Townhall Meeting Over Water Regulation Yields No Answers

MAGNOLIA, TX -- A recent townhall meeting over rising water rates among residents in Magnolia failed to provide any definitive answers.

The forum, which was hosted by the East 1488 Montgomery Community Association of Montgomery County, drew a number of residents who'd hoped to hear something from representatives of the San Jacinto River Authority, who is embroiled in a lawsuit against the City of Conroe, and the City of Magnolia.

However, representatives who were obviously absent, cited the ongoing litigation as the reason.

In August, the city councils in Conroe and Magnolia passed resolutions opposing a 7.75 percent increase in

fees enacted by the SJRA for its Groundwater Reduction Plan.

In response to those council resolutions, the San Jacinto River Authority filed a lawsuit against the cities in Travis County on Aug. 31, citing breach of contract for refusing to pay a recent increase in water usage fees.

Meanwhile, representatives from the Lone Star Ground Water Conservation District who did attend the meeting, were also unable to discuss details related to the lawsuit.

The Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, which is one of many groundwater districts throughout Texas, regulates groundwater resources in Montgomery County.

In response to the LGCD, cities like Conroe and Magnolia partnered with the San Jacinto River Authority to reduce their use of groundwater.

But residents say, as water delivery fees from the SJRA rose in recent years, and feel they've been kept in the dark about the transparency of those charges.

State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), indicated there could be a conflict as a result of the relationship between the river authority and the ground water district that could require the state to step in.

"In an area like Montgomery County, where jurisdictions overlap and interests compete, it may take legislative intervention to ensure we are keeping it fair and holding government accountable," he said.

City officials such as former Conroe Mayor Webb Melder, said they now regret the partnership, and have protested that the SJRA's seats on the LSGCD board are a conflict in interest.

"Unfortunately, the greatest mistake that I made as the mayor of Conroe, Texas; I trusted two state agencies. One of those is SJRA, the other Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District," he told the Houston Chronicle.

Image: Shutterstock