West Tawakoni Ends Long-Time Water Woes

The City of West Tawakoni closed the final chapter this week in a long-running conflict saga with the state over its water system.

City Administrator Cloy Richards said Tuesday, "Today, we received notice from TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) that the big bad agreed order that cost the city bunches of money in fines and legal bills is now behind us, and we have met all of the required paperwork and upgrades in equipment to be back in full compliance with TCEQ/EPA standards."

The dispute with the state began several years ago. "The thing was in limbo when I got here four years ago," Richards said.

He said the case had gone all the way to the attorney general’s office and was not going to be solved until the city had completed its new water treatment plant, hired certified plant operators and met other conditions of the state.

Richards said the city would remain on probation for four years until 2013. But that is minor after what it has cost previously.

The city administrator said the fines alone totaled $55,000 and were completely paid. That was in addition to attorney fees and other costs.

On a separate issue, the keys to two new homes were turned over Monday to city residents Basil Stamper and Rhonda McKeehan. The homes were constructed with grant funds under the Home program.

Richards said Wednesday that the application for this year’s program was submitted earlier that morning. West Tawakoni qualifies for a maximum of five homes to be built by the grant program. Richards said that two applicants from last year that missed qualifying by only a few dollars should have no problem in getting homes under the new grant because of a change in rules. The previous rules called for income of applicants to fall below 30 percent of the median national income. The new rules provide for applicants up to 60 percent of the median national income.