CITY & COUNTY
Top city & county stories to watch in 2023
2023 ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE
Fire department improvements planned in 2023 THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP Among the items The Woodlands Township has in its 2023 budget are the rebuilding of its Fire Station No. 5 and Emergency Training Center improvements. Center, and that should occur at the same time.” In addition to the Station No. 5 rebuild, Station No. 3 on Sawdust BY VANESSA HOLT Building a better station
New board to consider priorities for coming year
Sewer bills set to increase in The Woodlands
OTHER STORIES TO FOLLOW IN 2023
HIGHER FEES Sanitary sewer fees in The Woodlands increased as of Jan. 1. 2022: $ 4.85 Average residential customer bill: 2023: $ 5.53 Sewer rate per 1,000 gallons Increase: $0.68, or 14% $ 4 increase monthly SOURCE: THE WOODLANDS WATER AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT
New administrative position approved The Shenandoah City Council approved an additional administrative position for 2023 at its regular meeting held Dec. 14. Meeting documents show an executive assistant position was included in the budget ve years ago, but the position was never lled after the previous assistant was promoted. Director of Public Works Joseph Pearts said due to increasing workloads and a busy year ahead, the city needs to bring the position back. The council unanimously approved the addition of the position, which will have a salary of $55,492.29. Elections to be held Feb. 18 More than 100 positions on The Woodlands committees and associations will go before voters Feb. 18, according to the township. Among the positions available are those on The Woodlands Residential Design Review Committee, which facilitates reviews for property improvements. In addition, positions are available on township village associations. Voting will be held at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands.
THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP Sanitary sewer bills for households served by The Woodlands Water Agency increased in 2023 following a wholesale price increase from the San Jacinto River Authority, according to the WWA. In a Dec. 27 news release, the WWA, which oversees 10 municipal utility districts in The Woodlands, outlined the cost increase that took place Jan. 1. The sanitary sewer volume fee was set to increase by $0.68 per 1,000 gallons, a 14% increase from $4.85 to $5.53. That translates to about an additional $4 per month for the average resi- dential customer, according to the news release. The WWA stated the increase was due to a wholesale price increase from SJRA to the MUDs. The SJRA is the wholesale provider for areas in Montgomery County. WWA o cials said the increase re ects in ation a ecting materials, chemicals, labor BY VANESSA HOLT & JESSICA SHORTEN
and electricity. In December, the SJRA also saw a ruling in its favor relating to its fees when Judge John Delaney from the 284th District Court on Dec. 16 ruled the groundwater reduction plan contracts between SJRA and two entities—Quadvest Water & Sewer and Woodland Oak Utility—were valid and enforceable. A similar ruling was handed down in 2020 by the Texas Supreme Court in the lawsuit between the SJRA and the cities of Conroe and Magnolia regarding their GRP agreements. The GRP contracts were enacted in 2015 following restrictions from the Lone Star Groundwater Con- servation District on groundwater usage in 2008. Just over 80 public and private water utility districts joined a GRP contract with the SJRA in 2010. The lawsuits that ensued stemmed from allegations that water use fees were exces- sive on the utility companies and municipalities.
BY VANESSA HOLT
Road and Station No. 4 on Bay Branch Drive are in need of some facility improvements, according to previous reporting. Those repairs were not included in the immediate plans. All of the structures are about 25 years old. In addition to the work on the facilities this year, the depart- ment will add a 10th company of re ghters, Buck said. “We are currently processing 16 new re ghters who are scheduled to start on Jan. 24,” Buck said. “They will undergo a four-week training academy, and their graduation will coincide with the new company going into service, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 24.” The additional re ghting capac- ity is particularly needed on the west side of the township, o cials have said.
THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP A new board of directors consisting of three returning members and three newly elected directors will begin its strategic planning for 2023 on Jan. 27. Ann Snyder, who has served on the board of directors since 2015, was elected chair of the board by its members at its reorganization meeting Nov. 30. While the agenda for the planning sessions had not yet been set as of press time, she said some of the items for discussion could include re-es- tablishing an economic development committee for the township as well as enhancing tourism to boost sales tax and hotel tax revenues. The township will also discuss leg- islative priorities for the 2023 session of the Texas Legislature during its planning sessions, she said.
The township has budgeted $12 million for the Fire Station No. 5 rebuild and training center improvements, re Chief Palmer Buck said. The project will involve rebuilding the station at a location near the Sterling Ridge Park & Ride on McBeth Way. The location on West Branch Crossing Drive has underlying soil issues that will result in further building deteriora- tion, Buck has stated previously. “We don’t have a good timeline on construction as of yet, but we hope to begin construction of the replacement for Station 5 by the fall,” Buck said in an email. “We have also been approved to do some expansion and remodel and the Emergency Training
Work on a new re station on McBeth Way for The Woodlands Fire Department will begin this fall.
Current location of Station No. 5 Future location of Station No. 5
SOURCE: THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY IMPACT Cost: $12 million
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THE WOODLANDS 10491 Kuykendahl (281) 681-9110 FM 1488 3588 FM 1488 (936) 271-9606
RAYFORD SAWDUST 25044 IH 45 (281) 362-9131 OAK RIDGE NORTH 27490 IH 45 N (281) 296-6000
GOSLING ROAD SPRING 24527 Gosling Rd (281) 516-9404
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