Development Board for emerging contaminants work tied to a new treatment facility and upgrades to the existing plant. Council approved engineering services with EHT/Hibbs & Todd/INPROTECH, bond counsel services with Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, and financial‑advisor services with Hilltop Securities, each by unanimous voice votes.

"This is the beginning stages of it," a staff member told the council, saying the professional agreements must be in place before the city executes the grant and proceeds with design and permitting. Staff said a resolution formally accepting the grant will be presented to council at the next meeting and that the grant funds will cover the initial service contracts.

City staff also said Granbury received an invitation to apply for up to $50 million through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund; staff described that as an additional subsidized financing opportunity that would lower borrowing costs. "The city is going to save about 7 and a half million dollars in financing cost for the $50,000,000," a staff presenter said, describing lower SRF interest rates for a 20-year loan.

Engineering staff and the project team described technical additions to address emerging contaminants, including reverse osmosis at the new facility and a granulated activated carbon filter as an additional treatment step at the existing plant. An engineer on the project said the approaches are intended to reduce PFAS and similar contaminants in the water supply.

Council members praised the work to secure funding and approved the agreements by 6-0 votes, enabling staff to proceed with design, permitting and subsequent procurement steps. Staff emphasized this is an early, administrative stage: the city must still finalize grant acceptance, obtain permits from the Water Development Board and advertise for construction bids before contracts are awarded.

Whathappens next: Staff said a resolution accepting the Texas Water Development Board principal‑forgiveness award will be on the council agenda at the next meeting; the design and permitting steps will follow before bidding for construction contracts.