Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water And Sewer topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pharr commission approves amendment to split lift‑station elimination contract amid budget constraints
Summary
The Pharr City Commission approved Amendment No. 2 to a contract with TriMed Consultants to separate lift‑station projects (10 and 18 vs. 40) so the city can advance road construction while managing limited budget resources. Staff said the city has 36 lift stations with about eight already eliminated; the phased approach passed on a voice vote.
The Pharr City Commission voted to approve Amendment No. 2 to the contract with TriMed Consultants, splitting the lift‑station elimination work into separate projects so the city can proceed with nearby road construction while spreading costs over phases.
City engineering staff said the change responds to budget constraints and an urgency to advance Moore Road. “We’re doing 10 and 18 so that we can move forward with Moore Road,” the city engineer (Patishan) said, explaining the split was intended to maintain project momentum while deferring other work to a later phase. Patishan added the schedule target for a related project is “slated to complete at the end of July.”
Public Utilities Director Hugo Rosales provided system context: “We have a total of 36 lift stations but through the process we’ve eliminated about eight,” he said, and staff identified three additional lift stations tied to the current package. Commissioners pressed staff for a clear inventory ahead of the next budget season so elected officials can prioritize which eliminations are essential and which may remain for future years.
Commissioners framed the amendment as a pragmatic step to balance capital needs. One commissioner noted odor and backup complaints tied to aging lift stations and urged the department to provide a prioritized list of remaining stations before budget decisions. Staff agreed to provide that information for the budget cycle.
The commission approved the amendment by voice vote. The motion’s description on the record characterized the action as separating Lift Stations 10 and 18 from Lift Station 40 and proceeding in phases; no roll‑call tally with individual names was recorded in the transcript. Next steps include phased procurement and scheduling per staff recommendations.
