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Innis to inventory water service lines and consider a stormwater utility; manager seeks low-interest loan for lead-pipe work
Summary
City Manager Nelson briefed the commission on a proposed stormwater utility, priority flood studies, and a Texas Water Development Board invitation to apply for a roughly $3 million low-interest loan to design and construct lead-service-line replacements; the required service-line inventory is due in October.
City Manager Nelson told the Innis City Commission on June 18 that the city needs to update its 2021 stormwater master plan, identify priority flood-study areas and prepare to establish a dedicated stormwater utility to fund improvements.
In the same report Nelson said Environmental Protection Agency rule revisions require a service-line inventory for lead and galvanized plumbing. He said the city has been invited to apply for about $3,000,000 in low-interest loan funding from the Texas Water Development Board to cover design and construction of replacements if lead lines are found. "They have approved or basically offered us that $3,000,000 in the form of a low interest loan that we would use for the design costs and the construction cost to remove any of the lead lines that we find in our city," Nelson said.
Nelson said the inventory is due in October and estimated the inventory would cost about $60,000 to complete. He explained program timelines: if the city accepts the TWDB funding, the city would have roughly three years to replace identified service lines and up to 30 years to repay the loan; if the city declines the funding the replacement window is 10 years but the city would have to pay for replacements without loan support.
Commissioners asked about current testing and public notification. Water staff said the city performs sampling more frequently than the annual consumer-confidence report and distributes homeowner sampling kits when required. Staff said the annual consumer-confidence report is mailed to residents and that they have not had exceedances in recent tests. The city attorney said the city's legal obligations focus on required testing and public reporting; he did not identify an additional duty to preemptively notify neighborhoods merely because the inventory process will occur.
Nelson also urged updating cost estimates for stormwater projects because of inflation; he said the 2021 master plan listed 18 projects with roughly $17 million in 2021 dollars and noted examples of cost escalation, including the Cottonwood Creek project (estimated in 2021 at $1.2 million; current project roughly $3.2 million). He recommended retaining a professional firm to run public engagement, prepare a model ordinance and complete updated studies for targeted areas (McKinney Street, South Kaufman, Rumbaugh Road).
Why it matters: The inventory and potential replacements affect drinking-water infrastructure and public confidence; stormwater and flood projects address recurring property damage from extreme rain events. Nelson framed the inventory as both a legal requirement under EPA rule revisions and a step the city should take to assure residents about water safety.
Next steps: Staff will pursue the TWDB pre-application steps and a nonbinding letter of intent, issue an RFQ to complete the service-line inventory by October, and return with updated stormwater plan recommendations and cost estimates for commission consideration.
