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Cleburne advances water and wastewater projects: TWDB plan of finance previewed; engineering contracts approved
Summary
City staff reviewed a Texas Water Development Board financing package for lead-and-copper utility work and the council approved engineering agreements for water SCADA planning and wastewater rehabilitation design, with staff saying available utility funds cover the design phases.
City staff updated the Council on a Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) financing package and obtained council approval on engineering contracts to plan and design water and wastewater system improvements.
Consultant Jim Sponis told the council the TWDB committed to a package totaling $4,734,000 for utility projects, with about $2.4 million as a grant and $2.3 million in subsidized loan funding. He said the TWDB program reduces the city's effective interest cost by about 35% and allows up to 30 years of amortization; indicative pricing discussed at a recent date suggested a post-subsidy rate around 2.94%. Staff said final pricing and the formal authorization will be on the council agenda April 14, with bond funds to be placed in escrow May 20.
Separately, the council approved a not-to-exceed $745,000 design contract with Artura Group for a water treatment plant criticality assessment and SCADA master plan. Staff said the work is included in the 2026 Capital Improvement Program and should take about nine months, funded from the Water Utility Sewer Fund.
The council also approved a $2,496,349 design agreement with Hazen & Sawyer for wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation projects B and C, work identified in the 2024 wastewater criticality assessment. Staff said combining projects led to cost savings and that construction would likely begin in 2028.
Council members asked whether these financing and design steps would affect utility rates; staff said they expect to cash-flow the debt within existing utility fund resources and do not expect immediate rate increases but noted operations and other dynamics could influence rates over time. No formal rate action was taken at the meeting.
