TCEQ approves Lakeside Estates Municipal Utility District in Williamson County; appoints temporary directors

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on July 1 approved the creation of Lakeside Estates Municipal Utility District in Williamson County and granted the district road powers under Texas Water Code §54.234.

Commissioners reviewed a hearing request from Williamson County and concluded the county had not identified a particularized, personal interest sufficient to qualify as an affected person under the commission’s rules. Commissioner Katarina Gonzalez said the county listed statutory authority but did not explain how its own interests would be personally affected.

The commission found the petition satisfied statutory and regulatory requirements, concluded the proposed district is feasible and necessary, and approved appointment of the temporary directors named in the executive director’s technical memorandum.

The motion that the commission adopted directed staff to grant the petition, approve road powers consistent with the Texas Water Code, and appoint the following temporary directors as shown in the record: Salem Chowuri, Venad Kumar, Despati, Carol Jensen, Sirar Rei Pandela and Ravi K. Par. Commissioners indicated their approval and the motion passed.

Background: Commission discussion noted the agency’s responsibility to protect taxpayer interests when new taxing entities are created and referenced the agency’s financial review process that examines estimated assessed valuations and bond requirements.

Next step: Temporary directors serve until permanent directors are elected and qualified per the applicable law and the district’s organizing documents.