City of Gatesville looking to make improvements

The City Council recently approved two crucial agreements that are pivotal for the future of the city’s utility services.

The first agreement is a professional services agreement with Freese & Nichols Engineering (FNI) to assess the condition of the City’s water production facilities. These facilities include the water treatment plant, intake structure at Lake Belton, booster pump stations, and more. This assessment aims to develop a list of improvements and their associated capital costs. These improvements will be prioritized based on immediate needs. The improvements will not only benefit the citizens of Gatesville but also improve services for regional partners, including The Grove Water Supply Corporation, Flat Water Supply Corporation, Fort Cavazos, Fort Gates Water Supply Corporation, Mountain Water Supply Corporation, Coryell City Water Supply District, and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities. Staff anticipate completing the water improvement plan within the next six months.

The water improvement plan serves several key purposes:

1. It will assist the city in allocating budgetary resources or securing financing for water system improvements based on priority.
2. It lays the foundation for preparing a water master plan for the City of Gatesville.
3. The plan will be instrumental in developing new wholesale water contracts with our regional partners.

The second agreement approved by the City Council is a $7,203,000 contract with Matous Construction for improvements at the Stillhouse Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). These improvements involve replacing multiple mechanisms at the WWTP that are 30-plus years old. This marks the first phase of planned improvements for the plant, with the city intending to proceed with a second phase of improvements within the next five years. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice Facilities will pay for over 60 percent of the costs associated with these improvements. Staff anticipates completing these improvements within the next 18 to 24 months.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who have played a crucial role in guiding the city toward the development and execution of these two agreements. Both agreements hold immense significance for the future provision of water to the community/region and the treatment of wastewater from both the city and TDCJ.