CITY & COUNTY
News from New Braunfels & Comal County
QUOTE OF NOTE
TCEQ holds public hearing for wastewater permit
New Braunfels City Council will meet July 26 and Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. at 550 Landa St., New Braunfels. 830-221-4000. www.newbraunfels.gov Comal County Commissioners Court will meet July 20 and 27 and Aug. 3, 10, 17 at 8:30 a.m. at 100 Main Plaza, New Braunfels. 830-221-1100. www.co.comal.tx.us MEETINGS WE COVER NEW BRAUNFELS A federal grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security for the purchase of new smoke detectors and batteries for New Braunfels residents was awarded to the city in June. The $40,500 total funds will be spent over a two-year period, according to the city. NEW BRAUNFELS The request to rezone 8.4 acres of agricultural property to allow a short-term rental at a residence on 254 E. County Line Road was approved by council June 26. COMAL COUNTY The Commissioners Court- approved Startzville-area NUMBER TO KNOW will be distributed to local nonprot organizations through grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant. $458,880 HIGHLIGHTS in total funding “I’M VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THERE IS AN INTENTION TO REUSE THE WATER THAT’S COMING OUT OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT BECAUSE THAT’S BOTH ECONOMICALLY AND ECOLOGICALLY MORE RESPONSIBLE. BUT INTENTION DOESN’T ALWAYS ACTUALLY HAPPEN.” BRUCE CARPENTER, COMAL COUNTY RESIDENT, IN OPPOSITION TO A PROPOSED WASTEWATER PERMIT recycling center opened June 6 at 691 Canyon Springs Drive, Canyon Lake. Recycling drop- o is available every Tuesday.
BY SIERRA MARTIN AND AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
MAPPING THE DEVELOPMENT
COMAL COUNTY Around 50 Comal County residents spoke out against a proposed permit application to discharge 600,000 gallons of treated wastewater daily into the Dry Comal Creek—part of the Comal River and Guadalupe River watershed. The Texas Commission on Envi- ronmental Quality held a public hearing June 8 at Smithson Valley High School regarding the proposed permit led by a local landowner and JA Wastewater LLC. The wastewater treatment facility would serve the Harrison Tract subdivision, a proposed 1,403-lot subdivision in Comal County. Current situation: According to the Pollutant Discharge Elimination Sys- tem application receipt, the discharge route would be from a domestic wastewater facility located about 0.4 miles south of the Harrison Road and Hwy. 46 intersection to the West Fork of Dry Comal Creek, which ows into the Comal River in New Braunfels.
The development of the Harrison Tract subdivision would encompass 1,403 lots and house the wastewater treatment facility in Comal County.
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HARRISON TRACT SUBDIVISON
WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY
Erin Bell Altman, a resident and rancher near the development, spoke out against the permit.
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AMIRA VAN LEEUWENCOMMUNITY IMPACT
TCEQ sta attorney Harrison Malley emphasized at the hearing that nothing has been approved. “The only thing that’s happened here is that sta has preliminarily reviewed the application, and based on what they have submitted, it complies with state’s rules, and that’s it,” Malley said.
would have a routine inspection every three years, according to TCEQ representatives. “When we submitted the applica-
City to remain in Stage 2 watering restrictions tion to the TCEQ, we also submitted a 210 Reuse Permit,” said Helen Gilbert, an attorney for law rm Barton Benson Jones. “A reuse authorization application, the intent is to reuse 100% of the water on the site and not discharge anything.”
Next steps: The wastewater plant
BY SIERRA MARTIN
NEW BRAUNFELS With the excessive heat warning New Braunfels residents have experienced, the trigger to move back to Stage 3 drought restrictions has been reached, but city ocials have decided to remain in Stage 2. The details: Minimal rainfall and the ongoing heat wave have resulted in a decline in Edwards Aquifer levels. As of June 28, the 10-day Edwards Aquifer level average was 637.2 cubic feet per second, the metric used to measure water pres- sure, which is below the Stage 3 trigger of 640 cfs, according to New Braunfels Utilities. “The decision to remain in Stage 2 did not come lightly and will align the NBU service territory with neighboring water utilities ... NBU’s prudent planning and investments in water resources have given our community a diverse and resilient water supply portfolio,” NBU Chief Opera- tions Ocer Ryan Kelso said.
April Ryan was sworn in as council’s newest member June 26.
SIERRA MARTINCOMMUNITY IMPACT
District 6 council member sworn in
BY SIERRA MARTIN
for being so civically minded and being here tonight. I sincerely appreciate it and look forward to representing New Braunfels.” Former District 6 Council Member James Blakey received recognition for the service he gave to the community and thanked the city sta for their guidance. “We have superior sta in New Braunfels,” Blakey said. “They care; they live here; and they’re part of the community.”
NEW BRAUNFELS After secur- ing the majority vote in the June 17 runo election, April Ryan was sworn in to represent District 6 on June 26. Ryan thanked the community for its support after reading the oath of oce and said she was excited to take on the new position. “I’m ready to get to work and make New Braunfels proud,” Ryan said. “Thank you guys all
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NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION • JULY 2023
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