The Granbury City Council on Dec. 16 voted to adopt Resolution 25-25 authorizing the city to accept a $57,800,000 principal-forgiveness award from the Texas Water Development Board for work on the North Water Treatment Plant. The resolution was moved, seconded and announced as passing unanimously.

City Manager Kaufman said the agreement from the Water Development Board arrived in the meeting packet late and that adopting the resolution was an administrative step required to pursue the principal forgiveness. "As you are aware, we have been offered to receive a $57,800,000 grant to go towards our North Water Treatment Plant," Kaufman said, explaining staff had jumped through "a lot of administrative hurdles."

Kaufman told the council the staff was authorized to execute the exhibit and related documents needed to request principal forgiveness. After the vote, Kaufman expressed the city's enthusiasm for the award: "Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. We just are gonna receive $57,800,000," he said.

The resolution does not by itself begin construction; Kaufman said the action authorizes staff to complete the administrative steps needed to accept the contract offered by the state board. The agreement text, which staff said was provided to the city on Friday, remains the operative document for terms and conditions.

What happens next: staff will complete and execute the required paperwork with the Texas Water Development Board and follow the contract's administrative requirements to secure the principal-forgiveness funds.